SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP, Pa. — A prominent humor writer frequently featured in The New Yorker and who is a former NPR contributor will make an appearance at a new bookstore in South Whitehall Township.
An Evening with David Sedaris, featuring the best-selling author, will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, at The End, a new bookstore at 3055 W. Tilghman St.
The stop is part of Sedaris' tour for his new book, "Happy-Go-Lucky."
- Humorist and best-selling author David Sedaris will make a tour stop in South Whitehall Township on Tuesday for his new essay collection "Happy-Go-Lucky"
- Sitting tickets for the speaking event are sold out, while some availability will be made for standing room or live stream viewing at a nearby venue for waiting line ticket holders.
- The event takes place at The End: A Bookstore, the new location of Let's Play Books in Emmaus, which opened in April
Seating for the speaking event is sold out.
Waiting line tickets, which are $20 and include a paperback copy of "Happy-Go-Lucky" and access to the signing line following the speaking part of event, are available at Eventbrite.
That doesn't mean, however, that there is no chance to see Sedaris' talk.
Organizers say select waiting line ticket holders will be offered spots either via standing room at the bookstore or via livestream at nearby Nowhere Coffee Co. to view the event.
"Happy-Go-Lucky" is an essay collection focused on capturing what is "most unexpected, hilarious, and poignant" from the personal and public social upheavals of recent years, along with reflections on family and other topics.
The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times best sellers list for nonfiction.
Additional copies of Sedaris' books will be available for purchase at the event.
In 2019, Sedaris was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
His humor writing often takes autobiographical inspiration, filled with wit and social critiques.
New bookstore, new events
The End: A Bookstore, which opened in April, is the sister location to Let's Play Books in Emmaus.
Both locations carry adult and children's books, but The End has a greater focus on adult reading while Let's Play Books is undergoing a shift back to its original focus on children's reading.
Owner Kirsten Hess said the new space will allow hosting author events comfortably for a 30- to 40-person audience — something they weren't able to do in their own space up to this point.
"At the end of 2019 we knew we needed a bigger venue," Hess said. "The building that we were currently in is just not conducive to the kind of programming that we want to do."Kirsten Hess, owner of The End and Let's Play Books
"At the end of 2019 we knew we needed a bigger venue," Hess said. "The building that we were currently in is just not conducive to the kind of programming that we want to do."
Hess also is founder of the Lehigh Valley Book Festival.
A new website URL (although it redirects to the main Let's Play Books website for joint operation of online ordering) and Facebook page have been launched for the store.
The End will be open Tuesdays through Sundays, and Let's Play Books will be open only on weekends until July as supplies and books are moved between locations.
Online ordering will continue at both locations unaffected.
