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Buy tickets online, or call or stop by the City Opera House Box Office, Mon-Fri, 10 am to 5 pm: 231-941-8082, ext. 201, 106 E. Front St.

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Battle of the Books • PoetryWorkshops • Front Street Writers • Scholarship Winners • Writing Workshops • Teaching Jobs

Raising Writers

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Thank You

Look Who’s Been Here

2009

Elmore Leonard

Peter Leonard

2010

Alkon

Rhonda Janzen

Tom Brokaw

Thomas Lynch

Mary Karr

Audrey Niffenegger

Mario Batali

James Bradley

Peter Mattheissen

Karl Marlantes

2011

Janet Leahy

Lisa Albert

Sara Brokaw

Mitch Albom

Paula McLain

Bonnie Jo Campbell

Jack Driscoll

Michael Zadoorian

Roy Blount Jr.

Sebastian Junger

Richard Ford

Elmore Leonard

Daniel Silva

Gretchen Holt Witt

Tom Perrotta

Jeffrey Eugenides

David Sedaris

Chuck Klosterman

2012

Vince Gilligan

Jodi Picolt

Geraldine Brooks

Michael Sandel

Anna Quindlen

Susan Casey

Natalie Bakapoulos

Janet Evanovich

Lee Child

Maggie Stiefvater

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Benjamin Busch

Michael Connelly

2013

Chip Johannessen

Buzz Bissinger

Blaine Harden

Gillian Flynn

Nathaniel Philbrick

Jason Matthews

Colum McCann

Temple Grandin

Mitch Albom

Benjamin Percy

Michael Paterniti

Jamie Ford

David Finkel

Nikki Giovanni

Sara Paretsky

2014

Kelly Corrigan

George Packer

Steve Luxenberg

Anchee Min

Emily Giffin

Daniel James Brown

Karin Slaughter

Greg Holmes

Katherine Roth

Diana Gabaldon

A.J. Baime

Bryce Hoffman

Nancy Horan

Sophie Kinsella

Rita Mae Brown

Brian Castner

Brian Turner

2015

Tess Gerristen

Garth Stein

Debbie Macomber

Jeff Shaara

Harlan Coben

Hampton Sides

Mardi Link

Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Ben Sidran

Bonnie Jo Campbell

Paula McLain

Sarah Chayes

Susan Casey

John. U. Bacon

2016

James Rollins

James Tobin

Tui Sutherland

Laurie R. King

Brian Castner

David Ebershoff

Lucy Kalanithi

Jim and Lynn Kouf

Paola Gianturco

David Maraniss

Margaret Atwood

Ann Patchett

Jodi Picoult

Kyle Mills

Daniel Bergner

2017

John Donovan

Beth Macy

Gordon Korman

Greg lles

Eric Fair

Elizabeth Strout

Andrea Petersen

Mary Roach

Julia Glass

Bruce Cameron

Doug Stanton

Alice Waters

Terry McDonell

Dan Gerber

Murray Howe

Sebastian Junger

Phil Caputo

2018

Doug Stanton

Peter Heller

Nikki Giovanni

Peter Brown

Anna Quindlen

Drew Philp

Eileen McNamera

Samantha Irby

David Grann

Richard Russo

Adriana Trigiani

Annie Spence

Beth Macy

Mona Hanna-Attisha

Joe Hill

Amy Goldstein

Tayari Jones

Alice Walker

Richard Clarke

John U. Bacon

2019

Jen Sincero

Tommy Tomlinson

More to come….

Here’s What They Said

“Traverse is French for ‘cross.’ Not as in, ‘I thinkI can cross the National Writers Series off my list,’ but rather, ‘I’d cross the US on my knees for another fine day at the National Writers Series.”

–David Sedaris

“The National Writers Series is a consistently fun, smart, and warm gathering for book lovers—whether they be readers or writers or both. It’s one of my favorites.”

—Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl

“Traverse City wrung my tired soul out. I got a chance to spend some time with the young writers of tomorrow, part of the National Writers Series, and then I read in the magnificent old Opera House. All the ghosts of the past and the voices of the future in one very special place.”

–Colum McCann

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A Year Round Book Festival

1200 W 11th Street, Suite 231
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 486-6868

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About Us

Our History

Rene Descartes once said, “The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries”

The Writers Series of Traverse City, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to engaging world renowned authors in meaningful conversations in the Traverse City area. We want to move our audiences toward an understanding of literature, history and contemporary issues. Our goal is to create a deeper understanding of issues and ways of life that exist within and outside of our rural boundaries. And we want our audience members to connect with each other inside the confines of the historic and beautiful City Opera House. We are also “raising writers” with programs that help students express themselves, explore the world through reading, develop their imaginations, and to think critically.

