The County Library discussion

Utah is home to a surprising number of writers. On September 27 the Salt Lake County Library is having a Local Authors & You event at the Viridian Event Center where 41 local authors who will be signing their books, leading writing workshops or reading from their work. (For those of you wondering who these 41 authors are, I’ll be posting their names in small batches over the next couple days.)

In concert with this awesome event this month’s reading challenge is to read something by a Utah author. (Fiction or non-fiction both work for this challenge.)

This sounds great! I'll be looking for the author lists. :)

Perfect way to get the names of great local authors out there!

Great challenge. I look forward to getting the list...I know a few but I am sure there are many I don't know.

Can't wait for the list--I'll need suggestions! Great idea for a challenge.

Several Utah book bloggers have been doing Utah authors all through August, so you can get ideas from their blogs too.
Try Suey's blog: http://sueysbooks.blogspot.com/
She has a Utah Book Month button on the sidebar. :)

Good to know, Britt. Thanks!

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Several Utah book bloggers have been doing Utah authors all through August, so you can get ideas from their blogs too.
Try Suey's blog: http://sueysbooks.blogspot.com/
She has a Utah Book Month bu..."

Great resource--I am already finding a few books that I've wanted to read, like The Maze Runner or The Loser's Guide to Life and Love because Ann Cannon is so funny! Earlier this year when The Salt Lake Tribune featured Sara Zarr, I read two of her books that I enjoyed and would recommend, Once Was Lost and Roomies. Also The Rent Collector was great.

Thanks, Britt!!

perfect! I have 2 Richard Paul Evans books sitting here to read (a 3rd by mid month).

Dang! I won't be that far in the Wheel of Time yet! Maybe some of our Children's writers will be on the list.

I write a review column for Meridian Magazine www.LDSMAG.com which appears on Thursdays. I always include the home state of the authors of the books I review. Since I review books by LDS authors or that have values compatible with LDS standards, many of the books I review are by local authors. By the way I live in Utah, have 24 published novels, and will be one of the authors at the library's local authors event.

Jennie wrote: "I write a review column for Meridian Magazine www.LDSMAG.com which appears on Thursdays. I always include the home state of the authors of the books I review. Since I review books by LDS authors ..."

Yes- Jennie Hansen is one of our most popular LDS authors, and a big library supporter. Thanks for joining us, Jennie!

I just started reading The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum from the library, not realizing it's LDS fiction. Is she a Utah author? If so, it will be my September challenge book! :)

Here's the first 10 authors on the list of 41 that will be at the Local Authors & You event later this month. (I'm posting them alphabetically, 10 or so at a time so the list doesn't get too overwhelming.)

Ken Baker
Laura Bastian
Anne Bowen
DJ Butler
Stacy Lynn Carroll
Cindy Christiansen
Angela Corbett
Kristyn Crow
Julie Daines
Kristyn Decker

Cami wrote: "I just started reading The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum from the library, not realizing it's LDS fiction. Is she a Utah author? If so, it will be my September challenge book! :)"

I'm not sure if she's currently living in Utah, but she attended a university in Utah at one point, so I think she could count.

For this challenge, I will read The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by Ann Cannon. :) Looks like a good laugh, which I always enjoy!

I will also be reading The Loser's Guide". Great minds think alike ;)

Jackie wrote: "I will also be reading The Loser's Guide". Great minds think alike ;)"

:)

Ann wrote: "I'm not sure if she's currently living in Utah, but she attended a university in Utah at one point, so I think she could count."

Once you have anything to do with Utah, you become a Utah author. I spoke to a fellow one time who was bemoaning being called a Utah author. He said all he did in Utah was to write the final draft while staying in Park City. "Hate to tell you," I said, "that makes you a Utah author." He was not happy.

Orson Scott Card lives in North Carolina, but he is considered a Utah author by many. Given our tendency to claim and never release, I'm anxious to see the lists of Utah authors that get posted.

Here's the second batch of authors that will be at the Local Authors & You event.

Peggy Eddleman
Bonnie Glee
Josh Hanagarne
Ka Hancock
Jennie Hansen
Cindy Hogan
Marion Jensen
JR Johansson
Kim Justeson
Fay Klinger
Alysia S. Knight

I'll post the next batch next week-- so keep a look out.

So, since I'd been thinking about reading it, anyway, and since it fit this month's challenge, and then finally because it was our book club's book this month (I guess that was the final straw), I read The Maze Runner by James Dashner, yesterday.

