Sure, her husband’s the one with a new book just out.
But she’s the former school teacher and librarian who beat him this May with a memoir of her own — and easily the biggest name ever to headline the annual Authors & Illustrators Dinner and Silent Auction, prime fundraiser for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation.
Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush, will serve as featured speaker at the Dec. 14 event at the downtown Hilton Vancouver Washington.
Official word came on Monday from the foundation, which warned that tickets are sure to vanish quickly.
A limited number of individual tickets are available for $80 each.
Tables of 10 seats are for sale at $800.
For purchase, call the foundation at 360-699-8846 or go to: http://www.fvrlf.org/ and click on the “Donate Now” button.
Sponsored for the second straight year by Columbia Credit Union, the event runs 5 to 9 p.m. Bush likely will speak at about 8 p.m. in the main ballroom.
That follows a private champagne reception, limited to 150 guests, at $250 each. Purchase includes a personal photo with the former first lady and a copy of her autobiography, “Spoken From the Heart.” (For that privilege, a security clearance is required. Advance registration is required by Dec. 1.)
Rick Smithrud, foundation director, said Bush made a natural, if ambitious, choice as keynote speaker this year.
Her status as “the world’s most well-known librarian” and strong support for early reading and learning was unquestioned, he said. Planners also sought a big name to celebrate next year’s scheduled opening of the flagship Vancouver Community Library building in downtown.
Bush’s literary agent quickly embraced the cause and pressed for the foundation invitation, Smithrud said. The rest owes to Bush’s own commitment along with sponsors’ support, he said.
“She cares deeply about literacy, both for children and adults worldwide. It just worked out perfectly,” he said.
Bruce Murdock, morning show host for radio station K-103’s morning show, will emcee the event.
Smithrud and foundation dinner backers have snared an impressive list of regional and national literary stars this decade.
Since 2001, keynote speakers include: Jane Kirkpatrick, historical fiction author; Mike Rich, Portland screenwriter behind several Hollywood films, including the current “Secretariat”; Larry Colton, Portland author and founder of its Wordstock festival; J.A. Jance, mystery and horror novelist; Sharan Newman, medieval historian and author; Mark Ludy, popular children’s book author and illustrator; Rick Steves, author and television host of European travel guides; Lisa Jackson, an Oregon native and bestselling mystery writer; and John Lithgow, longtime theater, television and movie actor who has published several children’s stories and books of poetry.
