Meet Author Kevin Kling at PlymouthREADS Literary Night of Primavera

This year, PLYMOUTHREADS Literary Night of Primavera, features regional author, Kevin Kling.  Admission is FREE for this annual event which will be this Sunday, April 6th, 2014 beginning 6:30 p.m. at Plymouth Creek Center.

Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered and his storytelling stage shows, delivers hilarious, often tender stories.  Kling’s autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are.

Kevin Kling, who lives in Minneapolis, describes his zodiac sign as “Minnesota with Iowa rising…” He grew up in Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater. His storytelling started when a friend from the now defunct Brass Tacks Theatre asked him to perform his stories. Since then, he has been awarded numerous arts grants and fellowships. The National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, The Minnesota State Arts Board, The Bush Foundation, The Jerome Foundation and others have recognized Kling’s artistry.

Kling was born with a congenital birth defect — his left arm is about three-quarters the size of his right arm, and his left hand has no wrist or thumb. More than five years ago, Kling was in a motorcycle accident, damaging the nerves in his right arm.  Currently, he has partial use of his left arm and cannot use his right arm at all.

Kevin Kling continues to write plays and stories in a rigorous fashion, and travels around the globe to numerous storytelling festivals, residencies, and has been invited to perform the acclaimed National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN for several years. Kevin has released a number of compact disc collections of his stories, and has published five books, “The Dog Says How”, “Holiday Inn”, “Big Little Brother”, “Big Little Mother”, and “On Stage With Kevin Kling.”  For more information, you will enjoy visiting his website, www.kevinkling.com.

“Kevin Kling is a regular contributor to National Public Radio, he’s held audiences in most of the major stages in the Twin Cities with his acclaimed storytelling, he’s published two story collections and two children’s books, but perhaps most notably, he’s a Minnesotan.  Kling’s trademark rests comfortably in his regional storytelling style with comedic overtones that can gracefully slip into empathetic moments of tragedy, and back again.

His well-honed brand of anecdotal narrative is stamped throughout his second published collection, Holiday Inn, from the Minnesota Historical Society Press.  And in 2014, Holiday Inn has been picked up as the PLYMOUTHREADS selection. Kling will be featured during the Primavera celebration to perform stories, answer questions and sign copies of his books.” (by Brian Rosemeyer for the Sun Sailor 3/22/14)

Magers & Quinn Booksellers will be present offering Kling’s books for purchase while you enjoy refreshments.

Now in its fifth year, PLYMOUTHREADS Mission is “To spark conversation, find common ground, and foster learning and discovery in Plymouth by rallying readers around a single book.”

More information about all PLYMOUTHREADS programming can be found at plymouthartscouncil.org/enjoy/plymouth_reads.

The 2014 program is co-sponsored by the Plymouth Arts Council, Friends of the Plymouth Library, Hennepin County Library-Plymouth, City of Plymouth Parks and Recreation, and this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.