On July 1, the Bethlehem Area Public Library was buzzing with more excitement than usual. This was because the Let’s Play Books! bookstore of Emmaus was hosting a pre-launch book reception for one of the most anticipated books of the year, Chuck Wendig’s “Wanderers.”

Wendig is a New York Times best-selling author, so it was no question his fans would flock to an opportunity to meet him. The event took place in the children’s section of the library and was open to the public for free. The event started with Let’s Play Books! store owner, Kirsten Hess, thanking everyone for coming out. Hess expressed gratitude to everyone who was there for supporting the store, as well as to Wendig himself stating “we have books going out to 18 different states,” attributing this to his help promoting independent stores.

Hess then gave the stage to Wendig who shared a few words on his creative process while writing the book.

“Some writers, especially on a certain level, we overvalue ideas. We assume they’re the precious gems of our process, and really they’re not. They’re like cheap costume jewelry. They just sort of hold the whole thing together. You need the story and you need characters, and (at first) I just didn’t have those. Then 2016 happened and things got a little weird, and I felt like I had so many different anxieties in so many different directions like cats just scattering around; politics, gun control, climate change, whatever may have been bothering you in regards to our current modernity, was a thing in my mind. Then, suddenly those anxieties formed in something I call my ‘Anxiety Voltron’ and suddenly I had a book,” Wendig stated.

Excited fans lined up to meet Wendig to get books signed and take selfies.

Overall it was a very successful event, and everyone looked happy to meet their favorite author.