courtesy of Friends of the Chesterfield County Public Library

The Friends of the Chesterfield County Public Library is very pleased to announce Adriana Trigiani as their guest and speaker at a Book and Author Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m., at Meadowbrook Country Club, 3700 Cogbill Road, Richmond.

Pre-sale tickets will be available Thursday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.—8 p.m. at Central Library, 9501 Lori Road, Chesterfield. Tickets cost $50 for dinner buffet, and the program.

“Brava! The Very Valentine Life and Career of Adriana Trigiani” is the title of Trigiani’s dynamic presentation. Her newest book, Brava Valentine, the sequel to Very Valentine, will be published in early February and available at the dinner. The author will sign books, too.

“The Friends are excited that Trigiani will be the featured speaker,” said Andrea

Brown, President of the Friends of the Chesterfield County Public Library. “Adriana is a dynamic, engaging speaker whose heartwarming books always hit the best seller lists. Everyone in the community is invited to have a wonderful evening!”

Trigiani grew up in Big Stone Gap, Va., and was influenced early by her mother, who was a librarian, and her dad, an avid reader who loved poetry. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind., and moved to New York City to become a playwright. She founded the all-female comedy troupe “The Outcasts,” which performed on the cabaret circuit for seven years. She made her off-Broadway debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club. She was a writer/producer on The Cosby Show and A Different World, and executive producer/head writer for City Kids for Jim Hensen Productions. She has written television specials, documentaries, and screenplays. She currently is completing the movie version Big Stone Gap, the novel that began her first series.

Trigiani’s novels include: Big Stone Gap, Big Cherry Holler, Milk Glass Moon, Home to Big Stone Gap, Lucia Lucia, Rococo, Very Valentine, Viola in Reel Life, a young adult novel released in September, 2009, and her non-fiction cookbook Cooking with My Sisters.

The Book and Author Dinner is a benefit for the Chesterfield County Public Library. For further information, contact . A limited number of tickets may be available in the Chesterfield County Public Libraries after Jan. 4.