John Cooper School announces featured author for 2018 Signatures Luncheon, awards beneficiaries of 2017 event

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The John Cooper School Fine Arts Council has announced that internationally acclaimed bestselling novelist Kevin Kwan is the featured speaker for the 14th Annual Signatures Author Series that brings high profile authors to The Woodlands each year.

Kwan’s critically acclaimed debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians, became an international bestseller and the major motion picture version, a romantic comedy, will be released by Warner Brothers Studios on August 17. Its sequel, China Rich Girlfriend, also became a smash hit around the world, and the final book in the trilogy, Rich People Problems, was released in May of this year. Time Magazine recently named Kwan to the 2018 TIME 100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

The 2018 Signatures luncheon will be held on Friday, November 30 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. The event also features local authors, book signings and a VIP book signing with the author for major table sponsors.

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from The John Cooper School's Signatures Author Series luncheon is given to a local non-profit literary organization. The 2017 luncheon featured suspense novelist Paula Hawkins.

In May, Susan DeMarco and Christie Swanbeck, Co-Chairpersons of the 2017 and 2018 Signatures luncheons, presented a donation of a total of $2,500 from the 2017 event to The Montgomery County Memorial Library System and Barbara Bush branch library. Both libraries are using the funds to go toward recovering from damage due to Hurricane Harvey last year.

"We are very excited about welcoming such a highly acclaimed international author to The Woodlands for our 2018 series,” said DeMarco. “We look forward to hearing his entertaining look at generational and cultural differences.” Swanbeck added her enthusiasm by saying, “We hope the greater Houston community will welcome Mr. Kwan by again joining us as sponsors and guests to continue to support bringing noted authors here. We encourage people to secure sponsorships and make their reservations early for the best seats.”

Reservations for the 2018 Signatures Author Series luncheon will go on sale July 1 online at www.johncooper.org. Sponsorships are available at $10,000, $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000 levels and individual reservations are $150 each. For more information on Signatures Author Series sponsorships, please call 281-367-0900 x2441. For updates on the luncheon, log on to www.johncooper.org