Our monthly author events have earned Traverse City the moniker of Michigan’s “Book City.” Over the past decade, we’ve become an integral part of the region’s cultural vibe and downtown economy. Traverse City is now considered the cultural hotspot of Michigan.

Nearly 9,000 people attend our author events each year, and tens of thousands more listen to the conversations on subsequent broadcasts aired on Interlochen Public Radio in northwest Michigan, WKAR in Lansing, and WDET in Detroit, as well as UpNorth Media community television and YouTube.

Our authors have included some of the most highly regarded writers in the country: Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, Jodi Picoult, Sebastian Junger, David Sedaris, Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, and Harlan Coben—more than 155 authors in all

What’s it like for a visiting author? Here’s what New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani had this to say:

“The National Writers Series is a magnificent program that brings writers and readers together on the glorious shores of Lake Michigan in Traverse City. Their hospitality, insight as fellow authors, and the in-depth conversation about the things that matter is a celebration of books, reading and ideas where the audience and participants leave inspired.”

I hope you can join us!

Sincerely,

Anne Stanton

Executive Director

About our Raising Writers Programs

Since founding our Writers Series in 2010, we’ve spread our wings to support young readers and writers in all kinds of ways.

We have awarded $48,000 in college scholarships—three each year—to 30 seniors and juniors who are passionate about writing.
In 2012, we developed a high school creative writing program in partnership with the public school district to provide a home for passionate writers. Taught five days a week at the Career Tech Center, Front Street Writers draws students from a five-county area—passionate writers who, in many cases, have no creative writing class in their rural home district. The students are treated to visits and master classes by a bestselling author who later appears on the NWS stage. Students also publish their work in the NWS Literary Journaland recite their work on the Opera House stage. NWS provides a teaching fellow whose experience as a professional writer adds depth to the classroom experience.
We host a Battle of the Books competition, which involves some 270 fourth and fifth graders in the Grand Traverse Count area. Students have fun, learn teamwork and closely read books in a wide range of genres. A best-selling author arrives on the day of the “battle” finale to serve as a master of ceremonies and to describe their path and process of writing books for youth.
We also put together creative writing workshops for students in partnership with Northwestern Michigan College. The workshops are as fanciful as writing Harry Potter fan fiction and as serious as college essay writing.
Finally, and importantly, we have put together poetry workshops at Traverse Heights and Blair Elementary schools. We believe it’s important these children learn how to creatively use their voice to express their feelings.

Storytellers are makers. They create worlds and futures otherwise unimagined. We hope that someday one of our young storytellers will return to the Opera House to talk about their newest best-selling book, and how their love of writing was nurtured early on by the National Writers Series.

Staff

Anne Stanton

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Cindy Weaver

Business Manager

Jodee Taylor

Communications Manager

Front Street Writers

Erica Berry

NWS Teaching Fellow

Teresa Scollon

TBA-ISD Classroom Teacher

Board Members

Laura Asiala

Board Treasurer

Bob Giles

Board Member

Rorie Lewis

Board Vice President

Grant Parsons

Co-Founder and Board President

Gail Parsons

Board Secretary

Doug Stanton

Co-Founder

Lisa Thauvette

Board Member

Rochelle Riley

Board Member

Michele P. Howard

Board member

Accessibility at the City Opera House

Almost all National Writers Series are held at the City Opera House, which offers accessibility services to ensure your experience at City Opera House is an enjoyable one. If you require a deaf interpreter at an event, please call Anne Stanton at 231-486-6868 at least two weeks in advance of the event.

Please alert the ticket office when requesting any of the following services with your ticket order. If you have any questions with the services listed below call the Opera House at (231) 941-8082.

Accessible seating and transfer seating at both price levels
Stays current with state codes & criteria
Offers “Sound Mate” assisting listening devices
Sign Language Interpretation Service available when requested a minimum of four weeks in advance
Patrons elevator access to both levels of seating
Wheelchair on site if needed to assist
Offers by arrangement accessible entrance through backstage to assist with lack of accessible parking in close proximity to venue’s public entrance

$0-$19.99	$2.50
$20-$29.99	$3.50
$30-$39.99	$4.50
$40-$49.99	$5.50
$50-$59.99	$6.50
$60+	$7.50

Raising Writers

Watch & Listen

In the News

About Us

Official Airport Sponsor

Sponsorship Opportunties

Thank You

Look Who’s Been Here

Here’s What They Said

A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Sponsors!

Our Grantors

Sustaining Sponsor

Event Sponsor

Season Sponsor

Media Sponsors

Community Partners

Email List

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About Us

Our History

Staff

Front Street Writers

Board Members

Accessibility at the City Opera House

NWS 2018 Annual Report and 2018 CDP Funder Report

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