“Playing Hurt” by Gerald L. Nardella is displayed at the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all.
More than 13,500 attendees gathered in San Diego, CA, for the largest library event in the world. The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition took place at the San Diego Convention Center from June 28 to July 2. Total attendance was 13,532, with 8,439 of them being attendees and 5,093 being exhibitors, authors, illustrators, press, and staff.
Against a backdrop of increasing censorship and book challenges, library workers learned from each other and supported each other through the 175 educational programs throughout the conference.
The conference opened with Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning host Trevor Noah and ALA Past President Lessa Kanani’opua Peyalo-Lozada in conversation discussing Noah’s upcoming book, “Into the Uncut Grass.”
ALA and Unite Against Book Bans hosted a second Rally for the Right to Read, which spotlighted the courage and resilience of library workers who are protecting the freedom to read.
ALA is now preparing for LibLearnX 2025, which will be held Jan. 24-27 in Phoenix. Next year’s ALA Annual will take place in Philadelphia.
For more information, visit www.ala.org.
Author Reputation Press’ published book, written by Gerald L. Nardella, was displayed at the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference from June 28 to July 2. The publisher and author of the book are honored and proud to be part of this annual conference.
“Playing Hurt” by Gerald L. Nardella was nominated for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award. The Eric Hoffer Book Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirit of small publishers. Since its establishment, Hoffer has become one of the largest international book awards for small, academic, and independent presses.
Life’s struggle can be lonely and painful. The author grew up in a small town, experiencing firsthand the insecurities of living in a broken home. Those insecurities still haunt him to this day.
Gerald L. Nardella was born and raised in Livingston, Montana, and he served in the U.S. Army. He married Peggy, his high school sweetheart, in 1962. They have two children: Michael and Terri. Gerald received a degree in accounting from Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1968. He worked for a national CPA firm before starting his own CPA practice in Billings in 1974. Gerald enjoys golfing, reading, and working on the family cabin in the Crazy Mountains.
Visit Gerald’s website at https://geraldnardellaauthor.com/.
He was interviewed by Benji Cole from CBS Radio. People of Distinction is one of the most wide-ranging radio shows in the United States, hosted by Benji Cole and Al Cole from CBS Radio. People of Distinction is the right fit for authors and readers to discover newly published books, mostly written by passionate and independent authors. Benji Cole, the host of the program, is a world-class interviewer, video formulator, Los Angeles actor, and filmmaker. He’s shared the acting stage with superstar Tom Hanks. Get to know more about the author and his book as you listen to the full interview below:
“Playing Hurt” by Gerald L. Nardella is highly commended by Amanda Hanson of the US Review of Books, who underscores that “Nardella dives into the characters’ emotions and psychological state. For instance, she shows how Deanie is conflicted by her sexual activities. She feels guilty and remorseful, which leads to tears after she has sex with Brian. From there, she wants to take things slowly. She had planned to remain a virgin until marriage. However, as a result of her actions with Brian, she feels like she has broken a promise to herself. Nardella uses a confessional technique popular in narratives by having her protagonist reveal these thoughts to her friend, Karen. Deanie then establishes a sharp contrast between Karen and herself. Karen was able to stand firm and refuse to sleep with her boyfriend, while Deanie feels that she gave up too easily. Deanie’s intense struggle with her thoughts and emotions helps make her relatable to the reader. Many will likely appreciate this book because the characters express their emotions with honesty.”
This book was among the books displayed by Author Reputation Press during the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 18–22, 2023. The Frankfurter Buchmesse, reportedly known as the world’s largest trade fair for books, opened its doors to participants around the globe celebrating books and their authors. The massive book fair also celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. Slovenia, their guest of honor this year, presented itself as a nation with a rich literary history and a desirable tourism destination.
Recently, “Playing Hurt” was displayed at the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) Book Gallery. The LATFOB is considered to be one of the world’s most significant literary gatherings. It has been held every year since 1996 with the goal of bringing together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. It is attended by more than 550 authors, celebrities, storytellers, and hundreds of exhibitors.
