Write What Is in Your Heart; Success Will Follow: John Grogan To Share Lessons in Writing and Life
Oct. 10, 2008
John and Jenny Grogan didn't realize just how much their lives would change when they adopted Marley, a tiny Labrador Retriever puppy. Soon, Marley was crashing through screen doors, eating everything in sight, getting expelled from obedience school--and somehow becoming the heart of the young family.
"Marley & Me is not just a story about a crazy dog but a beautifully woven tale about a young family and their life journey," John Wilson, director of development for Baylor Libraries, observed.
Even after Marley passed away, he continues to impact his family's life. Marley & Me, Grogan's 2005 memoir of "life and love with the world's worst dog" struck a chord with animal lovers around the world who made the book number one on the New York Times bestseller list. A film version of the book is slated for release in December 2008.
In his new memoir, Grogan tells about life before Marley. The Longest Trip Home is a touching coming-of-age story of his own mischievous antics and unexpected serendipities.
Grogan's presentation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 at Baylor University's Waco Hall is titled "Follow Your Dreams: Write What Is in Your Heart; Success Will Follow." The talk is hosted by Baylor University Libraries at the seventh annual Ferguson-Clark Author Lecture Series.
"Before there was Marley, there was a gleefully mischievous little boy--that would be me--growing up in a warm and loving but comically over-the-top Catholic family," Grogan writes in his blog. "The more I tried to meet my devout parents' expectations and be a good Catholic boy, the more things seemed to go awry. Sometimes in very big ways."
Like Marley & Me, on the surface The Longest Trip Home is another tale of genial tomfoolery and goofy fun. But it also a story about the redemptive power of family.
"Grogan is an accomplished journalist and communicator, and we are delighted he can come to Baylor and share his experiences and life lessons with us," Wilson said. "Our goal is to fill Waco Hall."
Proceeds from the lecture will benefit a technology-enhanced classroom on the garden level of the Moody Memorial Library. This facility will go beyond the limitations of a standard classroom by providing a learning environment that promotes both technological and traditional teaching strategies.
This year's Ferguson-Clark Lecture sponsors include ARAMARK Higher Education, Babs Baugh and Collen Clark at the Golden Labrador level; and at the Chocolate Labrador level, Baylor University Bookstore, Baylor University Department of Journalism, Central National Bank, Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library, Ted and Sue Getterman, KWBU TV & FM, Waco Tribune-Herald and Bill and Kathy Wardlaw, as well as Hilton Waco.
General admission tickets are now on sale for $5. At the $50 Patron level, attendees will have reserved seating and be invited to attend the reception and book signing after the lecture.
Tickets are available online at www.baylor.edu/libraryauthorseries or by calling (254) 710-7249.
For more information about John Grogan, visit his blog at http://www.johngroganbooks.com/blog.
The trailer for Marley & Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, is available at http://www.marleyandmemovie.com.
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