John Grisham and Dennis Lehane to speak at 2010 American Library Association conference

The 2010 annual conference of the American Library Association (ALA), to be held June 24-29 at the Washington (D.C.) Convention Center, has much to offer mystery fans. Both John Grisham and Dennis Lehane will be among the twelve authors lined up for the Auditorium Speaker Series. Also, the new Pop Top Stage will feature thirteen mystery writers.

John Grisham will speak on Monday, June 28 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Grisham, the author of 21 novels, has just published the first book in his new children’s series for Penguin Young Readers Group. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer was released on May 25. The second book in the series will be published in 2011.

Dennis Lehane addresses conference participants on Monday, June 28 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Lehane has written eight novels, including the five titles in his Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro series. Lehane is now working on another title in that series, a sequel to his 1998 publication, Gone, Baby, Gone. 

This year ALA will add a new pavilion in its Exhibits area. The Pop Top (Popular Topics) Stage will feature mystery, romance and travel books. Listed below are the events involving mystery writers, all of which will occur on Sunday, June 27. 

• Moderator Jane Cleland (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries), Sheila Connolly (Orchard Mystery series), G.M. Malliet (St. Just Mystery series) and Daniel Stashower (Harry Houdini Mystery series) discuss the use of "Red Herrings" from  10:00-11:00 a.m.
•  Moderator Rosemary Harris (Dirty Business series), Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow series), Ellen Crosby (Wine Country Mystery series) and J.B. Stanley (Supper Club Mystery series) discuss "Amateur Sleuths," from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Otto Penzler, founder of The Mysterious Bookshop and the The Mysterious Press, speaks on "The Best American Noir of the Century" from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
• Moderator Hank Phillippi Ryan (Charlotte McNally Mysteries), Meredith Cole, Thomas Kaufman, Brad Parks (Carter Ross Mystery) and Nancy Pickard (Jenny Cain series) discuss "Location, Location, Location," the influence of setting on plot, from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
• Rosemary Harris (Dirty Business series) and Hank Phillippi Ryan (Charlotte McNally Mysteries) discuss "Mystery Book Blogs" from 3:00-4:00 p.m.
•  Cara Black, author of the Aimee Leduc series, discusses "Murder in Passy"  from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

The American Library Association is the world's oldest and largest library association. With more than 62,000 members, ALA aims to improve the quality library and information services and to increase public access to information. Its annual conference helps to promote these goals.

Images on this page published with permission from the American Library Association.