3 Accomplished Authors To Speak At Santa Clara Co. Venues

CAMPBELL, CA —Acclaimed writers are swinging through Santa Clara County with works that have dominated bestseller lists and prompted thought-provoking discussions.

With the launching of its Distinguished Author Series this fall, the Santa Clara County Library District based in Campbell is bringing in Sonia Nazario, John Carreyrou and Susan Orlean as a way to foster curiosity with their nonfiction works.

"We are honored to present writers of this caliber," County Librarian Nancy Howe said. "These trailblazers will give us an intimate look into the writing process and how they came up with some of their most eye-opening works."

Sonia Nazario will kick off the series at Morgan Hill’s Community and Cultural Center at 17000 Monterey Road on Oct. 22. Her Pulitzer Prize winning "Enrique’s Journey" tells the story of a Honduran boy struggling to find his mother in the United States. As a longtime Los Angeles Times reporter who excels in social issues, Nazario won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2003 for the harrowing tale.

A second event will follow on Oct. 30 at De Anza’s Visual & Performing Arts Center with John Carreyrou discussing "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup," an investigative piece into the failed Theranos company and its enigmatic leader Elizabeth Holmes. The center is located at 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.

The series will wrap up on Dec. 11 at the Campbell Heritage Theatre at 1 West Campbell Ave. with seasoned writer and lecturer Susan Orlean. Her latest work, "The Library Book," explores the history, power and future of libraries as endangered institutions in the Internet age. In her works, Orlean also delves into the mysterious arson fire that nearly destroyed the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986.

"This is a rare opportunity to hear from leading authors about their craft,” said Mike Wasserman, county Supervisor and president of the Library Joint Powers Authority Board. "These stories about immigration, the value of libraries and an investigative piece into a startup company all have themes that speak to today’s current events."

Each event will welcome audience participation. The library district is working with partners to sell copies of the books at each event. Patrons can also borrow materials in the district's libraries or online at sccl.org. The authors will be available for autographs at the end of their events.

All events are free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.