Vince Vawter | Friends of the Knox County Public Library

Archived Event

Friends and Union Ave Books will host an evening with journalist and author Vince Vawter on Tuesday, August 7, at 7 p.m. at the East Tennessee History Center. Vawter will speak about and sign copies of his latest book, Copyboy, which will be released on August 1.

The Knox County Public Library, the East Tennessee Historical Society, and WUOT are also sponsors of this event, which is free and open to the public.

Copies of Vawter’s books will be available for purchase, and the author will be available to sign books after he speaks.

In Copyboy, the sequel to Paperboy, Vawter’s award-winning first novel, Victor Vollmer sets off to fulfill a final request of Mr. Spiro, the aging neighbor who became his friend and mentor. Victor, now 17 years old and working as a newspaper copyboy, plans to spread Mr. Spiro’s ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi River as the former merchant marine wished. However, the journey will not be a simple one.

Copyboy has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection.

About Vince Vawter

Memphis native Vince Vawter retired after a 40-year career in newspapers, most recently as the president and publisher of the Evansville Courier & Press. He previously served as managing editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel and as news editor of the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar.

Vawter’s first novel, Paperboy, received a Newbery Honor award in 2014. The story is based on his real-life experience growing up in the 1950s as a person who stutters. He spends his retirement traveling the country and discussing his books with schools, reading, and education groups, as well as stuttering advocacy organizations.

He and his wife, Betty, live in Louisville, Tennessee, on a small farm in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Book Trailer for Copyboy

Advance Praise for Copyboy

“Victor’s first-person voice — enhanced by the teen’s love of language — is brilliantly authentic and heartfelt, especially with his ever challenging stutter.… Even the dead man comes fully to life, joining a remarkable cast of meticulously nuanced characters.… A lyrical and immersive journey.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“… a sequel worthy of its exceptional predecessor…. Vince Vawter’s Copyboy leaves behind the happy memory of time well-spent and the hope of additional travels to come.” — review by Tina Chambers in Chapter 16

Vince Vawter in the Media

Vince Vawter’s Paperboy: The Musical

The Newbery Tart interviews Vince Vawter (podcast)

Author, composer visit Frederica to share musical project

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