Photo Credit: Rod PradoEvents
Author Lisa Jewell speaks at 20th Annual Signatures Author Series
The John Cooper School Fine Arts Council hosted the 20th Annual Signatures Author Series event on December 6, 2024 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott featuring keynote speaker and bestselling author Lisa Jewell.
View photos from the event on the Hello Woodlands Facebook page here:
Lisa Jewell has penned bestsellers and psychological thrillers, including the favorite None Of This Is True, which is currently in development at Netflix. Jewell’s most recent book, Breaking The Dark, is the first book in the much anticipated Marvel Crime series. Lisa Jewell’s first novel, Ralph’s Party, was published in 1999 and was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then, she has published another twenty-one novels, most lately a number of dark psychological thrillers, including Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and None of This is True.
In Jewell’s keynote speech, she answered the question “What makes a writer?” and shared her journey from an out-of-work secretary, to landing her agent after just writing 3 chapters of her first novel, and now a bestselling author who adores her encouraging fans. Before the event in a press conference, Jewell answered questions from local journalists plus The John Cooper School journalism students. She gave these words of advice to the students and aspiring writers, “The biggest obstacle that most writers face is the overthinking of the whole process. They thing it’s too hard, they don’t have the time…and mental obstacles. You have to be really pragmatic and humble,” and “You don’t know [if you can write] unless you try.” During the press conference as well in her message to the audience, Jewell shared that words of encouragement from loved ones, friends, and one good teacher lit a fire within her and kept her going, writing, and continuing to pursue her author dream of publishing her first novel to achieving the career with 22 bestsellers that she has today.
The John Cooper School Signatures Author Series luncheon benefits the Fine Arts Programs of the School. Over the past twenty years, the annual literary event featured keynote speakers such as best-selling authors Barbara Bush, Dave Barry, Mitch Albom, Anthony Bourdain, John Grogan, Nicholas Sparks, Candace Bushnell, Kathryn Stockett with Tate Taylor, Jodi Picoult, Tyler Florence, Gillian Flynn, Cheryl Strayed, Paula Hawkins, Kevin Kwan, Maria Semple, Jesmyn Ward, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Elin Hilderbrand, and Alka Joshi. The luncheon also featured visiting authors, book signings, and a Signatures-themed drawing.
A portion of the proceeds from the annual Signatures Author Series is given to a local literary organization. The 2024 Signatures literacy beneficiary was Children’s Books on Wheels who’s mission is to promote reading by providing books, educational literature, and community resources to Pre-K through 12th-grade students and their families in rural communities and urban cities. Children’s Books on Wheels (CBOW) is a 501c3 Non-profit community-based mobile literacy organization that promotes literacy by providing books, educational literature, and community resources to children and their families in multiple languages at no cost. Rita Wiltz, Founder and Executive Director of Children’s Books on Wheels (CBOW) established the mobile non-profit organization in 2004 to bring reading to children in all areas that may not have access to books.
The John Cooper School is a PK-12 independent, college preparatory day school that has been serving The Woodlands and greater Houston area since 1988. Learn more at www.johncooper.org.
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