Delivering real-life connections relatable to her readers, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Wingate speaks about her craft at Bosque Arts Center luncheon Jan. 13
CLIFTON – What a treat for any booklover or aspiring author to be able to hear renowned writers speak about their craft, explain their inspirations. The Bosque Arts Center will host a luncheon with New York Times number one bestselling author Lisa Wingate on Jan. 13.
Wingate will detail “the rest of the story” after the publishing of her book “Before We Were Yours,” which remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years and sold over three million copies. She will discuss the sagas of families which came to light and resulted in the follow-up nonfiction book, “Before and After,” which Wingate co-wrote with Judy Christie.
The lunch and book talk begins at 11:30 a.m. A book signing will follow lunch. Reservations are required. Purchase $45 tickets online at the Bosque Arts Center website or by calling 254-675-3724.
The prolific author will also give a sneak preview of her new book, “Shelterwood,” coming this summer. The new book is based on the shocking historical events surrounding Oklahoma’s “elf children,” who fled corrupt guardians to survive alone in the forest, and a National Park Service law-enforcement ranger who rediscovers their story in 1990.
Bosque County likes to claim the successful Wingate as “one of their own,” since she lived in Clifton for 16 years during her budding career as a writer in 1999. Master storyteller Wingate has penned over thirty novels. Her award-winning works have been selected for state and community One Book reads throughout the country, have been published in over forty languages, and have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide.
Of all the things she treasures about being a writer, she enjoys connecting with people, both real and imaginary, the most.
“Of all of the books, “Tending Roses” [her first novel] remains my sentimental favorite, because of the real-life connection with my grandmother,” Wingate says on her website. “But I have loved and treasured the moments spent in the “world” of each book. Each story begins with an inspiration from life, and after that, the writing is a journey of discovery. I never know where the story will go, or how it will end, or who the characters will become, until the last words are written, though as a writer and as a person, my heart always goes to happy endings.”
“Tending Roses” was the book that put Wingate on the map. It came from wanting to preserve her grandmother’s advice on life, on savoring it, for herself and others.
The inspiration for “Before They Were Ours,” came from watching a documentary on Discovery Channel deep at night while working about the true-life history of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. Both fascinated and appalled by the story, Wingate started wondering how a crazy, random twist of fate can alter lives completely, and she started to “hear” the voices of the five siblings in the story. Thousands of people in the Memphis area knew there had to be a sinister side to the sheer amount of children being offered for adoption, but chose to stick to the story of a rich lady, a kind patron of orphaned kids.
So book lovers, come and enjoy a good lunch Jan. 13 to hear former journalist and inspirational speaker Wingate share entertaining stories about her work and books.
Photos courtesy of LISA WINGATE & BOSQUE ARTS CENTER
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Not only is Lisa an amazing author but she is an engaging speaker.