Something to Hide: Authors to Read in Support of Free Speech

Bestselling authors will read in support of First Amendment rights at "Something to Hide: Writers Against the Surveillance State," a program presented by Pen American Center and the American Civil Liberties Union at next month's BookExpo America. The event, which is co-sponsored by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. and the Campaign for Reader Privacy, aims to "provoke reflection on controversial post-9/11 government surveillance programs in the U.S."

Scheduled to appear are Judy Blume, Jim Crace, Andre Dubus III, Jameel Jaffer (an ACLU attorney), Chris Lawford, Dennis Lehane, Azar Nafisi, and Roxana Robinson.

"Something to Hide" will be held from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, in Room 404B of the Los Angeles Convention Center. All BEA badge holders are invited to attend.

A champagne "meet and greet" reception featuring the "Something to Hide" writers and artists is also planned. The reception will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at a location outside the convention center. Tickets for the reception are $10 and must be ordered via the BEA website, www.bookexpoamerica.com.

On Saturday night, another special event will benefit the free expression cause: Bestselling author and Daily Show regular, Lewis Black, will headline the BEA Book Industry Foundation Benefit. Proceeds from Black's performance at BEA will help support the Book Industry Foundation, which is comprised of ABFFE and the Association of American Publishers' Get Caught Reading Campaign.

Black, a celebrated comedian and author of Me of Little Faith (coming from Riverhead Books in early June), will take the stage at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles in a performance exclusively for BEA participants on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. The Orpheum Theater is located in downtown Los Angeles, near the convention center. Tickets for Black's performance cost $35 and are also available via the BEA website, bookexpoamerica.com.