Miami-Dade Public Library System

(MIAMI, FL – MAY 4, 2012) The Miami-Dade Public Library System is pleased to announce that Ms. Kekla Magoon has been selected to serve as its Young Adult Writer-in-Residence. Ms. Magoon is the recipient of the American Library Association’s Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award for New Talent.

“We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Magoon to beautiful South Florida,” stated Library Director Raymond Santiago. “As an award-winning young adult author with such an interesting and diverse background, we know that teens in our community are in for a very special educational experience!”

Ms. Magoon has authored four young adult novels: The Rock and the River (2009); Camo Girl (2011) and 37 Things I love (in no particular order) (May 2012). Her novel, Fire in the Streets, will be out in the fall. She currently teaches writing in New York City, conducts school and library visits nationwide, and serves on the board of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. Ms. Magoon holds a B.A. in History from Northwestern University and an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

The Young Adult Writer-in-Residence Program is made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through its Knight Arts Challenge, a community-wide contest to bring South Florida together through the arts. It was designed to provide young adults, who have an interest in creative writing, with the opportunity to work alongside a published, young adult author during a three month residency. The program will center on teens and will help to inspire them to express themselves through their writing. The resident author will mentor 20 teens in the creative writing process and will provide critiques and tips on how to improve their work. The resident author will also conduct workshops on the different components of writing, both as a creative outlet and as a possible career path.
The program runs September - November 2012. For more information, call 305.375.5180

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Miami-Dade Public Library System strives to be a compelling community destination by providing a five-star customer service experience. With 49 branches and two bookmobiles, the library proudly serves more than eight million visitors each year. Visit www.mdpls.org for more information.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.KnightFoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Victoria Galan – Public Affairs Officer
305-375-5180
galanv@mdpls.org