Novello Festival highlights 

The public library's annual Novello Festival of Reading brings book lovers and authors together for a celebration of books and reading. This year's star-studded line-up is full of award winners and fan favorites sure to entice just about every interest. Tickets are on sale now. Most events will be held at ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St., unless otherwise stated. Check www.novellofestival.org for updates.

A NOVELLO EVENING WITH SCOTT TUROW

Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

$15

Join us for an evening with writer and attorney Scott Turow. Turow is the author of seven best-selling novels, including Presumed Innocent and the recent Ordinary Heroes. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte. (Note: a $5 handling fee will be added to Internet and phone orders.)

NOVELLO PRESENTS LIVE TROUT FEATURING TIMMY AND SUSANA ABELL

Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.

The Wachovia Playhouse at ImaginOn

Free

Live Trout is a blending of traditional storytelling, poetry, puppetry and song performed by North Carolina's award-winning husband and wife team, Timmy and Susana Abell. Susana will charm you with her European style of puppetry while Timmy will have you tapping your toes as he plays original music on instruments from banjo to English concertina. Live Trout is suitable for ages 5 and up. For more information, call Spangler Library at 704-973-2720. Reserve your free tickets by phone at 704-973-2828 from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

NOVELLO BOOK BRUNCH

Saturday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

The Wachovia Playhouse at ImaginOn

Free

Don't miss Book Brunch, your free opportunity to mix and mingle with notable authors and illustrators for youth. Book Brunch takes place on the same day as WordPlay Saturday, and this year's exciting event features:

Cynthia Kadohata (Kira-Kira and Weedflower)

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Running Out of Time and Among the Hidden)

Deborah Gregory (The Cheetah Girls and Catwalk)

Charles Smith, Jr. (Hoop Kings and I Am America)

Lucia M. Gonzalez (Señor Cat's Romance and Other Favorite Stories from Latin America) Frank Remkiewicz (illustrator of the popular Froggy books)

A.M. Jenkins (Repossessed and Night Road)

Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere and Margarettown)

Josh Elder (Mail Order Ninja and The Batman Strikes)

WORDPLAY SATURDAY

Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m.

ImaginOn

Free

WordPlay Saturday is the library's annual free festival for families that celebrates books and the joy of reading for youth of all ages. Mix and mingle at Book Brunch with talented and award-winning authors and illustrators for youth. Later, enjoy crafts, music, storytelling and fun outdoors.

The day at a glance:

9:30 a.m. Book Brunch

11 a.m.--4 p.m. WordPlay Saturday

11:30 a.m.--1 p.m. Book Brunch authors' book signing

A NOVELLO AFTERNOON OF BOOK LUST WITH NANCY PEARL

Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.

The Wachovia Playhouse at ImaginOn

$15

Known for the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, Nancy Pearl is the author of the best-seller Book Lust. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte. (Note: a $5 handling fee will be added to Internet and phone orders.)

A NOVELLO EVENING WITH KHALED HOSSEINI

Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.

$15-35

Join us for an evening with the best-selling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Tickets for this event will only be sold by Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, 704-522-6500 or at The Cricket Arena box office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

A NOVELLO EVENING WITH ARMISTEAD MAUPIN

Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

$15

Maupin is the author of nine novels, including the six-volume Tales of the City series, Maybe the Moon, The Night Listener and most recently, Michael Tolliver Lives. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

TITANS OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL WITH HARVEY PEKAR AND ALISON BECHDEL

Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

$15

Harvey Pekar is best known for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series American Splendor, a first-person account of Pekar's downtrodden life. Alison Bechdel is the creator of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and author of the graphic memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

CAROLINA WRITER'S NIGHT FEATURING JOHN HART

Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

Free

John Hart, author of Down River and The King of Lies, will headline this year's event celebrating local and regional authors. The evening will culminate with the announcement of this year's Novello Festival Press Literary Award Winner. Reserve your free tickets by phone at 704-973-2828 from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

GROWN DEEP LIKE THE RIVERS: AFRICAN-AMERICAN POETRY

Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

Free

Join us for a free celebration of African-American poetry old and new with local and regional poets. Reserve your free tickets by phone at 704-973-2828 from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

A NOVELLO EVENING WITH COLSON WHITEHEAD

Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

$15

Whitehead is the author of Apex Hides the Hurt and John Henry Days, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

A NOVELLO EVENING WITH SARA PARETSKY

Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn

$15 or purchase together with Windy City Clues, $35 total in advance

Paretsky is the award-winning creator of the V.I. Warshawski detective novels. Her 14th novel is Bleeding Kansas. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

WINDY CITY CLUES: AN EVENING OF FOOD, FICTION AND FRIENDS WITH SARA PARETSKY

Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.

Main Library, 310 N. Tryon St.

$25 in advance, $30 at the door – or purchase together with A Novello Evening with Sara Paretsky, $35 total in advance.

Sample Chicago-style food and drinks and collect clues with author Sara Paretsky, the award-winning creator of the V.I. Warshawski detective novels. The Friends of the Public Library bring this exciting evening to you. Purchase tickets by phone at 704-973-2828, at www.novellofestival.org or in person from the library's partnering agency Children's Theatre of Charlotte.