By Angela Deckard and Shelby Toren, Branch Librarians
Ann Patchett is coming to visit, and she is bringing her friend and fellow author Kevin Wilson along! Ann and Kevin have been friends since 2002 when Kevin was an audience member at a sparsely attended event following the release of Ann’s book Bel Canto. They connected over their shared love of reading and writing, and Kevin notes that his writing has benefited from having Ann as a mentor and friend. Let’s get to know Kevin a little better!
Kevin Wilson is the author of several well-loved novels and short story collections, including Tunneling to the Center of the Earth and Baby You’re Gonna Be Mine, opens a new window, and four novels The Family Fang, opens a new window, Perfect Little World, opens a new window, Nothing to See Here, opens a new window and Now is Not the Time to Panic, opens a new window. He is known for his humorous yet heartfelt stories and has won and been nominated for many awards during his career.
Kevin’s most recent novel, Now is Not the Time to Panic, was inspired by a line central to the story. “The edge is a shanty town filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us.” This line came from Kevin’s college roommate Eric, who passed away unexpectedly while Kevin was writing the book. Now is Not the Time to Panic is Kevin’s way of immortalizing that line and his memories of Eric. The story captures what it is like to be an awkward teenager and find someone that understands you, the way Eric did for Kevin.
Kevin lives in Sewanee, Tennessee, with his wife, the poet Leigh Anne Couch, and his sons, Griff and Patch, where he is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Sewanee: The University of the South. He is an avid reader. Some of his favorite authors include Carson McCullers, Shirley Jackson, Octavia Butler and, of course, Ann Patchett.
We can’t wait to welcome both Kevin Wilson and Ann Patchett to Michigan on April 24. If you haven’t had a chance to read Kevin Wilson’s work, you can place a hold on his titles using the links above. Copies of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett are also available right away at many branches - you can place a hold here, opens a new window!
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