NEWS

Author and humorist, David Sedaris

Humorist, comedian, author, and radio personality, David Sedaris, is coming to Main Street Books in Davidson on Thursday, May 31. The visit is a promotional event for his sixth and latest book, “Calypso,” which is a collection of his recent essays.

The release date for “Calypso” is May 29, so Main Street Books on May 31 will be one of the first stops on Sedaris’s promotional tour. Eleanor Merrell, promotions manager at Main Street Books, wants to make Davidson a memorable experience for the author.

The store will host a block party in the Farmer’s Market space with the theme of “Calypso-Limpics,” with a torch carrying component, some video, and other events in which people can participate, loosely based on the wacky things that have transpired in Sedaris’s life. Merrell said, “We’re going to try to engage as many merchants and town organizations as we can to make it a great celebration of David and his readers.”

The cover of “Calypso,” David Sedaris’ book soon to be published.

Main Street Books was able to secure Sedaris because the author is focusing on small, independent book stores during this promotional tour. The itinerary for his time in Davidson will include an on-site reading for the first 60 people who pre-order “Calypso” after the store’s official on-sale date and time, which will be announced in Main Street Books newsletter. Audio from the reading will also be live-streamed behind the store so that people in the market space can enjoy it.

Much of Sedaris’ humor is autobiographical and self-deprecating, often concerning his middle-class upbringings as one of a family of six children growing up in the suburbs of Raleigh. While working odd jobs, Sedaris was discovered by NPR radio host Ira Glass, who invited him to appear on the weekly program “The Wild Room.” That led to further acclaim, and his NPR debut on “Morning Edition” on December 23, 1992, reading his essay “SantaLand Diaries.” Sedaris said, “I owe everything to Ira … My life just changed completely, like someone waved a magic wand.”

Merrell said Main Street Books had to “court” Sedaris to get him to include Davidson on his tour itinerary. She explained that the store has a relationship with Hachette Book Group, and worked with the publisher to secure a place on the tour. Merrell said, “Publishers reach out to us periodically and give us a heads-up when there are authors on tour who might be of interest to us. The publisher’s representative Judy Deberry is really great at her job and takes good care of us.”