Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., will host six authors of young reader and teen books as part of a Summer Reading Smash at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7.
Community relations manager Kelly Flemings says the event “focuses on getting the young adults of our community excited about reading during their summer break.”
In addition to the authors, the event will feature specialty items from the Barnes & Noble Café and excerpt performances of “Ghost, the Musical” by Closed Door Entertainment at 4:30 p.m.
Flemings says a portion of sales during Summer Reading Smash will go to the Hamilton County Librarians Summer Institute, which provides continuing education to school librarians and media specialists.
Educators are encouraged to attend, he says, as these authors enjoy speaking to school groups and organizations and are setting up their fall speaking calendar.
Call 423-893-0186 for more information.
Participating authors
* E.F. Abbott: “John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy.” In one of four titles launching the Based on a True Story series, Abbott (a pseudonym for author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb) profiles the youngest known soldier in the American Civil War. The book’s 20 short chapters are interwoven with archival photos and line drawings.
* J.D. Harper: “Glint.” This time-traveling adventure incorporates elements of history and science fiction as teenagers Dan, Ritchie and Jesse try to solve a mystery.
* Victoria Schwab: “Broken Ground (Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts Series 2).” This is the first series for middle-grade readers from the acclaimed author of several novels for adults (“Vicious”) and young adults (“The Archived”).
* Dean Sikes: “Hope 365.” Since 1993, the Chattanooga author has spoken at more than 1,900 events in nine nations to audiences exceeding 1.3 million. The main message of his 16 books for teenagers and parents is “You Matter.”
* Courtney C. Stevens: “The Lies About Truth” and “Faking Normal.” The Nashville resident, a native of Kentucky, is an adjunct professor and former youth minister who tackles complex subjects in her teen novels.
* Greg Wilkey: “The Life and Undeath of Mortimer Drake.” Wilkey, who has drawn praise as a “writer to watch” from Anne Rice (“Interview With the Vampire”), will feature an Omnibus Edition of his suspense series that contains the first four books.