Event and Book

Jonathan Eig will take the stage with guest host Rochelle Riley to talk about his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, King: A Life, the first major biography written in decades about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Vividly written and deeply researched, this revealing portrait by a master storyteller is an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself.

He casts fresh light on his family’s origins as well as his complex relationships with his wife, father, and fellow activists. In this landmark biography and relying on recently unclassified FBI documents, Eig gives us an MLK whose demands for racial and economic justice remain as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.

EVENT DETAILS:

Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music and a cash bar, and the conversation begins at 7 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session, and an author signing event following in the lobby.

Traverse City locals who’d like to read the book in advance of the event have the option to pick up their copy at Horizon Books. Instructions will be emailed to you after your purchase.

Additional City Opera House transaction fees are applied at checkout for in-person tickets.

Tier One indicates premium seating options with the best views, available on the main floor closest to the stage along with premium sections of the balcony.

Tier Two indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony.

Individual Tickets:
Tier One: $44
Tier Two: $34
Admits one person to the live event and each ticket comes with one trade paperback edition of Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life (retail value $20). Signed copies are only available in-person at the live event.

Two-Ticket Package
Tier One: $71
Tier Two: $51
This two-ticket option admits two people to the live event and comes with one trade paperback edition of Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life (retail value $20). Perfect for couples or friends who want to share a book together. Signed copies are only available in-person at the live event.

Virtual Tickets

Even if you can’t make it to the City Opera House, you can still enjoy National Writers Series events from the comfort of your own home on event night or later on-demand when it’s more convenient.

Each Virtual Ticket includes a private YouTube link to the event, which begins at 6:50 PM. Virtual audience members can contribute questions to the Q&A through a moderated chat.

You have the option to buy the featured book for an additional fee. Shipping is available anywhere in the continental U.S. by our local bookstore partner Horizon Books of downtown Traverse City, Michigan. Actual costs applied at checkout. Signed copies are only available at the live-event.

Student Tickets: $10
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.

Pay What You Can: National Writers Series is dedicated to providing experiences and events to everyone who seeks them, and in that spirit,  we are happy to provide a book to anyone who cannot afford to buy it. Thanks to our generous donors, you may use the code BookChampion (one word) for a complimentary book based on the honor system.

Group Tickets:
For discounted rates on ticket packages of 20 or more, please contact [email protected]

About Our Book Sales:

One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a copy of the author’s latest book along with the chance to often meet the writer and have them personalize it after the event. National Writers Series audiences sometimes get early-access or preview editions of future best-sellers.

Each sale benefits our local partner Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The bundled price of National Writers Series books is always 20% below retail, so you also get a great deal.

If you already own the featured book, the one you receive with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or you can donate it back to us at the National Writers Series, and we’ll distribute it to libraries and young writers in Northern Michigan. 

National Writers Series author events are usually not suitable for children, unless noted.

Jonathan Eig is a former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times bestselling author of Ali: A Life, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season. Ken Burns calls him “a master storyteller.”

Rochelle Riley, director of Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit. She formerly worked as an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist for 20 years and has been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. Her books include That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed The World and The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery.