I'm not a Pol, Pundit, OR a Cultural Legend, and yet. . .

I was invited to participate in an event next Tuesday at the National Press Club. Kidlitosphere, I will be eclipsed by the dazzling star power of my fellow attendees (Jim Lehrer!) but I swear to shine a favorable light on kids' books and introduce a few pundits, pols and legends to your charms. (I wonder if I should mention that I worked on my school's newspaper staff?)

Other children's and YA writers who will be there include:

Judy Schachner (Skippyjon, Lost in Spice)

P.F. McKinley (Alexander the Salamander and The Challenge)

Katherine Marsh (The Night Tourist; The Twilight Prisoner)

Maggie Stiefvater (Shiver)

Laura Krauss Melmed (My Love Will Be with You)

Pamela Duncan Edwards (Jack and Jill's Treehouse)

Here's the press release. If you live near D.C., come see me! Admission is only $5.00 and all proceeds go to charity.

Top pols, pundits and cultural legends at National Press Club Book Fair & Authors’ Night
Honorary Chairwoman Alma Powell

WASHINGTON (September 2009) -- Join Chris Matthews, Rod Blagojevich, Tom Ridge, Gwen Ifill, David Pogue, KRS-One and Kinky Friedman among 75 top authors at the National Press Club’s 32nd Annual Book Fair & Authors’ Night.

The club welcomes Alma Powell as this year’s honorary chairwoman, and is partnering with The SEED Foundation, which helps prepare underserved students for college success at high-performing public boarding schools in the District and Maryland.

One of the capital’s premier literary events, the annual fair draws the nation’s notable authors to the historic Press Club in downtown Washington.

Also among the 75 authors scheduled to appear are Jim Lehrer, Grant Wahl, Isabel Gillies, Richard Wolffe, Julia Quinn, Pamela Newkirk, C. David Heymann, Jeff Sharlet, Leslie Sanchez, James Reston Jr., Deborah Tannen, Dwayne Betts and Christopher Andersen.

The Book Fair & Authors’ Night promises a robust crowd of booklovers, journalists and politicos seeking the latest titles across the genres – from cookbooks and children’s stories to history, sports, memoirs and mysteries _ and a chance to mingle with the nation’s best authors.

WHAT: National Press Club’s 32nd Annual Book Fair and Authors’ Night

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.

TICKETS: $5 General admission – No charge for NPC members.

The National Press Club is the nation’s leading organization for journalists. The event is a fundraiser for the club’s Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that offers scholarships to journalism students, and research and professional development for the working press worldwide. Through our partnership with The SEED Foundation, the event will help develop the school library at the foundation’s Maryland campus.

For information, contact Nicole Nottingham at (202) 662-7523 or nnottingham@press.org.