Jenna Lamia, stage, television, and movie actress and narrator of the talking book version of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, "The Secret Life of Bees," will read from the book and talk about how she interpreted the book’s characters. She will also discuss her experience as a narrator of recorded books. The presentation for teens and adults will be at three times and locations:

The performances are free of charge. They are part of Timberland Regional Library’s Timberland Reads Together: "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, a program series designed to celebrate and promote reading and community. Other programs in the series continue throughout October. For more information, visit the Timberland Regional Library Web site at www.trlib.org, contact your Timberland library, or call Central Reference librarians at 704-4636 (Olympia) or 1-800-562-6022.

As an audiobook reader, Lamia is recognized for her ability to "don characters as if donning hats." (Show Business Weekly) She has received numerous awards and honors from Audiofile magazine. She was nominated for Audie awards in 2003 for "Best Solo Narration" for her performance of "The Secret Life of Bees" and in 2004 for her performance of "Hey, Nostradamus." Other audio titles for which she is a narrator include: "The Girl with the Pearl Earring," "Bat 6," "Witness," "Rain is not my Indian Name," "Hope was Here," "The Preservationist," "Shoot the Moon," "Edenborn," and "Fish."

Lamia’s acting career began in the theater: She appeared in Eugene O’Neill’s "Ah, Wilderness" on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater, in "Bedbound" with Tony award winner Brian O’Byrne at The Irish Repertory Theater, in "The Glory of Living" with Oscar winner Anna Paquin, and in "Intrigue With Faye" with Benjamin Bratt and Julianna Margulies.

She now works on television and in films as well as on stage: She plays Carrie Schillinger on HBO’s critically acclaimed series "Oz." She has also guest-starred on several series including "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," "NYPD Blue," "Without a Trace," "The Jury," and "Strangers With Candy." Her work in films includes the upcoming releases "Happy End" with Audrey Tautou, "Drowning," and the thriller "Something’s Wrong in Kansas."

Besides audiobooks, Lamia has lent her voice to video games, animated cartoons, CD-roms, documentaries for National Geographic, national commercials, and even a virtual reality ride at Busch Gardens.