Hello ,

For your Library Foundation, the weeks and months leading up to Verse & Vino are a steady marathon, punctuated by sprints and hills. This week was a sprint up a big hill, and the view from the top is exhilarating: five New York Times best-sellers are confirmed!

We couldn’t be more excited about the lineup - and you’ll hear a lot more about authors India Hicks, Megan Miranda, Christopher Paolini, Alice Randall and Christina Baker Kline – but today I really want to express our heartfelt gratitude to longtime Verse & Vino emcee Sheri Lynch.

When this event began in 2013, we were looking for a charismatic, Charlotte-based master of ceremonies to give the event a local flavor. We invited Sheri because she’s familiar and well-loved, and I’d seen her emcee other events. What I didn’t know was that she’s a voracious reader who would read all the featured books thoroughly, prepare heartfelt introductions for each author, and somehow make a huge event feel friendly, intimate and accessible. Not only that first year, but every year since. In many ways, Sheri has become the face of Verse & Vino.

Behind the scenes, she’s also the heart and the brains. This year, as we transitioned Verse & Vino to a digital platform, Sheri was our first call. Her humor, insight, passion and broadcast experience has informed every step of production of this year’s event.

If this is a marathon, Sheri’s the coach. We couldn’t do it without her, and we wouldn’t want to try.

We hope you’ll join the Library Foundation, Sheri Lynch, and all the authors on November 5 for Verse & Vino!

Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director