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American Girl author at Newport News Library

Connie Porter will visit Pearl Bailey Library on April 17

Connie Porter, author of the Addy Walker books in the American Girls historical fiction series, will present an author talk and book signing, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at Pearl Bailey Library. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. An Addy American Girl doll and bookmarks will be given away free at the event, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers will be present to sell American Girl books and other materials.

An author of the popular American Girl series of books is appearing in April at the Pearl Bailey Library in Newport News. 

Connie Porter, author of the Addy Walker books in the American Girls historical fiction series, will present an author talk and book signing, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at Pearl Bailey Library. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. An Addy American Girl doll and bookmarks will be given away free at the event, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers will be present to sell American Girl books and other materials.

More about author Connie Porter

Connie Porter is the author of the six Addy books in American Girl’s popular historical fiction series.

 In writing the books, Ms. Porter said, “I wanted children to see African-American people as part of strong, loving families, caught up in slavery, doing what they had to do to survive,” Porter said.

Through Addy’s stories, Porter shows the determination of a young African-American girl who escapes from slavery during the Civil War era and struggles to reunite with her family.

Porter also has written two adult novels, “All-Bright Court” and “Imani All Mine.” “All-Bright Court” was selected by the American Library Association as one of the Best Books of 1991 and by The New York Times as one of its “Notable Books of 1991.”  In 1995, she was named the Regional Winner in Granta magazine’s contest, “Best Writers in America Under 40.”

Porter received a bachelor of arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1981 and a master of fine arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1987.  She has taught creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

She lives in Pittsburgh, Penn., with her daughter.

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