Gaiman, Sedaris & Lamott Come to Benaroya Hall

These three prolific writers share personal stories that have sparked laughter and motivated change. Northwest Associated Arts (NWAA), KNKX (88.5 FM) and The Stranger present all three events at beautiful Benaroya Hall. Tickets prices vary and are available through the Benaroya Hall Box Office, at 206.215.4747 or online at www.benaroyahall.org.Phone interviews are available upon request.

An Evening with Neil Gaiman Sunday, November 18 - 7:30pm; Tickets $35-$59

S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium

As one of the most celebrated bestselling writers of our time, his popular and critically acclaimed works bend genres while reaching audiences of all ages. "I make things up and write them down" is how Neil Gaiman describes his varied art; for this live event he tell stories, reads stories, answers questions and, in his own words will, "amaze, befuddle and generally delight. It will be fun and odd and not like any other evening with Neil Gaiman!"

An Evening with David Sedaris Sunday, November 19 - 7:30 pm; Tickets $50-$59

S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium

In its review of David Sedaris' new book Calypso, the Washington Post said, "After 25 years and nine essay collections, after publishing 500 pages of his own diary, the most shocking thing David Sedaris can do is reveal that he's been holding things back." Following its publication in May, Calypso immediately shot to the top of the NY Times bestseller list, and now David returns to Seattle for his annual reading and signing. Slashing through cultural euphemisms and political correctness, he will delight the audience with twists of humor and intelligence as he shares both published stories and works-in-progress. Entertainment Weekly's book review says, "Through his peculiar mind, Sedaris captures biting truths, documenting with journalistic precision his quiet public indignities and milking them for all their tragicomic worth."

An Evening with Anne Lamott Sunday, April 7 - 7:30pm; Tickets $29-$58

S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium

She writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Mother­hood, Jesus. But armed with self-effacing humor - she is laugh-out-loud funny. With ruthless honesty, Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment. She writes about what most of us don't like to think about. She doesn't try to sugar-coat the sadness, frustration and disappointment, but tells her stories with honesty, compassion and a pureness of voice. She says, "I have a lot of hope and a lot of faith and I struggle to communicate that."Seattle audiences have the opportunity to spend an evening with this inspiring woman as she celebrates the publication of her newest book Almost Everything: Notes on Hope (Fall 2018). Anne Lamott does communicate her faith; she lifts, comforts, and inspires, all the while keeping us laughing.

About Neil Gaiman

Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books. His bestselling contemporary fantasy novel, American Gods, took the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, and Locus awards-as did his bestselling young adult story, Coraline. Another children's novel, The Graveyard Book, is the only work to win both the Newbery (US) and Carnegie (UK) Medals - awarded by librarians for the most prestigious contribution to children's literature. Gaiman's groundbreaking Sandman comics, which has garnered a large number of accolades including nine Eisner Awards, was described by Stephen King as having turned graphic novels into "art." He has appeared as himself on The Simpsons and an episode of Arthur, written for the hit tele­vision series Babylon 5, and penned screenplays for the original BBC TV series of Neverwhere, Mirrormask (for the Jim Henson Company) and Robert Zemeckis's Beowulf. Good Omens, a book he co-authored with Terry Pratchett, will debut as a six part series on Amazon Prime in 2018.

About David Sedaris

David Sedaris is the author of the books Calypso, Theft by Finding, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, Naked, and Barrel Fever. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and Public Radio International's This American Life. He lives in England.

About Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott is the author of seven novels including, Hard Laughter, Rosie, Joe Jones, Blue Shoe, All New People, Crooked Little Heart, and Imperfect Birds. She has also written several bestselling books of nonfiction, including, Operating Instructions, an account of life as a single mother during her son's first year followed by Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, and a writing guide; Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. She has also authored three collections of autobiographical essays on faith; Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. In her latest book of non-fiction, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, Ms. Lamott gives us three prayers to assist us in trying times. Her most recent book is entitled Stitches; A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair, an honest, funny book about how to make sense of life's chaos (Oct 2013). In 2014 she wrote a book of essays called Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace. In 2017, she penned the bestseller, Hallelujah Anyway; Rediscovering Mercy. She is currently working on her next book, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope (Fall 2018). Lamott has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship, and has taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Academy Award - winning filmmaker Freida Mock has made a documentary on Lamott, entitled "Bird by Bird with Annie" (1999). Anne Lamott has also been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.