The National Writers Series in Traverse City Michigan today released their winter-spring 2012 lineup:

Saturday February 4: Vince Gilligan (Creator of “Breaking Bad”), Monday March 12: Jodi Picoult (with special guest host Paula McLain), Thursday April 5: Alan Cheuse and Geraldine Brooks, Wednesday May 2: Michael Sandel, Monday May 14: Anna Quindlen (with special guest host Susan Casey), and Thursday June 21: Natalie Bakopoulos and Elizabeth Kostova.

Michigan author Natalie Bakopoulos, debut author of “The Green Shore”, is a University of Michigan writing professor and alumnus. She will be joined by another U-M writing graduate Elizabeth Kostova author of the “The Historian”.  Another University of Michigan graduate Paula McClain also will be featured along with mega-seller Jodi Picoult. McClain’s book “The Paris Wife” has been on the New York Times Best Sellers list for 38 weeks.

Another Michigan connection is Vince Gilligan who attended Interlochen Center for the Arts as a teenager. He is the creator of the acclaimed TV series “Breaking Bad” and was a writer for the “X-Files”. For more information on the National Writers Series, the 2012 lineup and for details on tickets visit here.