PBS Books, in collaboration with KCTS, was honored to host this virtual engagement event with author Sarah Broom as part of our exciting partnership with The Library of Congress for the 2020 LOC National Book Festival: Celebrating American Ingenuity.
This year, LOC’s annual Book Festival with the theme “Celebrating American Ingenuity” was held online between September 25 and 27. The Festival culminated in a two-hour PBS Books special exploring ingenuity of acclaimed American authors. Hosted by Hoda Kotb, the special premiered on September 27th but is continuing to air in other markets throughout October. The National Book Festival features diverse stories from special guests like Joy Harjo, Salman Rushdie, Madeleine Albright, and John Grisham.
Throughout the months of September and October, PBS Books is hosting ten events (just like this!) to showcase several talented, ingenious authors featured in this dynamic special. These intimate, moderated Q&As will be deep-dives into the work of some of the most celebrated literary luminaries of our time, all while providing insights into the upcoming festival. The events will be targeted to particular national regions, but are accessible to all audiences.
About the Author
Sarah Broom is a trained journalist and author. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine and elsewhere. In 2016, she received the prestigious Whiting Award for Creative Nonfiction, which allowed her to finish her first book, THE YELLOW HOUSE (Grove Press). Sarah received my undergraduate degree in anthropology and mass communications from the University of North Texas before earning a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. She began her writing career as a newspaper journalist working in Rhode Island, Dallas, New Orleans and Hong Kong (for TIME Asia). She worked as an editor at O, The Oprah Magazine for several years, writing in the hours before and after work. In the years following, she worked extensively in the nonprofit world, including as Executive Director of the global nonprofit, Village Health Work. She has taught nonfiction in Columbia University’s creative writing department. Sarah loves solitude, travel, making a beautiful room and the possibility of getting lost. She is a native New Orleanian, the youngest of twelve children. She made a home in New York City.