WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County kicked off its 28th annual Love of Literacy Luncheon on Thursday at the Kravis Center with bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard.
The former newspaper reporter shared her love for writing and reading at this year's event.
"If you have the ability to read and to enjoy it you can never be a prisoner," said Mitchard.
Mitchard told WPTV a phone call from Oprah Winfrey put her first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, on the map.
"She called and said we're going to have the biggest book club in the world and we're going to start it with The Deep End of the Ocean," said Mitchard.
The novel became a New York Times bestseller.
Mitchard also credited her success to her love for reading and encouraged younger generations to pick up a book.
"If you want to be a serious person and you want people to take you seriously, you have to be able to be someone who picks up a book and reads for pleasure," said Mitchard.
