(Sacramento, CA) – California Lectures has announced its sixth season of literary presentations with a line-up of award-winning authors that includes bestselling novelist Julia Glass, one of our country’s best known and most prolific authors John Updike, literary author (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) Daniel Handler, acclaimed author and screenwriter Richard Price, PBS news anchor and author Jim Lehrer, former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, and a special event with A Prairie Home Companion host and author Garrison Keillor.

The season will kick off with a special event with Keillor at a 1:00 p.m. matinee Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Crest Theatre. The Six-Lecture Subscription series follows on Oct. 23 (Glass), Nov. 11 (Updike), Feb. 5 (Handler), Mar. 12 (Price), Apr. 2 (Lehrer), and May 13 (Dove) at the Crest Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Each author presentation includes a lively Q&A with the audience and a book signing when patrons can meet the author. The evening also includes the popular “Lecture Previews” – biographical overviews about the featured authors presented by professors from Sacramento State University. These previews take place at the Crest Theatre one hour prior to each lecture.

“This season offers another memorable array of authors from legendary John Updike and news anchor Jim Lehrer, to former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove,” said Suzette Riddle. “Our seasons often sell out, so I invite everyone to subscribe early.”

Season subscriptions are on sale now ($162) at (916) 737-1300 or www.californialectures.org. Single tickets for Keillor will go on sale August 25 ($30), and single tickets for all other authors will go on sale Sept. 29 ($27).

SIX-LECTURE SERIES SUBSCRIPTIONS $1627:30 p.m. | Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento

Includes Glass, Updike, Handler, Price, Lehrer and Dove. Subscriptions ($162) are on sale now at California Lectures: www.californialectures.org or (916) 737-1300.

GARRISON KEILLOR SPECIAL EVENT $30
1:00 p.m. Sept. 17, 2008 | Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento

Tickets to Garrison Keillor ($30) can be purchased in advance with the Six-Lecture Subscription Series.

SINGLE TICKETS
Single tickets for Garrison Keillor ($30) go on sale August 25.
Single tickets for all other authors ($27) go on sale September 29.
Purchase tickets through: Tickets.com or (800) 225-2277, or in person at the Crest Theatre Box Office.

September 17, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
GARRISON KEILLOR – Special Event
Garrison Keillor, host and author of the National Public Radio hit, A Prairie Home Companion, will read from and discuss his newest book, Liberty, A Lake Wobegon Novel. Keillor has authored more than 17 books including Good Poems for Hard Times and his most recent New York Times bestseller, Pontoon. Keillor was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1994.

October 23, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
JULIA GLASS
Julia Glass won the National Book Award in 2002 for her first novel, Three Junes, which was also a Book Sense Bestseller and a selection of ABC/Good Morning America’s READ THIS! Book Club. Her second novel, The Whole World Over, was also a Book Sense Pick and bestseller. She will be discussing her newest book, I See You Everywhere (October 2008) — a candid double portrait that reveals the very nature of sisterhood.

November 11, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
JOHN UPDIKE
Widely recognized for his careful craftsmanship and prolific output, John Updike is the author of more than 50 books, including collections of short stories, poems, and criticism. Updike is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, among other honors, and he will be presenting his newest novel, The Widows of Eastwick (October 2008). This rare speaking engagement is not to be missed.

February 5, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
DANIEL HANDLER

Daniel Handler is the author of three literary novels and the bestselling sequence for children, A Series of Unfortunate Events (written under the name Lemony Snicket), which sold more than 53 million copies and was the basis of the film starring Jim Carrey. Also known as a composer and screenwriter, Handler has also written for The New York Times and Newsday among other publications. Handler will be appearing as himself – not the persona of Lemony Snicket “who ruined forever his dream of a scruffy, anonymous, bohemian life.”

March 12, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
RICHARD PRICE

Richard Price is the author of seven novels, including Bloodbrothers, Clockers, Freedomland and the recent New York Times bestseller, Lush Life. He was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay, The Color of Money, and he won the 2007 Edgar Award for his writing on the HBO series, The Wire. Price has also written for Esquire, The New Yorker, the Village Voice and Rolling Stone, and taught writing at Columbia, Yale and New York University.

April 2, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
JIM LEHRER

Jim Lehrer is the acclaimed author of 18 novels, two memoirs and three plays. He is the executive director and anchor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, and he has been the moderator for 10 nationally televised debates among presidential candidates. He is the recipient of the National Humanities Medal and two Emmys, and he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science.

May 13, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
RITA DOVE

Former U.S. Poet Laureate, Rita Dove has published more than 13 books, including poetry, essays, a collection of short stories, a novel and a play. Her poetry collection, Thomas and Beulah, won the Pulitzer Prize. Other works include American Smooth, On the Bus with Rosa Parks and Sonata Mulattica (May 2009). Dove is the recipient of 22 honorary doctorates and numerous awards including the National Humanities Medal and the Duke Ellington Lifetime Achievement Award.

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California Lectures is a public service literary arts organization based in Sacramento, California. The organization presents speaking engagements by distinguished novelists, poets, filmmakers, historians, journalists, and cultural figures who talk about themselves, their work, and issues of contemporary culture. The presentations take place at the Crest Theatre and many are broadcast on National Public Radio affiliate stations in Northern California and Nevada. In addition to lectures, the organization provides education and outreach services benefiting the greater Sacramento Region.

Information at (916) 737-1300 or on the website.

Congratulations to Suzette Riddle who has nurtured this amazing series from its start 6 years ago to what it has become today. The array of talent this season is incredible. This series continues to put Sacramento on the cultural map. Pierre and I loved attending these events, hearing the impressive authors, and we especially enjoyed the diversity of the works. Don't miss this. The price is a bargain and supporting cultural events like this in Sacramento is our duty - and a pure delight!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive