A rare appearance by a classic novelist, an international bestselling author, three military veterans, a book club favorite and several auto industry insiders will be part of the new National Writers Series season this fall at the City Opera House in Traverse City.

The season kicks off on September 15 with A.J. Baime and Bryce Hoffman, who will discuss their new books Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War and American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company with host Jean Jennings, founder of Automobile Magazine. The car-centric event will be followed by an appearance by bestselling author Nancy Horan (Loving Frank) on October 8, who will discuss her highly anticipated second novel Under the Wide and Starry Sky with Interlochen Center for the Arts Vice President of Communications and Engagement Jenie Altruda.

The lineup continues with Shopaholic series creator Sophie Kinsella on October 22, who will make her first trip to the U.S. in more than four years to promote her latest installment in the series, Shopaholic to the Stars. The event will feature a tie-in giveaway at Relish in Traverse City, which will provide several “shopping spree” prize packages to be given away at the event. Following Kinsella is a rare appearance by New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown (Rubyfruit Jungle) on November 6, who seldom does events but is making an exception to promote a new book in her popular Sister Jane mystery series.

The series wraps up on November 19 with three military veterans in conversation about war, writing and their experiences overseas in the Middle East. Guest host Benjamin Busch (Dust to Dust) will facilitate the stage conversation with Brian Castner (The Long Walk), who served three tours of duty in the Middle East, and soldier and award-winning poet Brian Turner, who retraces his harrowing war experiences in his new memoir My Life as a Foreign Country.

Tickets for all National Writers Series events go on sale to Friends of NWS at 10am on Tuesday, August 26 and to the general public at 10am on Tuesday, September 2. They can be purchased at the City Opera House box office, by phone at 231-941-8082 or online at cityoperahouse.org. Click here more information about the series.