Premiere of Best-Selling Kalamazoo Author’s Novel Turned Film Tonight

National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell may call quaint Kalamazoo home, but she's about to get the red carpet treatment at the premiere of her best-selling novel turned film, Once Upon A River. The Ladies' Library Association hosting the event at a virtual screening party for tonight, October 2nd, at 7 p.m. Tickets are only $12 and may be purchased by clicking here. According to an article from MLive, $5 of every ticket purchased will go to support the Ladies' Library Association Building Maintenance Fund, which helps to sustain the 140 year old building and preserve a historic Kalamazoo landmark.

“Once Upon a River” is a living prose poem filled with beautifully framed images and featuring some of the strongest writing and acting you’ll find in any movie this year. It’s not to be missed." - Chicago Sun Times

Once Upon A River follows the story of Margo, who, after the violent death of her father, embarks on a journey up the Stark River by boat. Armed with few supplies, a biography of Annie Oakley, and pure determination, she sets off in search of her mother. The 16-year-old encounters many dangers along the way, and receives help from the most unexpected places.

According to her bio, author Bonnie Jo Campbell grew up on a small Michigan farm. She studied philosophy at the University of Chicago after which she "hitchhiked across the U.S. and Canada, scaled the Swiss alps on her bicycle, and traveled with the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus selling snow cones." She now teaches writing and lives with her husband outside Kalamazoo.