Battle of the Books, three authors read excerpts from their own books, demonstrating their skill/artistry in writing various elements of storytelling.
The categories are:
- Opening Paragraph(s)
- Setting a scene
- Introducing a character
- Dialogue
- Action
- Random page
- Closing lines
All segments are limited to three minutes of material, and not all categories are used. The authors prepare in advance, selecting the best and most entertaining examples from one of their published works. The Random Read, however, is a game of chance. The audience selects a page to be read at random, and the author must read whatever is on that page: good, bad, or indifferent. The length of the program, as set by the library, determines how many segments are used and how much time is left over from the three-minute time limits. Generally, the clock determines whether to add or omit rounds of reading. The audience votes on which reading made the greatest impression on them for each round, and there are participation quizzes in which the audience is asked to identify the famous source of those same elements read from literature. Prizes are awarded, and we ask for time for each volunteer author to sell/sign copies of their books and answer questions in an informal setting after the program.
Adult Events • RSVP below.
All programming is sponsored by The Friends of the Parkland Community Library. Learn more about The Friends on their webpage.
