The Library Presents, a program that has already hosted a trio of well-known authors to Turlock, is bringing Chris Bohjalian, the best-selling novelist of “The Flight Attendant” and “The Lioness” to town in April.

Bohjalian will be at the Carnegie Arts Center at 2 p.m. April 6 for a discussion about his works. Tickets for the event are $15.

Bohjalian is a graduate of Amherst College and originally started his career trajectory as an account representative for a New York ad agency. In 1988, he and his wife, photographer Victoria Blewer, moved to Lincoln, Vermont, a town with a population of 975 people. Bohjalian’s writing career began by writing for The Burlington Free Press newspaper in Vermont about his experiences of life in the small town. It ran from 1992 through 2015 and won a Best Lifestyle Column from the Vermont Press Association. He expanded his freelance writing to include stories in Cosmopolitan, Reader's Digest, The New York Times, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine.

His first novel “A Killing in the Real World” was published in 1988 and was followed by “Hangman” in 1991, “Past the Bleachers” in 1992 and “Water Witches” in 1995.

Bohjalian’s writing career reached a new height in 1997 when his novel “Midwives” was released in 1997. It was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in October of 1998 and became a best-selling novel on the New York Times and USA Today. The novel tells the story of rural Vermont midwife Sibyl Danforth, whose life and career are upended when a patient dies during an emergency Caesarean section. The book was adapted into a television film starring Sissy Spacek.

In total, Bohjalian has published 24 novels. His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies and an Emmy-nominated TV series. His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.

His 2018 novel, “The Flight Attendant,” debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and National Indiebound Bestseller. It is now HBO Max TV series, starring Kaley Cuoco.  Season two landed in April 2022.

He is also a playwright and screenwriter. He has a new play, “The Club,” arriving at the George Street Playhouse in February 2024. His other plays include his adaptation of his novel, “Midwives,” and “Wingspan,” (originally called “Grounded”).

His latest novel “The Princess of Las Vegas” comes out March 19.

Bohjalian’s appearance in Turlock is sponsored by the Ralph Shabazian Memorial Trust. Shabazian, a Turlock resident who passed in 2022, was of Armenian descent and his final wishes included requests that his donations be used in part to help highlight the rich history and culture of Armenia. Bohjalian is an Armenian-American.

The Library Presents was formed with an eye towards securing programs that appeal to children, teens and/or adults and connect the community. The program is overseen by the Friends of the Turlock Library. A large donation launched the program and has previously brought best-selling authors Jamie Ford, Tara Westover and Lisa Wingate to town. The program is overseen by the Friends of the Turlock Public Library.

“Because we’ve had three authors now, it feels like the people that are there at these events feel like it is a real treat,” said Jane Cuff, a FOTPL board member and chair of the committee responsible for hosting the event. “We get to go to our beautiful Carnegie Arts Center and hear this amazing author and we get to interact with other people who love reading as well.”

Tickets for the event are available at https://friends-of-the-turlock-library.ticketleap.com/the-library-presents-chris-bohjalian/?fbclid=IwAR372S74-S0epxHzvzV_Xk0qcL3ne4VcNEOXloGZUJWsuA4M7FgBVt7Pah0.