Renowned international author Lisa Jewell regales hundreds at the 20th annual John Cooper School Signatures Author Series

THE WOODLANDS, TX – For the 20th time, The John Cooper School celebrated the written word and the people who create it with its venerated Signatures Author Series luncheon. Recently, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott ballroom was transformed into a book-themed oasis for the annual event that hosts a bestselling author as a keynote speaker to hundreds of attendees. The event also featured a considerable book fair with dozens of authors.

The school’s Fine Arts Council proudly announced the keynote speaker and honoree – Lisa Jewell, the internationally bestselling author from Great Britain, who regaled and inspired the hundreds of attendees from the podium during the luncheon as she recounted her journey from entry-level worker to internationally acclaimed author.

Jewell’s first novel, Ralph’s Party, was published in 1999 and was the best-selling debut novel of the year. Since then, she has published another twenty-one novels, most lately a number of psychological thrillers, including None of This is True. Lisa is a #1 New York Times and Sunday Times author who has sold an excess of ten million books worldwide and been published in more than twenty-five languages. Her latest novel, Breaking the Dark, a Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel, was released in July.

Dr. Stephen Popp, Head of The John Cooper School, was delighted at the scope of the event.

“I just finished reading None of This is True, and what complex and compelling characters!” he told Woodlands Online. “I’m just really thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce Lisa Jewell to this event and be a part of this tremendous community that includes parent volunteers and the Cooper Community that have for the past two decades supported literacy, the arts, the school, and The Woodlands. We are thrilled for Lisa to share her storytelling history as such a prolific writer.”

The event commenced with an intimate Q&A session, where Jewell answered questions from members of the media that included journalism students of The John Cooper School. Following that, there was a special VIP invitation-only session where Jewell met with hundreds of fans who stood in line to meet, get their books signed by, and get photos with her.

The adjoining ballroom featured dozens of visiting authors – including JCS student authors – who welcomed guests and signed their books for buyers. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the Signatures Author Series is given each year to a local literary organization; this year, Children’s Books on Wheels was the recipient. Previous recipients include The Montgomery County Library System and The Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation.

Previous years have hosted featured keynote speakers and best-selling authors such as Barbara Bush, Dave Berry, Mitch Albom, Anthony Bourdain, John Grogan, Nicholas Sparks, Candace Bushnell, Kathryn Stockett with Tate Taylor, Jodi Picoult, Tyler Florence, Gillian Flynn, Cheryl Strayed, Paula Hawkins, Kevin Kwan, Maria Semple, Jesmyn Ward, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Elin Hilderbrand. Last year’s event featured Alka Joshi, the bestselling author of the Jaipur Trilogy.

The John Cooper School is a PK-12 independent, college preparatory day school that has been serving The Woodlands and greater Houston area since 1988, and has recently been recognized as the Number One Private School in The Woodlands (and #3 in Texas).

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