Archive for December 2009
12/1/2009
Acclaimed novelist and poet Julia Alvarez (Photo by Bill Eichner).
Sports writer Robert Lyons discusses and signs his book, On Any Given Sunday: A Life of Bert Bell. The book is published by Temple University Press.
Local favorite Lisa Scottoline discusses and signs her new non-fiction collection of her Philadelphia Inquirer columns, Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog. PHOTO: April Narby
Jeff VanderMeer talks about his new non-fiction title BOOKLIFE: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 20th Century Writer, at 7 PM at Between Books, 2703 2703 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE.
12/2/09
Film star Leslie Caron talks about her life and new memoir, Thank Heaven, in an on-stage interview with Philadelphia Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Sue Grafton talks about and signs her latest “alphabet mystery,” U is for Undertow.
Stanley Weintraub talks about and signs his Civil War non-fiction title General Sherman’s Christmas: Savannah 1864.
University of Pennsylvania Annenberg professor Monroe Price talks about Objects of Remembrance, a memoir about his European roots and Viennese ancestors.
Philadelphia broadcaster Lorraine Ranalli talks about and signs Gravy Wars: South Philly Foods, Feuds & Attytudes.
12/3/09
Poet and memoirist Mary Karr.
12/4/09
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LIT FLASH 12/4/09: Elise Juska (fiction) and Thomas Devaney (poetry) have been named judges for Philadelphia City Paper’s 24th Annual Writing Contest. Deadline for submissions is next week, Friday, 12/11/2009, by 5 PM, so get busy. Rules are posted here. READ FULL STORY.
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Local favorite Judy Schachner signs her #1 New York Timesbestselling Skippyjon Jones title, Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice at T. Bumbles in Swarthmore(for Swarthmore First Friday). See also 11/21, 11/22 and 12/5.
Author Zane discusses and signs Total Eclipse of the Heart.
Nancy Viau discusses and signs her middle-grade novel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in her Head. (See also 12/5)
Glen MacNow and Ray Didinger sign The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies, in which they rank and share info about the 100 greatest sport movies of all time. The pair will be joined by hockey columnist Bill Meltzer who will discuss and sign Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask, his new book on the Philadelphia Flyers goalie. Both events take place at Chester County Book & Music Company starting at 7 PM. According to the bookstore website, popcorn will be served.
Daniel Nester signs his humorous collection of nonfiction, How to Be Inappropriate. (See also 12/5)
PS (Philadelphia Stories) Reads series featuring local authors Colleen Baranich, Barry Dinerman, Eileen Moeller, Tim Zatzariny, Bernard Schaefer and Angela Canales reading talking about the writing process.
PS (Philadelphia Stories) Reads series and First Friday reading/Art Show featuring local authors Marc Schuster and Christine Weiser and their books’ cover artist, Marlise Tkaczuk, at Dhyana Yoga, 68 N. Second Street, Philadelphia.
12/5/09
New York Times #1 bestselling author/illustrator Judy Schachner signs her latest Skippyjon Jones title, Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice at Children’s Book World in Haverford. See also 11/21, 11/22 and 12/4.
Nancy Viau discusses and signs her middle-grade novel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in her Head. (See also 12/4)
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LIARS AT WELLINGTON SQUARE BOOKSHOP
Photo: (front l-r) Jonathan Maberry, Don Lafferty, (2nd row) Marie Lamba, Keith Strunk, Merry Jones, Gregory Frost, (back) Jon McGoran (aka D.H. Dublin), Kelly Simmons, Dennis Tafoya.
Nine members of the Philly Liars Club, a loose affiliation of local authors who, as fiction writers, “basically lie for a living,” as well as support local independent book shops, celebrate and sign their books at the newly re-located, revamped and gorgeous Wellington Square Bookshop , which is located in the Eagleville development at 543 Wellington Square, in Exton, PA.
