Event and Book

The Clark and Karen Bunting ‘Natural Wonders’ Author Conversations

The National Writers Series is thrilled to bring Amy Tan to the City Opera House stage. Amy is the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club, and her new nonfiction book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, is a gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight.

“Unexpected and spectacular,” —Ann Patchett, best-selling author of These Precious Days

Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, Amy charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.

In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

The event takes place at the City Opera House. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and live music, and the event starts at 7 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION:
In-person Tickets:
Tier One Tickets
$57 – Each single ticket includes a hardcover copy of The Backyard Bird Chronicles, $30 (includes 20% discount & tax)
$84  – Each double ticket includes one hardcover copy of the book

Tier Two Tickets:
$47 – Each single ticket includes one hardcover copy of The Backyard Bird Chronicles, $30 reflects 20% discount plus tax
$64  – Each double ticket includes one hardcover copy of the book

Virtual Tickets:
$45 – Each virtual tickets includes a copy of theThe Backyard Bird Chronicles, $30 reflects 20% discount plus tax

Student Tickets: $5 (Does not include book)

Born in the U.S. in 1952 to immigrant parents from China, Amy Tan grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She attended five colleges: Linfield College, San Jose City College, San Jose State University, University of California at Santa Cruz, and University of California at Berkeley.

In 1987, Amy went to China for the first time, accompanied by her mother. When she returned home, she learned that she had received several offers based on her submission of three short stories. The resulting book of connected stories,The Joy Luck Club, was hailed as a novel and became a surprise bestseller, spending over forty weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Amy has lectured internationally at universities, including Stanford, Oxford, Jagellonium, and Georgetown both in Washington, DC and Doha, Qatar. She did a TED talk on creativity and spoke at the White House, appeared on the popular NPR program Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, as well as on Sesame Street.and in the documentary Boomers. The National Endowment for the Arts chose The Joy Luck Club for its inaugural Big Read program in 2007. Read her full bio here.

Ed Ronco is the news director at Interlochen Public Radio, a post he’s held since June of 2022. He moved back to his home state of Michigan after nine years in Seattle, where he was the local host of “All Things Considered” for public radio station KNKX. Before that, he worked as a reporter in Sitka, Alaska, where he covered everything from whales to the school board, and South Bend, Indiana, where he covered politics and business. Ed and his partner, David, live just outside Traverse City.