Southern Lit Alliance will host retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata for a reading and discussion of his novel, "Direct Fire," Thursday evening, Jan. 18, in the Arts Building, 301 East 11th St.
The reading will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the signing.
Tata grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., the son of two public school educators, and graduated from West Point. He commanded combat units in the 25th Infantry and 4th Infantry Divisions, the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the 10th Mountain Division.
He conducted combat operations in many tours, most recently as the Deputy Commanding General of the Allied and Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, where he earned the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star Medal.
Often compared with Tom Clancy in his writing, he has written eight novels. "Direct Fire," the newest in his series featuring hero Jake Mahegan, is a suspenseful tale of tracking a terrorist in North Carolina.
Tata is the national security expert for One American News Network, appearing every Tuesday with Liz Wheeler on "Tipping Point." He also appears frequently as a guest commentator on Fox News, NBC's "Today," CNN as well as local television stations around the country.
Following his military career, the general transitioned from the Army to education leadership, where he served as chief operations officer of Washington, D.C. public schools and as the superintendent of the 16th largest school district in the nation in Wake County/Raleigh, N.C. He was most recently North Carolina's Secretary of Transportation.
Tickets for his reading are $10 per person. A copy of "Direct Fire" may be purchased for an additional $26. Reservations can be made online at www.SouthernLitAlliance.org or by calling 423-777-4221. Seating is limited; reservations are strongly recommended.