Hundreds of Armenian Americans from the LA area welcomed New York Times Best-Selling author Chris Bohjalian as he joined with the ANC Grassroots Film and the Arts Committee, The Genocide Education Project and Doubleday Books in launching the national tour for his latest novel “The Sandcastle Girls.”

“We have seen incredible enthusiasm here in the LA area and in communities across the country in anticipation of the July 17 publication of Bohjalian’s epic on the Armenian Genocide,” ANCA Western Region co-Chairperson Nora Hovsepian, Esq. “Chris’ presentation today, like his book, was engaging and inspiring – guaranteed to serve as a starting point for discussions about the Armenian Genocide and genocide prevention the world over.”

Community members purchased hundreds of copies of the book and stood in line to meet the author and have them signed prior to the official book presentation. ANCA Western Region Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian, Esq. welcomed attendees and cited the important role that works like “The Sandcastle Girls” play in educating mainstream America about the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of Genocide denial.

Those remarks were echoed by Adrin Nazarian and LA City Controller Wendy Greuel, upon presentation of a proclamation by LA Councilman Paul Krekorian welcoming Bohjalian and the publication of his masterpiece, Asbarez reported.

The ANC Film and Arts Committee is an extension of the unprecedentedly successful ANC Grassroots event, which took place last year over Thanksgiving Weekend in Los Angeles.