by Whitney Harder and Whitney Hale
Organizers of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference will host a preview party featuring Lexington author Sarah Combs signing her debut novel, "Breakfast Served Anytime," at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at The Morris Book Shop, located at 882 East High Street in Lexington.
The preview party for the 2014 Kentucky Women Writers Conference (KWWC) celebrates the launch of Combs' young adult novel published by Candlewick Press this month. In addition to showcasing Combs' new work, KWWC Director Julie Wrinn and the board of advisors will be at the event to reveal plans for this year's conference.
Attendees of the preview party will have the opportunity to win free admission for one to the 2014 KWWC conference in September. Appetizers and wine will be available.
In a coming-of-age tale set in Kentucky, Combs’ novel, "Breakfast Served Anytime," follows high-school senior Gloria spending her summer at a college preparatory program for gifted students.
“Infused with romance and intellectual energy, Combs' story eloquently captures the euphoria and transformation that can arise from an intense period of personal introspection,” the Booklist review said. Kirkus Reviews said, “In a promising debut, Combs crafts a strong, memorable female character and a broad collection of fully fleshed-out secondary players who share a magical summer."
Combs leads writing workshops in the Young Women Writers Program and teaches fiction writing for youth and adults at The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, where she lives with her two sons, two bird dogs and her husband, whom she met at a geek camp similar to the one featured in her novel. She has worked as a high school Latin teacher, college literature instructor, and youth and teen librarian.
Now in its 36th year, the Kentucky Women Writers Conference is an annual event known for bringing notable women writers to Lexington for readings, writing workshops and discussions. A program housed in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, the conference is made possible in part by continued community partnerships, including its primary venue, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. Registration for the conference opens May 1.