Author's Luncheon

Introducing Mary Kubica: Featured Author of our 15th Annual Author's Luncheon & Fundraiser!

By Jennifer Van Pelt

An image of Mary Kubica, the featured author for our 15th Annual Author's Luncheon & Fundraiser!

An image of Mary Kubica, the featured author for our 15th Annual Author's Luncheon & Fundraiser!

We recently announced that our 15th Annual Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser will feature New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author Mary Kubica! The event will be held on Friday, October 19th at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

Mary Kubica is most widely known for her thriller/mystery debut novel The Good Girl.

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life. 

When Colin decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota instead of delivering her to his employers, Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them. But no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter. -
Synopsis of The Good Girl from Goodreads

She also has written three other fiction novels: Pretty Baby, Don’t You Cry, and Every Last Lie. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she is currently working on a fifth novel that is due to be released September 4, 2018. Each Author’s Luncheon attendee will receive a copy of her new book, When the Lights Go Out, just weeks after it is released!

Image of the book cover for When the Lights Go Out. The tagline for the book is: Insomnia has taken her sleep, now it's taking her mind.

Image of the book cover for When the Lights Go Out. The tagline for the book is: Insomnia has taken her sleep, now it's taking her mind.

Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls said about Kubica’s upcoming novel, “Kubica brilliantly unravels the lives of two women in this tense and haunting tale of identity and deceit. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT will keep you questioning everything-and everyone-until the riveting conclusion. A twisty, captivating, edge-of-your-seat read.”

A mother of two, Mary Kubica is a former high school teacher with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She currently resides outside of Chicago, Illinois.

What is the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser?

The Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser is our signature fundraising event, which was attended by over 500 participants in 2017. Celebrating its 15th year, the event has featured renowned authors, including Salman Rushdie, Jodi Picoult, and Isabelle Allende, and gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about their life outside of writing and their novels, while supporting literacy education for children and families across Southern California. Each year, we raise over $200,000 that directly supports our mission to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading.

Integrating both style and intellect, the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser offers something for everyone with our marketplace, silent auction, and raffle where patrons have the opportunity to win spectacular prizes while also directly supporting the three primary programs of Words Alive: Read Aloud Program, Teen Services Program, and our Family Literacy Program. The funds generated at the Author’s Luncheon & Fundraiser make up a considerable portion of what Words Alive needs to continue serving over 5,000 children and families each year.

How Can I Participate in this Event?

There are multiple ways to participate in the event! Options include sponsoring the event, sponsoring a table, or donating to our silent auction. Become a table sponsor and enjoy premier seating at the event for 10 or 12 guests and admission to an exclusive post-event reception with Mary Kubica! Act now - this event is expected to sell out!

We also have assorted options of event sponsorship available that can vary from the singular Presenting Sponsor to a Community Supporter. Every sponsor gets recognition and listed in the event program, with additional opportunities available.

For more package details and contact information, visit our Author’s Luncheon page on our website here.

Sources:

http://marykubica.com/

Author's Luncheon "Going Green"

In an effort to help the environment and direct as much of our budget as possible towards programs Words Alive will be sending electronic or e-mail invitations this year. Make sure that we have you, and all of your friends', e-mail addresses by Monday, September 5. We want to make sure everyone gets our invitation that will be going out next week. 

We are going to have another exciting, sell out event, with author Jodi Picoult. A limited number of individual tickets will go on sale Saturday, September 10, 2016. Sponsorship opportunities are still available and we are happy to design an experience that best represents your partnership with Words Alive. Please visit our event page for all of the details. 

Sydney MacDonald - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - August 2016

Please join us in congratulating Sydney MacDonaldWords Alive Volunteer of the Month for August 2016!

Sydney, like so many Words Alive volunteers, joined our family through her own friends and family.  Her mother, Andrea MacDonald, is current Words Alive board vice chair and has chaired the annual fundraising event, the Author’s Luncheon for two years.  Sydney was looking for a fun summer experience, and our office was looking for an intern – the timing was perfect!

Sydney has exuded an incredible professionalism in all of her projects.  She has assisted our staff with website maintenance and review, with donor communication around the upcoming Luncheon, with data clean-up and programmatic projects.  No matter whether the task has been entertaining or monotonous, Sydney handles everything with the utmost detail and quiet focus.

Sydney has been able to help us get organized and update our Donor Management system so that we can pull reports more efficiently. She has also helped us reach out to Raffle and Silent Auction Donors for our upcoming event. Her organization skills have helped keep the development and communications office moving this summer.

Thank you, Sydney, for giving us your time this summer and for your hard work!  We are lucky that you have shared your talents with us, among many other summer activities like teaching dance class!  We are very proud of you.  Thank you.

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Sydney Below!

Sydney, tell us a little about yourself! 
I am 16 years old, going into my junior year of high school.  I have a passion for dancing and spend most of my time either at my dance studio or at my school's dance room. When I'm not dancing or working at Words Alive, I am at the beach with my friends or reading.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? How did you first get involved with Words Alive?
I have been volunteering at Words Alive since June.  My mother has been volunteering at Words Alive for a couple of years and I have always really respected what they do.  Reading has always been a big part of my life and I love the idea of bringing it into other people's life. Since I knew I was going to have free time this summer, I thought helping out at words alive would be the perfect solution.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
My favorite part of working at Words Alive is sending out donation requests and information sheets about the upcoming event, the annual luncheon. It is very exciting to know that I am informing new people about Words Alive and that they can see the magic of this nonprofit that I see.  The most rewarding part is when people respond to these requests.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I am currently reading Mind Prey by John Sandford.