A teacher’s guide for The Secret Life of Bees is available from Penguin for use in high school classrooms. The Secret Life of Bees has been widely adopted into high school curriculums across the country and been a favorite on student reading lists. This excellent and highly creative guide can also be used in conjunction with the film adaptation of the novel. To download it, go to http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/ SecretLifeBeesTG.pdf. The guide was used by the National Education Association for its promotion of both the film and the book.

The Charleston premiere of The Secret Life of Bees movie will be held on Oct 16 at the Terrace Theatre, followed by a reception at the Harbour Club. The film is based on the best-selling novel, authored by Charleston resident and LILA Board member Sue Monk Kidd, who will be in attendance and speak briefly. Proceeds from the Charleston reception will go towards LILA’s fund-raising goal of $30,000 to support the “Poets in the Schools” program, LILA’s ongoing public school initiative. The movie opens in theaters nationwide on October 17. For ticket information contact: Jonathan Sanchez at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 KingSt., Charleston, SC – 843-722-2666 jonathansanchez23@yahoo.com.

www.lilaconnects.com/bees.html

The Secret Life of Bees will have its World Premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. The “Gala Presentation” will be held September 5. The festival runs September 4-13.

Official Press Release

Fox Searchlight began principal filming for the screen adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees on January 9th in North Carolina.

The Secret Life Of Bees, based on the New York Times best selling novel and set in South Carolina in 1964, is the moving tale of Lily Owens (Fanning) a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother (Burton). To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father (Bettany), Lily flees with Rosaleen (Hudson), her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters (Latifah, Okonedo and Keys), Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping.

Publicity Contacts

The Secret Life of Bees is featured in the top box office feature, ‘Bee Movie’, an animated film written by Jerry Seinfeld. The novel is mentioned and shown briefly during a pivotal courtroom scene.

Sue has written the Introduction for a new edition of one of Thomas Merton’s most enduring and popular books, New Seeds of Contemplation, published by New Directions, November 28, 2007. Sue’s Introduction is a personal essay recounting her first visit to Merton’s monastic hermitage at the age of 39 and her reflections on the impact of Merton’s work on her life.

The television adaptation of The Mermaid Chair starring Kim Basinger, Alex Carter and Bruce Greenwood is now available on iTunes. The movie originally debuted on Lifetime Television September 2006. In order to download, go to iTunes and search for The Mermaid Chair.

Sue’s collection of early spiritual writings – a 2006 bestseller in hardcover – will be available in paperback Sept. 25, 2007, published by Penguin.

Spirituality & Health Magazine has chosen Firstlight as their book club selection for the months of November and December. Visit Spirituality & Health’s website to register to view exclusive reviews and discussion guides for Firstlight. Also, be sure to register to take part in a live teleconference with Sue to discuss Firstlight on November 16.