Speeches
Remarks by Consul General Sharon Wiener at the 28th Annual Istanbul Book Fair
Introduction of U.S. Speaker Adam Fawer
October 31, 2009
(As prepared)
Good afternoon. I am delighted to be here today, and I would like to thank the organizers of the 28th Annual Istanbul Book Fair for putting on such a wonderful event.
A book fair is not just a market for the selling and buying of books. A book fair is a very special occasion that can bring together every segment of society, regardless of age, class or profession. It provides a common platform for different people, allowing for cultural exchange and understanding. It is my pleasure to be with you all today, and to introduce to you American author, Mr. Adam Fawer.
Many here may have already heard of Mr. Fawer or read his first two novels, Improbable and Empathy.
We first put Adam Fawer on our “Wish List” of American authors for the Istanbul book fair three years ago, when we noticed that every metro car and bus in Istanbul had someone reading Improbable on it. With well over 6,000 fans on his Facebook Page, I can assure you, Mr Fawer is as popular today as he was when his book first came out. Most of Mr. Fawer’s “fans” comment they were amazed at how they felt that they were a part of the story and lost themselves in the books to such a degree that their only disappointment with both books was that they ended.
A native New Yorker, Mr. Fawer holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He received an MBA from Stanford University where he worked as Editor-in-Chief of the business school newspaper. Mr. Fawer worked at Sony Music and about.com before he ventured into the literary world.
Mr. Fawer’s debut novel, Improbable, was released in 2005. Improbable was translated into several languages and quickly became an international best seller. Since its release in Turkey, Improbable has sold approximately 250,000 copies. The science-driven thriller gripped the imaginations of many and went on to win the International Thriller Writers Award in 2006 for Best First Novel. His second novel, Empathy, has also been very successful worldwide, particularly here in Turkey where it has sold around 100,000 copies.
I am very pleased now to invite Mr. Fawer to give his lecture and answer questions.
