By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Author Bonnie Jo Campbell’s latest novel “The Waters,” which released on Jan. 9, is garnering a lot of attention.
In addition to being on Oprah Daily’s list of Most Anticipated Books of 2024, “The Waters” was also The Today Show’s January pick for its Read With Jenna Book Club headed up by co-host Jenna Bush Hager.
“If you loved ‘Where the Crawdads Sing,’ you’re going to love—and I’m saying love—our first read of 2024,” Bush Hager said.
And at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, patrons of Ransom District Library in Plainwell will be able to meet Campbell and listen to her talk about “The Waters.”
The event, which will take place in the library’s Hill Performance Room, is free and open to the public.
Ransom Library director Joe Gross couldn’t be happier to be hosting Campbell, a native and current resident of Kalamazoo.
“We’re very proud to celebrate a great local talent at the library and to provide our community with a chance to see and hear Bonnie Jo Campbell in person,” Gross said. “Our beautiful library on the Kalamazoo River is the perfect locale for a visit from Campbell, who has used the river to great effect as a setting for her work.”
Ransom head of patron services Analiese Mattson began working on securing a visit from Campbell after reading an advanced copy of “The Waters” at the Michigan Library Association Annual Conference in October.
“I loved the book,” Mattson said. “And Ransom Library hosted her years ago, so I hoped that with her connection to the library and the Kalamazoo area we could have her come again.”
Mattson reached out to Campbell in November.
“There were a few more details for her to work out with her touring schedule and a bit of back and forth, but we settled on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7p.m.,” Mattson said. “The timing just felt perfect.”
Campbell’s other novels are “Q Road” from 2003 and “Once Upon a River” from 2011. She has also written several short-story collections.
“We are overjoyed to host a writer of Bonnie Jo Campbell’s stature,” Mattson said. “Marquee events like this one only furthers the library’s mission to celebrate and promote literacy and the joy of reading.
“Bonnie, as a local author, inspires our community to reach those heights themselves.”