The Great Falls Speaker’s Series (GFFS) kicked off last month to a capacity crowd at the Great Falls Library by welcoming its first guest speaker, New York Times best-selling author Pamela Palmer.
The new monthly series will continue in October with guest speaker Susan Coll, another best-selling author whose recent novel, “The Stager,” has been met with critical national acclaim and is set in suburban Washington, D.C.
Coll, who will appear at the Great Falls Library on Thursday, Oct. 23, is enthusiastic about participating. “Anytime I can be involved in stimulating, creative dialogue with the larger community, I’m in,” said Coll. “And I’m especially pleased to see programming that supports literature proliferate around the region. I’m happy to do anything I can to help that cause.”
Kristin Clark Taylor, creator of the new series and a four-time author herself, seeks to infuse more energy and creativity into the Great Falls community. “The goal of this monthly Series is to establish an easy, ongoing conversation with the larger community; to draw people in, sit them down, and start a lively, creative dialogue with interesting guest speakers. This area is brimming with talent and passion. Why not harness it altogether in one room and let the creative sparks fly?”
Taylor, also a freelance journalist and former White House communications strategist, likes to emphasize inclusion. “Dynamism, diversity and dialogue are out goals,” she said. “I really want the audience to feel like they’re listening in on an easy, comfortable conversation in their own living room, so I drag in two of my favorite chairs from home to create an easy, intimate atmosphere between me and my guest. We do it in a theater-in-the-round style, so that the audience can jump right in. These aren’t lectures. They’re lively community conversations.”
Great Falls resident Christina Wenks attended the first Speaker’s Series meeting last month and says she’s looking forward to the upcoming Oct. 23 event. “This is just the creative shot in the arm we need,” she said. “It feels good to come together in a comfortable, cohesive group so that we can delve into interesting issues and deepen our perspective,” she said.
November’s guest speaker will be veteran newsman Jim Lehrer, who will appear on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 pm, at the Great Falls Library.
These forums begin with a short wine and cheese reception at 7 pm., with the formal program beginning at 7:30. They are free and open to the public. Seating is open; no reservations will be taken. For this reason, it’s recommended that guests arrive a few minutes early. Unless otherwise noted, these forums are generally for adults only. On occasion, there will be youth-focused forums — children’s book authors and other professionals whose words reach a younger demographic — and all of these will be announced. The formal program begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Great Falls Library at 703-757-8560.