Chicago native Dave Eggers is the author of six books, and is also an influential philanthropist, publisher, and screenwriter (Where the Wild Things Are, Away We Go). Among his titles are 2009’s Zeitoun, the nonfiction account of a Syrian-American’s experience surrounding Hurricane Katrina; 2006’s What is the What, the award-winning “approximate” account of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan; and his 2000 debut novel, the simultaneously funny and sad memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. In addition to founding the publishing house McSweeney’s (www.mcsweeneys.net), Eggers co-founded 826 Valencia, a group of writing centers dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 in seven cities across the country. Watch Eggers talk about how 826 Valencia originated in this engaging 2008 TED (Technology, Education, Design) Talk. Then check out the Chicago branch’s site – and its in-house Boring Store – at http://www.826chi.org/. But the writing is the main thing! Eggers’ books are currently on order for the Moraine Valley Library. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to start reading them, try visiting these other local library catalogs: I-Share, SWAN, Chicago Public Library, or Green Hills Public Library at www.morainevalley.edu/Library/research.asp.