Good, quick, easy, and fun.

Finished "The Loser's Guide to Life and Love". A fun read.

This is perfect I have started the Ariana trilogy bind-up by Rachel Ann Nunes. I've only read about 90 pages so far but it is excellent highly recommend it!!!!

Finished Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans, the last in the walk series. Good as always. He is a really good author.

I read Falling by Clair M. Poulson and Diamonds are Deadly Things by Rachelle J. Christensen over the weekend. Both are excellent Utah writers. I'll be starting For Elise by another great Utah writer, Sarah Eden, before the day is over (I hope).I have nine or ten more books by Utah authors in my "to read" stack. I'll be reviewing some of them for Meridian Magazine.

I read The Anti-Bully Program: A Common Sense Guide for Families by MR Brett G Lechtenberg. I work at a martial arts school and this program has helped lots of our clients and their kids overcome problems with bullying.

I will have to check out a book by a Utah, author. I'm a children's author myself, so any suggestions for a great MG book or chapter book-especially for boys?

Finished my choice for this challenge: The Loser's Guide to Life and Love. Cute read.

Here's the next posting of authors that will be at the Local Authors and You event. (Sorry for the wait.)

Wendy Knight
Caren Liebelt
Dene Low
Lisa Mangum
Carol Masheter
Shallee McArthur
Mark Minson
Andrea Pearson
Bobbie Pyron
Jess Smiley

Jim wrote: "I will have to check out a book by a Utah, author. I'm a children's author myself, so any suggestions for a great MG book or chapter book-especially for boys?"

Right now Tyler Whiteside's Janitors is popular. (Tyler is even a Utah author.)

I wouldn't say it's exclusively for boys, but it is a series I find boys asking for at the library.

Well I've done it. Choosing Ken Baker as my author, I read three of his books:
Brave Little Monster
Cow Can't Sleep
Old MacDonald Had a Dragon

So I have completed the September Challenge!

I read Minor Adjustments by Rachel Anderson. It was very good.

I read the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie.

Okay, here's the last batch of authors who'll be at the Local Authors & You event at the Viridian Events Center on September 27.

Janice Sperry
Joy Spraycar
Sherry Taylor
Jaclyn Weist
Robison Wells
David West
Martha Sears West
Lance Why
Camron Wright
Michael Young

I've got Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson, sitting at the top of my to-read pile-- still plenty of time to complete before our challenge runs out.

Some Utah authors not named in the above list are:
Paul Genesse
Jaleta Clegg
Dave Farland
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Mull
L. E. Modesitt
Ann Chamberlin
Anne Wingate
Eric Swedin
Larry Correia
Eric James Stone
Howard Tayler
James Dashner
and
Orson Scott Card

Except for OSC and Dashner (unless he's back now), they all currently live in Utah, most on the Wasatch Front

I read The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen.

Finished the bind-up of the first three books in the Ariana series by Rachel Nunes. It was extremely good! I loved it!!

We have a few more authors that we've just found out will be joining us at the Local Authors & You event at the Viridian Events Center on September 27.

Mikey Brooks
Juli Caldwell
Jaleta Clegg
Fay Klingler
Carolyn Steele

Hope to see you there!

I can't believe the month is almost over! If I get a chance to read for fun it will be A Bid for Love by Rachel Ann Nunes. Big plagiarism blowup over this book. I'm so happy Nunes has shown professionalism through the whole ordeal.

Ann wrote: "We have a few more authors that we've just found out will be joining us at the Local Authors & You event at the Viridian Events Center on September 27.

I was sad to be missing this (I'll be out of town). I have books I want Jaleta to sign! Alas.

I read Blackout by Robison Wells. I also read Kristyn Crow's book The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare to my children. Really enjoyed both.

I read the 4th book of Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans

Today's the last day of the September Reading Challenge.

I've got October's Reading Challenge posted. If Ordinary Grace isn't quite your thing, or you've already read it, remember you can substitute anything with a mystery theme, a coming of age story, or that takes place in the 1960's. You can also find some read-a-like titles at http://www.saltlakecountyonebook.com/

Our September prize drawing winner was Jackie. She read The Loser's Guide to Life and Love.

Yay Jackie!

Congrats, Jackie!

Yay! Love the reading challenges. You do a great job, Ann. Thanks for keeping this going each month.