Towles, Unger and Sittenfeld among those to make presentations

The staff of the Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources Department this week announced an expanded line-up for the 2024 Off the Page literary celebration, which will begin on Nov. 1.
“This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, featuring bestselling authors, writing workshops, book signings, and special outreach events at all 10 county library branches,” a news release explains. “All events are free and open to the public,” it points out.
Notable additions to the line-up “include international bestselling suspense novelist Lisa Unger, speaking at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the William H. Jervey Jr. Venice Library, and John Fowler, author of A Forest in the Clouds, making a presentation at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Gulf Gate Library, the release points out.
“We are so excited to welcome Lisa Unger, the queen of psychological suspense, and John Fowler, who offers the only first-person account of what happened to Dian Fossey,” said Renée Di Pilato, director of Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources, in the release. “This year’s program brings together incredible talent from a variety of literary genres, offering something for everyone.”
The following is the full schedule of events:
- Soman Chainani, Thursday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m. at the Shannon Staub Library, located at 4675 Career Lane in North Port — bestselling author of The School for Good & Evilseries, now a Netflix film.
- Amor Towles, Friday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at the Venice Performing Arts Center, which stands at 1 Indian Ave., Building 5, in Venice — bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscowand Rules of Civility.
- Edward Lee, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6 p.m. at the Shannon Staub Library, located at 4675 Career Lane in North Port — celebrity chef and James Beard Award-winning author of Buttermilk Graffiti.
- Oliver James, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 3 p.m. at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library (2801 Newtown Blvd. in Sarasota) and Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m. at the Fruitville Library (100 Apex Road in Sarasota) — social media influencer and motivational speaker.
- Rebecca Renner, Thursday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. at Selby Library, which stands at 1331 First St. in Sarasota — National Geographic writer and author ofGator Country.
- Curtis Sittenfeld, Saturday, Nov. 16, 3 p.m. at Selby Library — bestselling author of Prep, Eligible, and Romantic Comedy.
- Lisa Unger, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. at the William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Library, which stands at 300 Nokomis Ave. S. in Venice — New York Timesbestselling suspense novelist of more than 20 novels, including Last Girl Ghosted.
- John Fowler, Thursday, Nov. 21, 3 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library, located at 7112 Curtiss Ave. in Sarasota — author of A Forest in the Clouds, “a riveting memoir about his time spent working with Dian Fossey and mountain gorillas in Rwanda.”
- Family Day Event — Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, which is located at 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd. in Venice. Bestselling children’s author “Jarod Rosello and award-winning illustrator David C. Gardner will host a fun-filled day with story time, crafts, food trucks, and more,” the release says.
“The Off the Page celebration fosters connections within Sarasota’s literary and arts community by spotlighting a diverse range of authors and creative expressions,” the release explains. “The event is made possible by the Friends of the Venice Library.”
“We proud to sponsor Off the Page again this year,” said Janet Knudsen, president of The Friends of the Venice Library. “It’s a pleasure to help Sarasota County readers hear their favorite authors right in their neighborhood libraries,” she added in the release.
For updates and more information, visit SarasotaCountyLibraries.org/OffThePage or call 311 or 941-861-1110.