Ann Patchett is the author of nine novels: The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician’s Assistant, Bel Canto, Run, State of Wonder, Commonwealth, The Dutch House and Tom Lake. She was the editor of Best American Short Stories, 2006, and has written four books of nonfiction–Truth & Beauty, about her friendship with the writer Lucy Grealy, What Now?, an expansion of her graduation address at Sarah Lawrence College, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, a collection of essays examining the theme of commitment, and These Precious Days, essays on home, family, friendship, and writing. In 2019, she published her first children’s book, Lambslide, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, followed by Escape Goat in 2020.
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Patchett has been the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including a National Humanities Medal, England’s Women’s Prize, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Book Sense Book of the Year, a Guggenheim Fellowship, The Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Prize, The Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the American Bookseller’s Association’s Most Engaging Author Award, and the Women’s National Book Association’s Award. Her novel, The Dutch House, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her books have been both New York Times Notable Books and New York Times bestsellers. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages.
Born and raised in northern Michigan, Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied creative writing and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. For two decades, she has enjoyed the privilege of helping nonprofit organizations thrive by connecting generous people with their missions and projects that reflect their deepest values. After several years of working in publishing in New York City, Erin returned to Traverse City, where she was introduced to the world of philanthropy at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, which is honored by this event’s underwriters. Eventually, she answered an opportunity to continue her career at the internationally-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts, spending 6 years working with the arts institution’s alumni and supporters. In 2014, Erin became executive director of Parallel 45 Theatre—a professional arts organization she co-founded—directing philanthropy and managing its general operations for the next 7 years. Erin is now thrilled to return to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy as a senior charitable giving specialist, helping protect the irreplaceable natural, scenic, and farmlands that define our region. She lives in Traverse City with her husband, keynote speaker and magician Ben Whiting, and their very good dog, Scooter.
Local Bookstores
Bay Books – Suttons Bay
Brilliant Books – Traverse City
Cottage Book Shop – Glen Arbor
Horizon Books – Traverse City
McLean & Eakin – Petoskey
Saturn Booksellers – Gaylord
Event Underwriters
Lola Jackson and Dilys Tosteson Garcia in honor of the Grand Traverse Regional Conservancy
Literary Underwriter
A Generous Friend of NWS