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His new book, “For One More Day” continues his message, compelling us to acknowledge our affections to loved ones as though there will be no more tomorrow's.

Albom is expected to share this insight on “appreciating the people and the moments we have right now” during a special appearance and book-signing event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Caldwell Auditorium, 300 S. College Ave.

The speaking engagement is free, hosted by the nonprofit Hospice of East Texas to honor its 25th anniversary and the many lives touched along the way.

The center provides comfort care and symptom management to patients with life-limiting illnesses, regardless of disease, age, sex, race and ability to pay.

The author’s message is so important, it’s worth sharing with everyone, said Marjorie Ream, president and CEO at Hospice.

“People have said to me, ‘Why are you giving this away? Why not make it a fundraiser?’” she said. “Our community has been so supportive of us that we wanted to give something back.”

Underwriters of the event include the Robert M. Rogers Foundation, East Texas Communities Foundation, the Genecov Group and committee of community volunteers.

Albom has won more than 100 writing awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, Headliners Club, National Sports Writers and Broadcasters Associations.

He’s consistently named as a top national sports columnists by the Sports Editors of America.

His runaway bestseller “Tuesdays with Morrie” spent four months at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers List. He’s also the author of New York Times bestseller, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.”

Acknowledging Albom’s professional accomplishments, an incredulous Mrs. Ream said enticing him to Tyler seemed a long shot.

“I think he appreciates what we do,” she said. “We certainly didn’t expect him to come — we’re right in the middle of football season.”

Albom’s new “For One More Day” is the story of Charley Benetto, who grew up wishing his absentee father, who abandoned the family, was still around.

Charley, 11, was embarrassed and angry over the split, and the cold indifference society paid to the struggles of his mother, described by town locals as “the divorcee.”

An excerpt from his book, published by Hyperion Books, describes Posey Benetto’s struggles to cope with the stigma of divorce and insulate Charley and his little sister from its effects.

“My mother might as well have had the plague. The card games she and my father used to play with neighbors? Finished. The invitations to birthday parties? Done. On the Fourth of July, you could smell charcoal everywhere — yet no one invited us to their cookout. At Christmastime, you would see cars in front of houses and mingling adults visible through bay windows. But my mother would be in our kitchen, missing cookie dough.

“Aren’t you going to the party?” we’d ask.

“We’re having a party right here,” she’s say.

She made it seem like her choice. Just the three of us. For a long time, I believed New Year’s Eve was a family event, meant for squeezing chocolate syrup on ice cream and tooting noisemakers by a TV set. It surprised me to learn my teenaged friends used the night for raiding the family liquor cabinet, because their parents were dressed up and gone by eight o’clock.

“You mean you’re stuck with your mom on New Year’s?” they would ask.

“Yeah,” I’d moan.

But it was my charming mother who was stuck.

The irate boy grew to be a man broken by alcohol, guilt and self-pity.

And when Charley attempts suicide, he is suddenly reunited with his mother, who had passed away years earlier.

Miraculously, he’s given one day to patch things up with her.

Hospice officials predict Albom’s message Tuesday will compel audience members to savor life’s fleeting moments.

“I thought the book was fantastic,” said Sue Deakins, 15-year volunteer and former board member. “It made me start to think about who I’d want to spend one more day with, probably my mother or father. I think after hearing him, a lot of us will go home and call someone we love.”

Mrs. Ream said it’s an honor to share Albom’s message and serve families in transition.

“We learn this from our patients — there’s a point when you’re facing your own mortality that you shed yourself of the things you do ‘just because,’” she said. “People who have a few days left know how precious they are and they focus on what’s important.”

Hosting a speaker who can thoughtfully illustrate this lesson can change lives, she said, adding, “I’m excited we’re about to offer this opportunity to the community for free.”

RSVPs are requested by calling 903-266-3400 or 800-777-9860 or by e-mail at 25anniversary@hospiceofeasttexas.org.

For more information about Albom’s book, visit www.foronemoreday.com or www.hyperionbooks.com.