Because of intense public interest in the Brenau University appearance of best-selling novelist Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns," the university will open two additional venues for public access to Hosseini´s presentation on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Hosseini will appear at Pearce Auditorium in a program that starts at 7:15 p.m., but there will be very limited public seating there. However, the program will be telecast simultaneously to both Hosch Theater at the Burd Center for Performing Arts and the Thurmond McRae Auditorium adjacent to the university library. There is no charge for admission to Hosch Theatre or Thurmond McRae, but reservations are required and tickets must be picked up in advance of the program date.

"This is quite literally the hottest ticket in town," said Helen Ray, Brenau´s vice president for academic affairs. "Dr. Hosseini´s moving stories about his native Afghanistan have touched the hearts of millions around the world, and we are extremely fortunate that he agreed to include this appearance at Brenau University among the few public appearances he plans to do this year."

Following the program, Hosseini will sign copies of his books at a free, open-to-the-public reception in the university´s Simmons Visual Arts Center adjacent to Pearce Auditorium. Copies of both his books can be purchased on site that evening or in advance from the university´s book store at 510 Washington St. SE in Gainesville.

Prior to the program, the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute will host a free public screening of the 2007 motion picture, "The Kite Runner," based on Hosseini´s first novel. The screening is at 3 p.m. in Thurmond McRae Auditorium.

Hosseini´s appearance is part of the ongoing lecture series endowed by Brenau trustee M. Douglas Ivester and his wife, Kay. "The Kite Runner," Hosseini´s highly acclaimed 2003 debut novel, has now been published in about 40 countries and has sold more than eight million copies. A movie based on the novel opened in the United States late last year. His second novel, "A Thousand Splendid Suns," has been close to the top of The New York Times best-seller list since its May 2007 publication. A movie based on that book is in development with an anticipated release some time in 2009.

"The Kite Runner" is a moving story of two boys whose lives were torn asunder by religious and class prejudice in Afghanistan before and after the 1980 Soviet invasion of the country and the subsequent takeover by the radical Muslim mujahideen. The second novel carries forth into the Taliban regime with a story of a friendship between two young Afghan women.

Maria Ebrahimji, a 1998 Brenau graduate who is CNN director and executive editorial producer for network booking, will appear with Hosseini in the interview format lecture. During her decade with the Atlanta-based television news network, the award-winning journalist has been involved with a number of international stories focusing on Middle East issues. She is currently writing a book about American Muslim women of her generation.

Paula Nirschel, founder of the -year-old Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, will also be recognized during the program along with Brenau´s three students from Afghanistan: juniors Khadija Safi and Shamim Siddiqi and first-year student Najia Nasim. Brenau is one of only 17 U.S. colleges and universities that provide full scholarships for Afghan women in the IEAW program.

Born in Kabul in 1965, Hosseini was the son of an Afghan diplomat whose family sought and won political asylum in the United States following the 1980 invasion. Hosseini grew up in California, got a medical degree and practiced internal medicine before he put his medical career on hold in 2004 following success of the first novel. In addition to writing, he devotes considerable time to his role as goodwill envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.