Christian County Library Hosts a NYT's Best Selling Author, April Henry

New York Times-bestselling author April Henry knows how to kill you in a two dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters. There was one detour on April’s path to destruction: when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children’s author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he showed it to his editor, who asked if she could publish it in an international children’s magazine.

She has now published 20 mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults, with more to come. She is known for meticulously researching her novels to get the details right.

Henry is also adored by Missouri teens and librarians in particular. Her book "The Body in the Woods" was nominated for the Missouri Association of School Librarians 2016-2017 Truman Awards. This is her third MASL nomination in as many years. "The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die" took second place in the 2015-2016 Truman Awards, and "The Night She Disappeared" was nominated for MASL’s 2014-2015 Gateway Award.

The Christian County Library is bringing April Henry to the area on Nov. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for her presentation, “How I Quit My Day Job and Became a Killer and a Thief.” With hundreds of middle school students from across the county attending, this event will be held not at the library, but offsite at The Springs Church, 5500 S. Southwood Road in Springfield. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.

“This is the largest event we’ve ever organized, and we’re so excited for all of April Henry’s young fans in Christian County to get to hear her speak,” said the library’s Youth Services Manager Dana Roberts. “We partnered with the Springfield-Greene County Library and the Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks to bring this author to southwest Missouri, so lots of kids will have a chance to hear her speak or meet her at the various events while she’s in the area.”

Visit http://thelibrary.org to learn more about the Springfield-Greene County’s April Henry events, and https://english.missouristate.edu/literaturefestival.htm to find out about the Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks. For more information, call the Christian County Library at 417-581-2432.