Humor-writing duo Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson said they get the most enjoyment out of seeing the excitement that their books bring to young people. That enjoyment was obvious and painted on the faces of the more than 400 people who came to see them on Friday.
The award-winning authors took part in the Writer’s Present program at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center and charmed audience members while introducing their latest release in the Peter and the Starcatchers Series, “The Bridge to Never Land.”
The authors, who write for the Disney Publishing Co., held true to their reputation as being two of the nation’s funniest authors by prompting non-stop laughs from audience members of all ages.
For an hour, they spoke about their work – Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist; Pearson is a number-one nationally bestselling author of more than 25 crime fiction novels. They told tales about family and recalled a phone call they received from an astronaut on the International Space Station who read their book to her son nightly from space. When asked by a young audience member if they plan to write another sequel in the Peter and the Starcatchers series, the pair said “yes,” they planned to write “72 more books.” Mission Viejo’s event had the largest turnout on their book tour, they said.
The free, entertaining event was sponsored by the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library and a Whale of a Tale Bookshoppe. It is one of several dynamic Writers’ Present programs offered throughout the year. The next program will feature “Skippyjon Jones” author Judy Schachner at 2 p.m. on Sept. 11 in City Hall’s Saddleback Room, 200 Civic Center. On Oct. 8, bestselling author Rick Riordan will appear in the program at Oso Viejo Park, 24932 Veterans Way.
For more information, contact generalreference@cityofmissionviejo.org or bookwhale@aol.com.
