Best-Selling Author Recounts The Source of Her Passion, Stirs Fans In Same Way

Every great writer knows that the key to their success generally begins with a good story, and New York Times best selling author Karin Slaughter is filled with them.

Slaughter, a well-renowned author of 11 books, came Thursday night to the Evergreen Park Public Library to share some of her noteworthy stories with fans, and the innovation behind her award winning writing career.
 
Slaughter began the night by speaking about her most current work, and to the surprise of many, it was not about her recent literary release Fallen—although she did get there in due time—but rather her humble beginnings as a writer and her philanthropic work with the Save the Libraries project.

Save The Libraries is a non-profit organization that works to raise funding for the preservation of libraries across America. According to Slaughter, libraries across the nation are suffering with budget cuts and understaffing and she and her team work to counteract that.
 
After which Slaughter connected the dots, so to speak, of her career and spoke candidly about her childhood and the countless memories she had as a youngster at her local library.
 
She grew up in the rural area of Atlanta, Ga., and remembers the many trips she took on Saturday mornings with her two older siblings and the many hours they would spend together exploring their newest confidant and community friend.
 
“The library is the beating heart of the community,” said Slaughter. To hear her tell it, the shelves are filled with so much innovation and information, and it is those things coupled with her fathers teaching that ignited her passion for reading and for writing.
 
“My father did not have a lot growing up. He was one of eight and he grew up poor,” said Slaughter. According to her, he didn’t grow up with finer things; but in spite of which he developed an amazing appreciation for life and for his work.
 
“He had one of those great American stories,” she noted, where he developed a good work ethic at a young age, and juggled several jobs just to make ends meet. “My dad was amazed that I loved to read, and made sure to that I could read whatever I wanted as a child.”
 
“He worked as an electrician, did work as a plumber, and picked cotton in the field, all so that [we] as children did not have to want growing up,” she said. It was his story that motivated her to do her best and become successful. “It was such a wonderful thing he did for me."

Because Slaughter’s father realized her passion early on, and supported her, he left a lasting impression; so much that it compels her to complete the many works that she does today and fight so strongly for such a noble cause.
 
Many came out in support of the author and spoke about the reasons they love her and her work.

"I love her books,” Sue Duddleston said. “They’re [so] entertaining, with great story lines, and I would definitely read another.”
 
Mary Elzinga, daughter of Sue Duddleston and native of Evergreen Park, spoke about what a great opportunity it was to share something as special as Slaughter’s literary works with her mother and her book club.
 
With more than 17 million copies sold or in international circulation, one might agree that the story of Karin Slaughter is indeed a good story worth sharing.