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With Civil War stories at the front line of the conversation, novelist Jeffery Shaara is slated to visit the Mishler Theatre at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 for the Altoona Area Public Library's second Storytellers on Stage event.
Son of "Killer Angels" author and Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Shaara, New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Shaara is best known for his books, "Gods and Generals," the prequel to "Killer Angels," and "The Last Full Measure," the sequel to "Killer Angels."
"He does extensive research on moments in American history and tells the story of pivotal moments through dialogue with actors involved in the shadow of war," Executive Director Jennifer Knisely said.
With his new book "The Unfinished Work" hitting shelves Nov. 10, Shaara hopes his conversation at the Mishler Theatre can turn audience members into lifelong readers.
"It's a story that makes history a lot more interesting than picking up a dry history book; this isn't just all the facts," he said.
Following the success of "Gettysburg," based on "Killer Angels," Jeffery Shaara stumbled into writing at 40 years old after the production company wanted more Civil War movies.
He wrote "Gods and Generals" about 20 months later.
After he submitted it to Penguin Random House, they called him shortly after and wanted to publish the book, regardless of the manuscript becoming a movie.
"My whole life changed in that minute," he said.
Since then, Shaara has written 20 books, many of which detail American Civil War events through real characters and real moments. His newest novel, "The Unfinished Work," takes readers inside the personal life of former President Abraham Lincoln during the first years of the Civil War.
"I'm not a historian; I'm a storyteller," he said. "I find the events with people and create them into an accurate story."
With all proceeds benefiting the Altoona Area Public Library, Shaara said he's always happy to contribute to local libraries that continue to make books and technology available to the public.
"Based on the number of emails I get from people saying they have a standing order of your books at the library, it tells me the library is important," he said. "It matters, whether you're in a small town or a large city."
Shaara is thrilled to visit the Mishler Theatre on Oct. 20, as he anticipates the talk-back format on stage with one or two mediators to be more interesting than a simple lecture.
Knisley said the library received a phenomenal response after last year's intimate conversation on stage with New York Times Bestselling author Taylor Adams, discussing his writing process for audience members to chew on.
"People like to get into the mind of such a creative person that way," Knisley said.
Shaara will also bring a more history-focused audience to their Storytellers on Stage program, Knisley said.
"We hope they're appreciative that the library can bring someone like this into the community," she said. "They don't have to travel to see someone so accomplished and have had such success in this genre."
She hopes that audience members understand the power of storytelling through Shaara's presence and let that understanding translate through other areas in life.
"These books are based on real moments, real people, real facts. And the power of the storytelling is what transports the reader into that moment," she said.
If you go
What: Storytellers on Stage: Featuring Jeffery Shaara
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 20
Where: The Mishler Theatre
Tickets: $30; visit https://mishlertheatre.vbotickets.com/events