Brad Thor/Andrew Grant book signing 8/12 @ Stevenson High School West Auditorium in Lincolnshire

 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor will appear at two free public events in August to speak and sign copies of his forthcoming novel, "Full Black": 

• Tuesday, August 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Warren Township Senior Center in Gurnee, Ill. This event is sponsored by the Warren-Newport Public Library.
• Friday, August 12, at 7 p.m., at the Stevenson High School West Auditorium in Lincolnshire, Ill. This event is jointly sponsored by the Vernon Area Public Library and the Fremont Public Library.

Thor is known for weaving real-life issues into his thrillers. His innovative plots and extensive knowledge of intelligence, special ops, and terrorist communities has been tapped for appearances on FOX News, CNN, The Glenn Beck Show, and even by the Department of Homeland Security as part of their analytic "Red Cell" unit. Thor’s newest title, "Full Black," will be released July 26. It is his 10th novel focused on Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath. 

Thor recently toured Afghanistan to collect research for his writing. He says of his hosts there, "Technically, these people don't exist. It was dangerous—very dangerous—but very exciting at the same time." Thor’s 2008 #1 New York Times bestseller “The Last Patriot” was banned in Saudi Arabia for fictionalizing a lost Islamic text.

A door prize of all 10 of Thor’s titles, signed, will be awarded to one lucky attendee at each event, courtesy of publisher Atria Books.

The double-bill event also includes British-born author Andrew Grant, younger brother of bestselling thriller writer Lee Child. Grant’s two novels, "Even" and "Die Twice," feature David Trevellyan, a royal Naval intelligence officer. His debut novel, "Even," received stars from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Grant splits his time between Sheffield and Chicago.

Each evening's presentation will be followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event, courtesy of Lake Forest Book Store. The events are free and open to all, but registration is required. 

To register for the August 9 event in Gurnee, call 847-244-5150 or register online at http://www.wnpl.info. To register for the August 12 event in Lincolnshire, call 847-634-3650 or register online athttp://www.vapld.info.

Robert Hicks appearing 7/21 @ Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire

Robert Hicks and his dog, Jake

Civil War-themed WIDOW OF THE SOUTH by Robert Hicks was selected as the 2011 “One Book, One Community” title for the Vernon Area Public Library District. “One Book” is a national initiative that aims to bring people in a community together through the reading and discussion of a common book. WIDOW OF THE SOUTH was selected in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. More than 80 copies of the title are available at the library for checkout in paperback, large type, audiobook, and e-reader formats. The copies were purchased with a generous donation from the Friends of the Vernon Area Library.

New York Times bestselling author Robert Hicks, author of our “One Book, One Community” title, WIDOW OF THE SOUTH, will speak and read from his work on July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Area Public Library. A book signing will follow. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event, courtesy of Lake Forest Book Store. The event is free and open to all; registration is recommended. Register online at http://calendar.vapld.info, by telephone at 847-634-3650, or in person at the Adult Services Desk in the library.