Club Book, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency's free lecture series that brings notable writers to libraries outside of the two downtowns, has announced its winter/spring season. Visiting writers include a Man Booker finalist, a beloved local memoirist, a best-selling mystery writer and an Oprah author. Here's the lineup:
• Omar El Akkad: 7 p.m. Feb. 13, St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Av., St. Paul. His debut novel, "American War," offers a dystopian view of a future marked by climate change and war.
• Peter Geye: 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka. Minneapolis writer Geye is the Minnesota Book Award-winning writer of three novels set on Minnesota's North Shore.
• William Kent Krueger: 6:30 p.m. March 1, Carver County Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen. The best-selling author of the Cork O'Connor mysteries, Krueger is also the winner of five Minnesota Book Awards.
• Laura Lippman: 7 p.m. March 14, Thomas County Park, Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul. The author of the Tess Monaghan series of mysteries, Lippman consistently makes the New York Times best-seller list.
• Ariel Lawhon: 6:30 p.m. April 16, Hennepin County Library, 830 Winnetka Av. N., Golden Valley. Lawhon's historical novels include "The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress," and "Flight of Dreams."
• Anita Shreve: 6:30 p.m. April 19, R.H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury. Shreve is the author of nearly two dozen books, including "The Pilot's Wife," which was an Oprah Book and a national bestseller.
• Patricia Hampl: 7 p.m. May 3, Scott County Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Av. SE., Prior Lake. St. Paul writer Hampl is a nationally known memoirist, the author of "A Romantic Education," "The Florist's Daughter," and her new memoir, "The Art of a Wasted Day." Hampl is a three-time Minnesota Book Award winner and a professor at the University of Minnesota.
• Emily Fridlund: 7 p.m. May 7, Ramsey County Library, 2180 Hamline Av. N., Roseville. Edina native Fridlund is the author of a story collection, "Catapult," winner of the Mary McCarthy Award, and a novel, "History of Wolves," a finalist for the Man Booker Prize.
• Samantha Irby: 7 p.m. May 9, Hennepin County Library, 8500 W. Broadway Av., Brooklyn Park. The comedian and memoirist is the author of the popular blog, "Bitches Gotta Eat." Her essay collection, "Meaty," was a best-seller--and is being reiussed this year--as was her latest book, "We Are Never Meeting in Real Life."
Laurie Hertzel • 612-673-7302
Twitter: @StribBooks
