Through a partnership with the Upper Arlington Public Library and donors like you, the UACF was able to bring bestselling author Amor Towles to UA to share his perspective on his writing process and some of the stories behind his critically acclaimed novels.
Towles' two published novels are both New York Times bestsellers. His first novel, Rules of Civility, was recognized as one of the best books of 2011 by the Wall Street Journal. The Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR also recognized his second novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, as one of the best books of 2016.
On Sunday, Towles joined us first for a VIP reception at the Amelita Mirolo Barn where guests enjoyed a gourmet brunch served by Steven's Catering and had a chance to speak individually with author, get books signed, and hear stories about the themes that inspired Amor's novel, A Gentleman in Moscow. After the brunch, crowds gathered at the High School to hear Amor speak. Towles spent time expounding on the rich history of the Metropol hotel, one of the major features in his most recent novel, and answered many questions from the audience about his expierences and research process.
This event was unforgettable for many of the attendees. One woman wrote "I am so grateful for priveledge of hearing Amor speak. His speech, like his writing, was breathtaking. It brought a new light to my reading and I cannot wait to share what I learned with my friends and family." Another man attending his first Author Visit stated "I cannot believe I did not know about this before now. What a great event!"
We want to thank all of our donors, including major donors such as Upper Arlington Rotary, for making this event possible. If you have an interest in contributing futher to this fund or have questions about other funds at the Upper Arlington Community Foundation, please give us a call at (614) 459-0700.