‘Glee’ star Chris Colfer coming to Naperville for book signing

You may know him as Kurt Hummel on “Glee,” but Chris Colfer hopes that after he visits Naperville next month you’ll know him as an author as well.

Chris Colfer, who has won a Golden Globe for his work on “Glee,” will sign his new book, “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.

Aimed at middle readers, the book is Colfer’s first venture into publishing. Priority numbers for the book signing will be available with the purchase of the book from Anderson’s.

In “The Land of Stories,” the world of twins Alex and Conner Bailey is about to change. It’s a fast-paced adventure that combines our modern-day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, the twins leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic, where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins and trolls, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

Colfer recently was honored as a member of the 2011 TIME 100, Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. This year, he will be seen in the independent film “Struck By Lightning,” which he both wrote and produced. Brian Dannelly directs the coming-of-age comedy that also stars Allison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney and Sarah Hyland.

In addition, Colfer recently adapted “The Little Leftover Witch,” a pilot for the Disney Channel based on the children’s book of the same name by Florence Laughlin. The story centers on a little witch who was taken in by a family after a crash landing on her broom.

Colfer grew up performing in community theater productions and, in high school, was active in the drama program.