With over 50 novels, multiple screenplays and now a television thriller under his belt, Elmore Leonard is a Michigan literary treasure.
Leonard will be giving a presentation at the National Writers Series event during the National Cherry Festival July 2. His presentation, which will be tasty in its own right, will be paired with a 'Pure Michigan Picnic,' prepared by award-winning chef Eric Nittolo of the Boathouse Restaurant.
The evening will feature National Writers Series founder and New York Times Bestseller author Doug Stanton in conversation with Leonard during the first ever National Cherry Festival National Writers Series event.
"We like to think these evenings are like fun dinner parties, where around eight o'clock the conversation turns entertaining and full of surprises," says Stanton.
Leonard is credited with over 50 novels, screenplays and now the television show
Justified which is based around the popular Leonard character U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens from the novels
Pronto and
Riding the Rap and the short story
Fire in the Hole. The show airs each week on FX Television and in May was honored with a prestigious Peabody Award.
Native Detroiter Leonard's earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
Among his best-known works are
Get Shorty,
Out of Sight,
Hombre,
Mr. Majestyk and
Rum Punch, which was filmed as
Jackie Brown. Leonard's short stories include ones that became the films
3:10 to Yuma and
The Tall T.
Tickets to the "entertaining evening by the bay" are on sale now and include the Pure Michigan Picnic, wine, an Elmore Leonard book, along with a prelude of music performed by musician Ron Getz. Premium seats near the stage are $49.95 and include an author-signed book. Reserved seats are $39.95.
Visit the Cherry Festival
website to purchase tickets.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Doug Stanton, National Writers Series
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