Robin Glossner smiled with excitement as she discussed the details of the James V. Brown Library's 10th annual Author Gala.
"I'm just so happy to have her come back to Williamsport," Glossner said. "She's a library's dream."
As the director of development for the library, Glossner knows the challenges that come with selecting the right author at the right time.
And this is the right time to have Adriana Trigiani make a repeat trip to Williamsport from her home in Greenwich Village, N.Y.
Trigiani is the best-selling author of 12 books, including the popular "Big Stone Gap" series and "Valentine" trilogy, along with the "Viola" books for young adults. She also is the author of two nonfiction books, "Cooking With My Sisters: One Hundred Years of Family Recipes, from Bari to Big Stone Gap" and "Don't Sing at the Table: Life Lessons From My Grandmother."
Glossner said that when Trigiani was here in 2005, the event was a sellout, with Trigiani's warmth and wit making for a memorable event.
Previous authors for the event have included Robert Smith (2002), F. Paul Wilson (2003), Kathy Reichs (2004), Adriana Trigiani (2005), Jon and Jona Van Zyle (2007), Marisa de Los Santos (2008), Tori Murden McClure (2009), Michael Buckley (2010) and Snigda Prakash (2011). No gala was held in 2006 because it was the year of the capital campaign, Glossner said.
Glossner said Trigiani is the only author featured at a Gala who has given money back to the Brown Library.
The success of the event is possible each year because of the generosity of community supporters and donors, members of the committee said. The Friends of the Library also made a large donation to the event, and Friends volunteers also packaged the invitations.
For the travel raffle, an anonymous donor has provided a stay at the Wyndham Governor's Green, Williamsburg, Va. The donor also will offer a stay in Old Town Alexandria, Va., for the library volunteer who sells the most travel raffle tickets.
The event will again feature a silent and Chinese auction, and a champagne preview with a meet-and-greet with Trigiani before the event for those who donate $1,000 or more.
A "sword in the stone-" style auction will be featured for patrons who buy a key for a chance to unlock the sword and win a bicycle and helmet.
Gold Leaf Frame Shoppe donated the matte and frame for a photo of Italy that was taken and donated by local artist Fred Gilmour.
Also highlighted are a dinner for eight at the Vallamont home of Marcie and David Finn prepared by Marcie and Stephanie Calder; a handblown Venetian-style glass cruet created and donated by Daniel Alters; members of the Junior League of Williamsport will decorate a home for the holidays; and a Kindle Fire 2 and Nook tablet e-reader loaded with a Trigiani book.
"We have a lot of art, including a photo of Pine Creek from Richard Karp," Glossner said.
Rick Mason will be the master of ceremonies for this year's event, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Williamsport Country Club, 800 Country Club Lane.
Tickets are $65 per person with $1,000 sponsorship tables available. Registration and payment is due by Sept. 21.
Raffle tickets and gala reservations are available at the library, and more information is available by calling 326-0536.
Reservations also can be made to Annmarie Phillips by contacting her at 322-6112 or ann marie@pshi.com.
