On January 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., the South Pasadena Public Library and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library will host an Author Night with nationally-known writer, Naomi Hirahara. The free event will also serve as the Friends Annual Meeting and will be held in the Library Community Room at 1115 El Centro Street. About 5 minutes of Friends business will open the event and their 2009 Board members will be approved and announced.

The Elliott Caine Trio will follow in grand style with a set of "Blue Note" style jazz. Elliott has performed and/or recorded with such luminaries as Teddy Edwards, Ernie Andrews, O.C. Smith, Wycliff Jean, Beck, and The Beastie Boys, among many others. He also played with Jump With Joey, a renowned Latin-ska group, during their 3 tours of Japan and the USA highlighted by a performance at Capitol Records' 50th Anniversary celebration. A South Pasadena resident, Elliott also received a Platinum Record for his work with the rock group, Filter.

Naomi Hirahara was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from South Pasadena High School. She is the Edgar Award-winning author of the Mas Arai mystery series (Summer of the Big Bachi, Gasa-Gasa Girl, and Snakeskin Shamisen), all featuring a Japanese American gardener and atomic-bomb survivor. A previous editor of The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, she has also produced nonfiction books on horticulture and Asian American history.  Her short stories are featured in Los Angeles Noir, A Hell of a Woman, and The Darker Mask, while her middle-grade book, 1001 Cranes, was released in August 2008 by Delacorte.  She is currently at work on the fourth Mas Arai mystery.

During the program Ms. Hirahara will reveal why she selected an aging Japanese American gardener as her crime fighting protagonist. She will also visually share some of the many artifacts of her publishing journey, including some choice rejection letters. A signing will follow Naomi’s presentation during which her books will be available for purchase.

The event is co-sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc. with financial support from the James Irvine Foundation. The entire community is invited to attend and no tickets or reservations are necessary.