Sathnam Sanghera, who grew up on Prosser Street and wrote about his youth in The Boy with the Top Knot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton, has been selected as one of 20 authors whose books will be given away by volunteers in a bid to get more people reading.
World Book Night is calling for members of the public to apply to be a "giver" through its website Type=links;Linkid=3040;Title=World Book Night;Target=_blank;. Applications will close on 23 January, 2014.
The scheme is also supported by bookshops and libraries - with Wolverhampton's libraries one of the collection points since the first World Book Night in 2011.
He said: "I'm very proud that The Boy with the Topknot is to be part of World Book Night and part of The Reading Agency's important efforts to target those who don't currently enjoy reading for pleasure.
"I am the son of an illiterate father and grew up in a household with no books, but my parents nevertheless wanted more for me and insisted I went the local library once a fortnight. The books I read changed my life, and it's amazing to think something I wrote might now touch someone in a similar position."
People can find out more about World Book Night by visiting Type=links;Linkid=3041;Title=The Reading Agency;Target=_blank; or asking at any Wolverhampton library.
- released: Friday 22 November, 2013