Event and Book

The National Writers Series is pleased to present Leif  Enger, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Peace Like a River, in conversation with guest host Doug Stanton, also a bestselling author and NWS co-founder.

Leif will take the stage to talk about I Cheerfully Refuse, his newest book praised by author Kristin Hannah as “my favorite novel of the year.” It is a national bestseller and Amazon’s #9 “Top 20 Book Pick” of the year. 

Set in a not-too-distant America, the novel tells the tale of Rainy, who sets sail on Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife. On the water, he encounters lunatic storms and rising corpses from the warming depths. On land, he finds increasingly desperate and illiterate people, a malignant billionaire ruling class, crumbled infrastructure, and a lawless society. Amidst the Gulliver-like challenges of life at sea and no safe landings, he is lifted by physical beauty, surprising humor, generous strangers, and an unexpected companion in a young girl who comes aboard. As time passes, Rainy’s private quest for the love of his life grows into something wider and wilder, sweeping up friends and foes alike in his strengthening wake.

The event begins at 7 p.m. and includes a Q&A and author signing. Each ticket comes with a trade paperback copy of I Cheerfully Refuse (or opt for a two-ticket package with one book). Please note: signed books are only available at the live event.

TICKET INFORMATION:
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: $42.50
Tier Two: $32.50
Admits one person to the live event and each ticket comes with one signed trade paperback edition of Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse (retail value $18). Please note: signed books are only available at the live event.

Two-Ticket Package
Tier One: $69.50
Tier Two: $49.50
This two-ticket option admits two people to the live event and comes with one signed trade paperback edition of Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse (retail value $18). Perfect for couples or friends who want to share a book together. Please note: signed books are only available at the live event.

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

VIRTUAL TICKETS
$30.50
Virtual tickets are $15 plus a book. You can choose to pick up your book at Horizon Books in Traverse City at 243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, or you can pay to have it shipped to you for an additional $8 shipping fee.

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

Which Ticket Package to Choose?

If you and a partner or friend are attending together and only need one book to share, choose our Two-Tickets/One-Book package.

About Our Book Sales
One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a signed copy of the author’s latest book along with the chance to meet the writer and have them personalize it after the show. Each sale benefits our local partner Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The bundled price of National Writers Series books is always 20 percent 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. We think a new book is one of the greatest joys of life, and we thank you for helping us make Traverse City one of the premiere destinations for authors through our book sales. 

Virtual Option
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. Please go to www.nationalwritersseries.org for ticketing information.

Why do I have to buy a book with my tickets?
NWS will often include a book with every ticket (or two tickets). We sometimes bundle a book with a ticket to lure a high-profile author to our fine small town. This is now a common practice with authors on book tours—their publishers require the bundle, not only to introduce the author to his or her readers, but also to sell books. Please note, all books are 20 percent off.

What if I already purchased the book?
If you already have the book, the book with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or, you can donate your book by contacting our office manager at [email protected]. 

Is this event kid friendly?
Most of our events are not appropriate for children.

Leif Enger grew up in Osakis, Minnesota, and worked as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio before writing his debut novel Peace Like a River, which sold more than a million copies and was named one of the Year’s Best Books by Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. His second novel, So Brave, Young, and Handsome, was also an award-winning national bestseller. His third novel Virgil Wander was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and was named a best book of the year by Amazon, Library Journal, Bookpage, and Chicago Public Library. He lives with his wife in Duluth, Minnesota.

Guest Host Doug Stanton is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of In Harm’s Way and 12 Strong, made into a major motion picture by Jerry Bruckheimer, and The Odyssey of Echo Company. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Time, The Washington Post, Men’s Journal, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, Esquire, and Outside. He was awarded the 2021 Steven Ambrose Oral History award. He attended Interlochen Arts Academy, Hampshire College, and received an MFA from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. He created the National Writers Series in 2009 with his wife, Anne, and attorney Grant Parsons. He and Anne have three children and live in Traverse City.