In this inaugural season, the Morristown Festival
of Books introduces One Community One Book (OCOB) and its 2014 selection of
Morris County resident’s YA novel, Providence. The One Community, One Book committee,
co-chaired by Roxbury resident Kim Armstrong and Morristown resident Michelle
Russo, considered a wide variety books, before settling on Ms. Cocca’s Providence.
The OCOB initiative encourages curiosity, dialogue and discovery by engaging
community book groups, high school students and teachers, library patrons and
the public at large in discussions using a single book that appeals to a
diverse readership. The One Book
selection needs broad appeal to all ages of readers. Providence touches
on loss and abandonment, the challenges of the elderly and keeping small
communities vibrant. “As a member of the sandwich generation, I can easily
relate to the multi-generation aspects of Providence and believe others
will as well.” says Armstrong.
 |
| Lisa Colozza Cocca |
“New Jersey is celebrating its 350 anniversary, so
showcasing a local author was high on our wish list” continues Armstrong. Lisa
Colozza Cocca, a Flanders resident, is a freelance writer and editor in
educational publishing. She is the
author of numerous nonfiction titles for children and young adults, including Reconstruction
and the Aftermath of the Civil War, Marquis de Lafayette: Fighting for
America’s Freedom, and the Understanding Graphs series. When the sun
goes down, Lisa is back at the computer writing. She is most excited about her
debut YA novel, Providence (Merit Press/F&W Media). Lisa can be
found at www.lisacolozzacocca.com.
Providence
will be a recommended summer reading selection for Pingry and
other area schools. Book clubs throughout the county will join in the
discussions in the months surrounding the festival. Other events around the
area include a June OCOB Kickoff at Kemmerer Harding Library and an in-depth panel
discussion on the themes addressed in Providence. The Morris County
libraries, which strengthen our communities by connecting people with ideas and
information, are solidly behind the OCOB initiative and are participating in
the planning of activities and events. Providence will be available at
your local library and through the Bookworm in Bernardsville, the official
bookseller of OCOB for the Festival.
The Morristown Festival of Books will take place
on Sept 26-27 on South Street. As described by the event’s chair Linda
Hellstrom from Morristown," it is designed to celebrate the power of the
written word to challenge, transport and transform us, while bringing together
our community in conversation." The festival model has been used
successfully by communities around the world.
Lisa Colozza Cocca will be one of the 17 authors
participating in the Friday – Saturday Festival. The full author line-up and the schedule for
Saturday will be published in June. For more information on One Community, One
Book and the Morristown Book Festival, visit us on the web at: www.morristownfestivalofbooks.org,
like us on Facebook at: Morristown Festival of Books and follow us on Twitter: @MorristownBooks
Questions? Go to info@morristownfestivalofbooks.org
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