past event
Literature

Book Ball – Annual Benefit Dinner Featuring John Grisham

BOOK BALL: A benefit Dinner for Aspen Words
featuring keynote speaker John Grisham

A celebration of why we read, write and tell stories

Tuesday, September 28
@ Hotel Jerome, 330 E. Main St, Aspen, CO 81611
6 p.m. Reception in the Living Room Terrace & Antler Bar
7 p.m. Dinner & Program in the Ballroom

With Special Guests

Visiting Authors
Emily Bernard, Sherwin Bitsui, Emily Rapp Black, Laura Fraser, Vanessa Hua, Peter Orner, Rebecca Stead, Luis Alberto Urrea

Visiting Publishing Professionals
Regina Brooks, Sara Crowe, Daniel Kirschen, Tina Pohlman, Cindy Spiegel


What does my ticket/table support?
Annually, our small team hosts dozens of events serving over 8,700 participants. These include adult and youth writing workshops, an author speaker series, writers residencies, a literary award celebrating fiction with social impact, a community read, and more! Your contribution helps support:

  • Writers conference scholarships for emerging writers from historically underrepresented groups
  • Free poetry slam workshops for middle and high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley
  • Free tickets for educators and students to attend all events, virtual or in-person
  • Community book club discussions and Red Brick lawn events

For more information, visit aspenwords.org/bookball or contact Caroline Tory at caroline.tory@aspeninstitute.org or (970) 925-3122 ext 3.

If you prefer to purchase your ticket or table via check, please mail payment to Aspen Words, 110 E. Hallam Street, Suite 116, Aspen, CO 81611.

If you are unable to join us, please consider making a donation to support Aspen Words.

$15,000 Head Table—SOLD OUT

  • Reserved table for 10 guests with premier placement close to the stage
  • Pre-dinner reception with drinks and appetizers
  • John Grisham guest of honor
  • Signed Books by John Grisham for each guest at the table
  • Premier curated wine sponsored by Silverado Vineyards
  • Dedicated wait staff
  • Recognition on sponsor slideshow
  • 4 season passes to Aspen Winter Words author series (includes reserved seating in Paepcke Auditorium for all events)
  • Includes sponsorship of 2 Emerging Writer Fellows to attend the event
  • $13,500 Tax Deductible

$10,000 Premier Table—SOLD OUT

  • Reserved table for 10 guests with premier placement close to the stage
  • Pre-dinner reception with drinks and appetizers
  • Signed book by an author for each guest
  • Premier curated wine sponsored by Silverado Vineyards
  • Opportunity to select Author, Agent or Editor to join table (first-come, first-served). Email Caroline Tory at caroline.tory@aspeninstitute.org with your top choices.
  • Recognition on sponsor slideshow
  • 4 season passes to Aspen Winter Words author series
  • Automatically entered in to raffle for prizes
  • Includes sponsorship of one Emerging Writer Fellow to attend the event
  • $8,500 Tax Deductible
  • *Aspen Words will be in touch with you to request names and contact information for your table guests.”

$7,000 Standard Table—SOLD OUT

  • Table for 10 guests
  • Pre-dinner reception with drinks and appetizers
  • Author, Agent or Editor will be randomly assigned to table
  • $6000 Tax Deductible
  • *Aspen Words will be in touch with you to request names and contact information for your table guests.

$1,000 Premier Ticket—SOLD OUT

  • Premium reserved seating for 1 guest
  • Pre-dinner reception with drinks and appetizers
  • Opportunity to request seating with Author, Agent or Editor (first-come, first-served)
  • Automatically entered in to raffle for prizes
  • Includes 2 season passes to Aspen Winter Words author series
  • Includes sponsorship of one Emerging Writer Fellow to attend the event
  • $700 Tax Deductible

$650 Standard Ticket—SOLD OUT

  • Reserved seating for 1 guest
  • Pre-dinner reception with drinks and appetizers
  • $550 Tax Deductible
Health and Safety

The safety of our guests is our utmost priority and our team is working tirelessly to ensure that this event will be executed in a manner that is safe and enjoyable for all. To protect the safety of our staff, patrons, and community, all attendees at Aspen Institute in-person events will be required to show they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or, if they are exempt from this requirement, take an onsite COVID-19 rapid test and show a negative result before entry. Additionally, all guests will be asked to register themselves and their guests on the ReturnSafe application before the event. More information about how to share your vaccination status will be provided closer to the event, but we will utilize technology with robust security measures to help protect the confidentiality of this private medical information. For more information about the Institute’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, please click here.

* Please note that tickets are non-refundable after August 1, 2021


More about John Grisham

John Grisham is the author of thirty novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories, and six novels for young readers. There are currently over 300 million John Grisham books in print worldwide.


Thank you to our Book Ball partners!

Hosted By:
Donna & Jim Barksdale
Tracy & Bubba Eggleston
Suzanne Bober & Steven Kahn
Sue & Ron Hopkinson
Beth & Josh Mondry
Sue O’Bryan
Lisanne & Jim Rogers

Wine Sponsor

Lodging Sponsors
      

Event information
Date
Tue Sep 28, 2021
6:00pm - 10:00pm EST
Location
Hotel Jerome
Aspen, CO