Meet the writers behind the words at the Free Library

Does God exist? What was Nixon really like? And perhaps most important: Will the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl?

You can ask Sam Harris, Henry Kissinger, and Ray Didinger those questions, or anything else on your mind.

Authors Harris (Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion); Kissinger (World Order), and Didinger (The New Eagles Encyclopedia) may not give you the definitive answers, but they will give you highly informed opinions.

They are just three on the impressive roster of more than 50 writers coming to Philadelphia over the next few months for the Free Library's annual author series.

One of the most anticipated authors is Friday night's speaker, cult figure cum major literary figure David Mitchell. His new novel, The Bone Clocks, continues the mind-bending, genre-defying brilliance many fans discovered in his 2004 Cloud Atlas, both of which, like five of his six novels, were nominated for the Man Booker Prize.

Not all great writers are great speakers, but Mitchell has a reputation for being both.

"He's funny, incredibly bright, and extraordinarily imaginative," says Andy Kahan, who knows whereof he speaks, having been director of author events at the Free Library for 14 years.

Kahan is one of the main reasons the library's program has grown from a dozen events a year to the more than 150 now. He does everything from recruiting the authors to moderating the programs and nudging along the lines of book buyers at the signings after the talks.

Not always an easy job with authors exhausted from a three-week, 26-event book tour, sometimes not even sure what city they are in.

"Jakarta? It's Monday, right?"

"You are quoting Crispin Hershey, the novelist-character in The Bone Clocks," Mitchell says. "I can't be held responsible for everything my characters say."

But Mitchell admits the brilliant, vengeful, jet-lagged writer is "a long-stretch version of me at my worst."

Despite the demands of a book tour, Mitchell, 45, who lives in Ireland with his wife and two children, loves doing them.

"I might spend four years working on a book like The Bone Clocks," he says. "As the months go by, you are alone in the rarefied world of character, narrative, style, structure, and ideas. It's a big deal to me to meet the readers and be reminded, 'Ah, yes, this is what I do it for.' "

Narberth resident Susan Weisgrau is one of those readers. Weisgrau attends three to six library events every year.

"This year I plan to hear Nicholas Kristof and Marilynne Robinson," says the former high school English teacher. "Kristof because he is the most moral person I've ever encountered and I'm hoping a little rubs off on me. Marilynne Robinson because she seems unlike other writers, almost other-worldly. I am looking forward to hearing her read from her new book and answer the questions she is asked."

Mitchell also looks forward to the Q&A at this, his fourth appearance at the Free Library: "I love the venue. You get some really illuminating, quirky, and thought-provoking questions."

Many of the events fill up. Kissinger has sold out the 400-seat auditorium and the big-screen viewing area in the lobby upstairs. Saturday at 3 p.m., former Philadelphia Daily News sportswriter Ray Didinger, a veteran of the library events ("He always draws a passionate crowd," Kahan says), is expected to attract an extra-passionate crowd while discussing the revised edition of his The New Eagles Encyclopedia.

The Free Library isn't the only venue for author events. Other author appearances in the area this weekend include:

Stephanie Feldman, who will sign copies of her novel The Angel of Losses at 7 p.m. Friday at Chester County Book Co., 967 Paoli Pike, West Chester (www.ccbmc.com 610-696-1661.) Didinger will be there signing at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Sci-fi writer John Scalzi, author of Lock In, will be at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 1805 Walnut St. (www.barnesandnoble.com, 215-665-0716) at 7 p.m. Friday, and DJ Jerry Blavat will sign copies of his book, You Only Rock Once, at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Author and comedian J. Michael Chamberlain will talk about his collection of essays, I'm OK, You're a Pain in the Ass ... a love story, at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Barnes & Noble bookstore, 911 Haddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill (www.barnesandnoble.com, 856-486-1492).

For a writer, a reading or signing brings the authorship process full-circle, as local writer Dan Rottenberg can attest.

Rottenberg is 11 times an author, most recently of The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment, which he will discuss over brunch at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. (gershmany.org 215-545-4400)

"Writing a book is like baking a cake," Rottenberg observes. "Doing the book tour is like eating it."

Here's a partial list of authors appearing this fall at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St. For a complete list and further information: www.freelibrary.org/ authorevents, 215-567-4341.

David Mitchell, The Bone Clocks, Friday at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Ray Didinger, The New Eagles Encyclopedia, Saturday at 3 p.m., free

Henry Kissinger, World Order, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Nicholas D. Kristof, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity, Sept. 30 at noon, ticket required.

Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m., free.

Francis Fukuyama, Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Leon Panetta, Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Jane Smiley, Some Luck, with Colm Tóibín, Nora Webster, and Tessa Hadley, Clever Girl, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

John Lahr, Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Bill T. Jones, Story/Time: The Life of an Idea , Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Cornel West, Black Prophetic Fire, Oct. 17 at noon, ticket required.

Marilynne Robinson, Lila, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Valerie Plame, Burned, Oct. 23 at noon, free.

E.O. Wilson, The Meaning of Human Existence, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Anne Rice, Prince Lestat, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Chris Van Allsburg, The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m., free.

Anjelica Huston, Watch Me, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Jack Miles, Norton Anthology of World Religions, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Richard Ford, Let Me Be Frank With You, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m., ticket required.

Richard McGuire, Here, with Charles Burns, Sugar Skull, and Chip Kidd, Judge This, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m., free.

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