Introducing Our 2012 Festival Headliners

Eastern Washington University's Get Lit! Programs is excited to announce the headliners for our 2012 Get Lit! Festival, which will take place April 10-15.

Lois Lowry
Why you know her: You've probably read at least one of her novels in school, since she's written over 30 children's and young adult books, including the Newbery Award winners Number the Stars and The Giver.
Why we're excited: She'll be reading from the latest installment of The Giver series, and The American Place Theatre's Literature to Life® Stage Presentation of The Giver promises to be a must-see event.

Jess Walter
Why you know him: He's the author of The Financial Lives of the Poets and The Zero, and if you live in the Pacific Northwest, he's one of our favorite celebrities.
Why we're excited: This EWU alum continues to outdo himself. We just heard that The Financial Lives of the Poets, TIME Magazine's #2 novel of the year in 2009, is being made into a movie. Plus, he's got a new book coming out in June of 2012, The Beautiful Ruins.

Colson Whitehead
Why you know him: He's written works of fiction such as The Institutionist and Sag Harbor, and The New York Times Book Review says he writes with "economy, texture, and punch."
Why we're excited: He's known for his mix of humor and intellect in his approach to social commentary, and Zone One, his latest novel which he'll be reading from, is no exception.

Ted Kooser
Why you know him: He's a Pulitzer Prize winner and former Poet Laureate, he's written over ten poetry collections, and he runs the weekly American Life in Poetry column.
Why we're excited: This down-to-earth insurance agent turned poet is all about making poetry accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and we're sure his event will be just that.

Susan Orlean
Why you know her: She's the author of creative non-fiction works such as The Orchid Thief (on which the movie Adaptation was based) and My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who's Been Everywhere.
Why we're excited: She'll be reading from her new book of non-fiction, Rin Tin Tin: Life and Legend, which chronicles the real life story of the celebrity dog. And everyone loves dogs.

Steve Almond
Why you know him: He's written non-fiction works like Candyfreak and Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life, and his newest collection of short stories, God Bless America, was released a week ago.
Why we're excited: He's hilarious, honest, and edgy, and you never know what might come out of his mouth.