The inaugural program of Library Presents will be bringing best-selling author Jamie Ford to Turlock for a special presentation and book signing at the Carnegie Arts Center.

The event is set 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Carnegie. The event is free, however, people do need to pick up the free tickets beforehand. The tickets can be picked up at the Friends of the Turlock Public Library bookstore, inside the Turlock library. The bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.

Library Presents is funded through a generous donation from Priscella Peters and John Miles, with an eye towards securing programs that appeal to children, teens and/or adults and connect the community.

“The goal of this fund is to inform, motivate, inspire and in so doing to celebrate the public library in our community as a place to spark the joys of learning, literacy, discovery and much more," said Friends of the Turlock Public Library board member Pat Portwood, who led the efforts for this first event. “It truly is a ‘present to the library.’”

Ford is an American author best known for his debut novel “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” which spent 130 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Additionally, it was awarded the best adult fiction at the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.  He is the great-grandson of Nevada mining pioneer Min Chung, who emigrated from Hoiping, China to San Francisco in 1865, where he adopted the western name Ford.

Ford’s arrival in town coincides with a rise of his latest novel “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy,” which came out in August. It was recently selected by Jenna Bush for her “Today Show” book club.

“One of the most beautiful books of motherhood and what we pass on to those that come after us,” Bush said in her selection.

Ford will be signing copies of his novels at the event. His two most known books will be for sale at the event and can be purchased with cash or credit card.