Fans of Jamie Ford, author of the current Pierce County Reads book “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” will have a chance to meet the writer April 13 in a free event that will serve as the program’s finale.

Ford is scheduled to be on hand to discuss the book at 7 p.m. April 13 at the Sharon McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood.

“Pierce County READS has truly engaged people throughout our community this year,” said Neel Parikh, executive director for Pierce County Library System. “The selected book sparked conversations throughout the county. The story of the Japanese American internment comes home to people here as the book highlights local landmarks from Seattle’s Panama Hotel to Puyallup’s fairgrounds.”

“Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” tells an account of the Japanese American internment during World War II, through the eyes and voice of a child as he matures through life. the book also deals with being labeled different in society, due to ethnicity and race.

Since launching Pierce County READS in mid-February, people have checked out copies of the book nearly 3,800 times from Pierce County Library. Hundreds of people continue to participate in more than 30 free events, including presentations from people who were interned, tea ceremonies and art activities.

Throughout the program, people have been donating nonperishable food items to a Pierce County READS’ community partner, Emergency Food Network. The Library encourages people to bring items to the main author event, too.

“Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” is Ford’s first novel and it soared to a New York Times best seller. He is an award-winning short-story writer, who was raised near Seattle’s Chinatown. Ford lives in Montana with his wife and children.

The Sharon McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College is located at 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood.

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