News Release

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The annual Kosciusko County Operation Read Author Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Shrine Building on the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

Barbara Shoup

This year’s event “The Story of Literacy,” will celebrate the visual story of 30 years supporting literacy.

The event is from 6-8 p.m. featuring guest speaker Indiana Author Barbara Shoup.

Shoup is an an Indiana author with nine published novels under her belt. A new release is coming in October, which could be at the author dinner. In addition to her books, she also writes poetry and essays which have appeared in magazines, The Writer and The New York Times travel section.

Her young adult novels, “Wish You Were Here” and “Stranded in Harmony” were selected as American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. “Vermeer’s Daughter” was a School Library Journal Best Adult book for Young Adults.

Other books have included “Looking For Jack Kerovac,” “Novel Ideas” and “An American Tune.”

She has been a grant recipient of the Indiana Art Commission, two grants from Arts Council of Indianapolis , PEN Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Working Writer Fellowship in 2006, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Regional Indiana Author Award in 2012.

Shoup graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in secondary education. For over 20 years, Shoup taught creative writing to high school students. Currently, Shoup is the writer-in-residence at the Indiana Writers Center and a creative writing faculty member of Art Workshop International in Assisi.

In addition to hearing the 30^th addition of Operation Read, and presentation by Shoup, there will be a silent auction and a book signing.

The cost is $70 for unreserved seating, $94 for reserved seating or $1,994 VIP Table Sponsorship. The VIP sponsorship includes first access to silent auction items, VIP table for eight with logo signage, VIP Parking, first access to book signing, priority food service, two bottles of wine made in Indiana, logo signage on event programs and event registration and website and name recognition during the event.

The meal for the evening will be catered by Saucy’s Barnyard BBQ & Catering. This year’s menu includes a Hoosier Plate: Jeet? (Hoosier for “Did You Eat?”), plated dinner salads and a buffet with items to be determined. The farm fresh desserts will include Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie, plus additional desserts to be determined. The beverages for the evening will include home brewed southern sweet tea made with a dash of “Bless Your Heart!” and iced water (or in Indiana: “Bubbler.”

There will be a cash bar. At this time the wines will include “Whose Your Daddy,” a white white; and Basketballer Red. The cocktails will include: Hoosier Heritage, a bourbon, whiskey, cider, lemon juice, maple syrup; Indiana Hoosier or a Cattywampus cocktail.

To register mail the payment with name and contact information to Operation Read USA, Inc., P.O. Box 796, Warsaw, IN 46581, indicating how many tickets and the level of purchase. Individuals can also register and pay online by going to: operationreadusa.org/authordinner/register.

Contributions are non-refundable. Cash contributions are tax-deductible and dinner contributions are tax deductible with the exception of $25 per person. Tickets will be held at the door.

Registration for this enlightening evening is needed before Oct. 5.