NEWS For Immediate Release May 3, 2013

Contact: Jillian Kalonick

PHILADELPHIA – United for Libraries will present its Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Monday, July 1 during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Melanie Benjamin, Mark Billingham, Jeffrey Deaver, Wally Lamb and Jojo Moyes will discuss their writing life and forthcoming books. Enjoy tea, finger sandwiches and a variety of sweet treats. A book signing will follow, with some books given away free and others available for purchase at a generous discount.

Melanie Benjamin (“The Aviator’s Wife,” Delacorte Press/Random House) is the author of “Alice I Have Been” and “The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb.” She lives in Illinois, where she is at work on her next novel.

Mark Billingham (“The Dying Hours,” Grove Atlantic/Perseus) is a British crime novelist whose books have sold more than 3 million copies in the UK alone, have been translated into 23 languages and received major awards, as well as rave reviews from his fellow writers. Having worked as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian, his first crime novel was published in 2001.

Jeffery Deaver (“The Kill Room,” Grand Central Publishing/Hachette) is the international bestselling author of more than 30 novels, two collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book. A former journalist, folk singer and attorney, he was born outside of Chicago and has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Fordham University.

Wally Lamb (“We Are Water,” Harper/HarperCollins) is the author of four previous novels, including the New York Times and national bestseller “The Hour I First Believed.” His first two works of fiction, “She’s Come Undone” and “I Know This Much Is True,” were both number one New York Times bestsellers and selections of Oprah’s Book Club. He is the editor of “Couldn’t Keep It To Myself” and “I’ll Fly Away,” two volumes of essays from students in his writing workshop at York Correctional Institution.

Jojo Moyes (“Me Before You,” Pamela Dorman Books/Penguin) was raised in London. She writes for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Red and Woman Home. She’s married to Charles Arthur, technology editor of The Guardian. They live with their three children on a farm in Essex, England.

Advance tickets to the Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, cost $49, $45 for United for Libraries division members (event code UFL2). Onsite tickets cost $55. Early ticket purchase is recommended as the event often sells out. The event will be held at McCormick Place, N228. For more information about United for Libraries programs and events at the ALA Annual Conference, visit http://www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/annual.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library Trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

ReferenceUSA is a powerful online reference and research tool providing library cardholders instant, real-time access to accurate, in-depth information on 24 million U.S. businesses and 235 million U.S. residents.  ReferenceUSA makes it faster and easier to find new business opportunities, research executives and companies, find news articles, conduct job searches, research papers, locate addresses and phone numbers, conduct market research and much more.  ReferenceUSA’s new data visualization feature alleviates patrons’ needs for more prints and downloads with new pie charts, bar graphs and heat maps, making it easier than ever before with these presentation-ready visuals. For more information, visit www.ReferenceUSA.com or call (800) 808-1113.

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