Local Author to be Honored as Literary Legend Oct. 21
Local author Athena V. Lord will be honored at the fourth annual Literary Legends gala on Saturday, Oct. 21, hosted by the Albany Public Library Foundation.
The event will start at 7:00 pm at the library’s Bach Branch, which is located at 455 New Scotland Ave. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased online through the Foundation’s website, at any of the library branches prior to the event, or at the door the evening of Oct. 21.
The event includes the award ceremony and remarks by the honoree, a silent auction, live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and wine, beer, and soda. Guests are asked to wear cocktail attire.
The Albany Public library Foundation is celebrating Lord’s contributions to children’s literature. Born in Cohoes in 1932 to a Greek immigrant family, Lord moved to Albany, just around the corner from the old Harmanus Bleecker Library, at age six. A voracious reader as a child, the library became her second home.
Lord studied creative writing at Vassar College. She worked as a freelance writer early in her career, but put her writing on hold as a young mother. As her four children grew, Lord was inspired to write a series of books for young audiences. She is the author of five books, including Pilot for Spaceship Earth, A Spirit to Ride the Whirlwind, and The Luck of Z.A.P. and Zoe. Lord later continued as a freelance travel writer for newspapers.
“The Albany Public Library has been the greatest influence in my life,” Lord said.
The Literary Legends event recognizes outstanding local authors, illustrators, and publishers for their extraordinary contributions to the art of letters. The event raises funds for the Albany Public Library Foundation, which in turn supports special projects and programs at the library.
Last year the event raised $30,000. Lord joins previous Literary Legends award recipients Marion Roach Smith and Leonard Slade, Jr. (2016), Gregory Maguire and Barbara Smith (2015), and Paul Grondahl, Amy Biancolli, and William Kennedy (2014).
This year’s Literary Legends gala sponsors are: Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, Behan Communications, CDTA, KeyBank, St. Peter’s Health Partners, CDPHP, Envision Architects, Marshall & Sterling, Overit, Shenker Russo & Clark, and Brad Rose Landscaping.
Stephanie Simon
Stephanie Simon is manager of APL's Communication and Creative Services Department, which provides content and information for the library's website, social media, publications, videos, podcasts, and other outlets. Stephanie also manages APL's public relations and marketing efforts.