News Release: 2/16/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Author Amity Gaige Shares her Best Selling Novel Heartwood at Glen Ellyn

Children’s Resource Center’s Annual Literary Event Fundraiser

GLEN ELLYN, IL, February 9, 2026 — The Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (GECRC)

welcomes The New York Times best-selling author Amity Gaige to its annual Literary Event

Fundraiser, held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton. Proceeds will

support GECRC’s efforts to empower nearly 300 under-resourced children living in the greater

Glen Ellyn community to realize their full potential through after-school and summer tutoring and

mentoring programs. The event is held in partnership with The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn and

supported by the generosity from many loyal businesses and community partners in Glen Ellyn

and Wheaton.

“We are delighted to welcome Amity Gaige, author of The New York Times' bestselling novel

Heartwood as our featured author at GECRC’s 2026 Literary Event, held once again at

Arrowhead Golf Club,” says Sarah O’Donnell, GECRC Executive Director.

"We’re looking forward to an engaging evening as Ms. Gaige discusses her critically acclaimed novel

Heartwood in an insightful Q&A format led by The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn owner Shannon Burgess.”

Heartwood has been called “the best thriller of the year” by The Boston Globe, and was named

a Best Book of 2025 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Public

Library, Audible, She Reads, Goodreads, Vulture and NPR. Heartwood has been described as

“gratifying as a daffodil at the end of a long winter” (The New York Times) and “a terrifically

moving and tense thriller… genius” (The Washington Post). Gaige is also the author of similarly

lauded novels Sea Wife, Schroder, O My Darling, and The Folded World.

Tickets are $80 in advance or $90 at the door. A $95 bundle of a ticket and a discounted

paperback copy of Heartwood is available from The Bookstore in Glen Ellyn. Tickets include

light bites, two drink tickets, and an abundance of literary-loving friends. Guests are welcome to

purchase additional drink tickets and raffle tickets for amazing curated baskets from book clubs

and favorite local businesses. The event takes place on Thursday, April 30, 2026 starting at

6:30pm at Arrowhead Golf Club, 26W151 Butterfield Rd, Wheaton, IL. Tickets can be purchased

online now at https://literary26gecrc.givesmart.com/ or www.gecrc.com , or in-person at The

Bookstore, 475 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL. All proceeds will benefit GECRC.

About Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (GECRC)

Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center (GECRC) offers out-of-school programming that empowers under-resourced

K-12 students to meet state and local standards for academic and social-emotional learning; involves students in

activities that enrich learning; and connects families to schools and other resources necessary to support student

success and well-being. GECRC programs make space where students, their parents, educators, and community

members can develop mutually enriching relationships that support and inspire learning and growth. GECRC

regularly seeks volunteer tutors. Learn more at www.gecrc.com. For more information about this event, contact

Laura Ulepic, GECRC Development Manager, at lulepic@gecrc.com.

More information pertaining to this event:

https://bookstoreofge.com/

https://www.amitygaige.com/

https://www.simonandschuster.com/