91´«Ã½

CHICAGO - The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), will host the Gala Author Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT on Monday, June 27 at the 2011 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in New Orleans.

The Gala Author Tea will feature Eleanor Brown, Nevada Barr, Dorothea Benton Frank, Amanda Kyle Williams, Susan Wiggs and Elizabeth Wiggs Maas, as well as special guest Karin Slaughter. Attendees will enjoy tea, finger sandwiches and a variety of sweet treats. Some books will be given away, while others will be available for purchase at a generous discount. This event is sponsored by ReferenceUSA, which will provide all attendees with a free tote bag.

Eleanor Brown, author of "Weird Sisters" (Penguin, 2011), was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in a family of readers, including her parents and two sisters. She holds a master’s degree in literature and lives with her partner, writer J.C. Hutchins.

Nevada Barr is a novelist, actor and artist best known for her New York Times best-selling, award-winning mystery series featuring Anna Pigeon. A former National Park Service Ranger, she lives with her husband in New Orleans.

New York Times best-selling author Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivan’s Island, S.C. She resides in the New York area with her husband.

Amanda Kyle Williams has contributed to numerous short story collections and worked as a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She lives near Atlanta, and is currently at work on her second Keye Street thriller. "The Stranger You Seek" (Bantam/Random House, Aug. 2011) marks her suspense debut.

Susan Wiggs is a New York Times best-selling author of women’s fiction, including the popular Lakeshore Chronicles series. Elizabeth Wiggs Maas, is a graduate of Pomona College and an MBA candidate at the University of Chicago. Her blog, , chronicles her misadventures on the way to the altar. Their book is titled "How I Planned Your Wedding: The All-True Story of a Mother and Daughter Surviving the Happiest Day of Their Lives" (Harlequin, 2011).

Karin Slaughter is the New York Times and internationally best-selling author of 11 thrillers, including "Broken," "Undone," "Fractured," "Beyond Reach," "Triptych" and "Faithless." She is a native of Georgia. To help spread the word about the needs for community support for public libraries, she has spearheaded . At the Gala Author Tea, Slaughter will discuss her work on behalf of libraries and introduce author Eleanor Brown.

The Gala Author Tea will be held at the Morial Convention Center, Room 293-296. Advance tickets cost $49 ($45 ALTAFF division members); the event code is ALT2. On-site tickets will cost $55, if seats are available.

For more information about the Gala Author Tea and other ALTAFF events at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference, visit .

###

is a division of the 91´«Ã½ that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF 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, visit , or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org