Authors atending this event are:
- Bram Stoker award winner Jonathan Maberry (Patient Zero, St. Martin’s)
- Fantasy author Gregory Frost (Shadowbridge, and Lord Tophet, Del Rey/Random House)
- Young adult author Marie Lamba (What I Meant…, Random House)
- Contemporary novelist Kelly Simmons (Standing Still, Washington Square Press/Simon and Schuster)
- Debut crime novelist Dennis Tafoya (Dope Thief, St. Martin’s)
- Historical author Keith Strunk (Prallsville Mills and Stockton, Arcadia Publishing Images of America Series)
- Mystery author Merry Jones (The Borrowed and Blue Murders, Minotaur Books)
- Mystery author Jon McGoran who writes as D.H. Dublin (Freezer Burn, Berkley Books),
- Social media marketing consultant, writer and lecturer Don Lafferty.
This event takes place on Saturday, December 5th from noon to 2 PM, and is free and open to the public. For more information, or to reserve a copy of an author’s book before the event, call Wellington Square Bookshop at 610-458-1144. (See also 12/12)
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Daniel Nester signs his humorous collection of nonfiction, How to Be Inappropriate. (See also 12/4)
PS (Philadelphia Stories) Reads series featuring local authors Helen W. Mallon, Tim Zatzariny, Christine Weiser and Carla Spataro reading and talking about the writing process.
12/6/09
Doylestown’s own hometown author Marie Lamba, signs her Random House young adult (YA) novel What I Meant…at Doylestown Bookshop — the very same bookstore she writes about in her book (along with many other sites that will be familiar to local residents.). What I Meant… is a YA about a 15-year-old Central Bucks West girl, the guy she’s crazy about (who works at the County Theater), her Indian dad, her American mom and her extremely evil aunt. The book is a “clean” novel that tackles some serious issues, such as broken friendships, betrayal and injustice, but also contains “tons of drama and laughs” and embarrassing moments, says author Lamba.
This event takes place Sunday, December 6th, from noon to 3 PM.
For more information about What I Meant… which Doylestown Bookshop has billed “The Perfect Gift for a Doylestown Teen” — visit www.marielamba.com. If you would like to reserve a copy of Lamba’s novel prior to Lamba’s signing (or if you cannot attend) contact the Doylestown Bookshop at 215-230-7610.
Editor’s note: Marie Lamba, along with the Philly Liars Club authors above, are, like Local LIT, passionate supporters of local independent bookstores — a reason to be passionate about them, in this editor’s opinion. Lamba recently said:
I want to remind everyone to think of independent stores like the Doylestown Bookshop first for any of your holiday shopping. Indies are what make Doylestown such a special place to live in and to write about, so we have to support them if we want Doylestown to continue to be the amazing town that it is.
12/8/09
Scott G. Knowles, editor and contributor to the new Temple University Press book, Imagining Philadelphia, talks about former Planning Commission director Edmund Bacon and the past and possible future visions for our city.
Michael Medved discusses and signs The 5 Big Lies About American Business.
12/09/09
Famous “Fancy Nancy” author Jane O’Connor makes an in-person appearance at Borders-Newark to sign Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas.
Lise Funderburg signs her memoir Pig Candy: Taking my Father South, Taking My Father Home.
12/10/09
An Evening with Ben Yagoda and Friends/ Book Launch & Celebration of Memoir —Nationally known Philadelphia author Ben Yagoda celebrates and locally launches his just-published new title, Memoir: A History, via a talk and reading which includes several local authors/colleagues/friends reading short passages from their own favorite memoirs. Readers include Rick Valelly,Rachel Pastan, Clare Coleman, Martha Hodes, Don Lessem, and Kathye Fetsko Petrie (full disclosure: me/your Local LIT editor).
This event takes place December 10th at 7:30 PM at the Swarthmore Public Library, 121 Park Ave., Swarthmore, PA Registration is requested but not required. Call Sharon Ford at 610.543.0436.
Ben Yagoda is a journalism professor in the English Department at the University of Delaware. His previous books include Will Rogers: A Biography, When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It, The Sound on the Page, The Art of Fact, and About Town: The New Yorker and the World It Made. He has also published numerous articles and essays for major publications, including The New York Times Book Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Slate and Salon. Yagoda blogs at www.benyagoda.com.
Lisa Barretta signs her new book, The Street-Smart Psychic’s Guide to Getting the Good Reading.
12/11/09
DEADLINE for Philadelphia City Paper’s 24th Annual Writing Contest (12/11/2009, 5 PM). See 12/4/entry above. READ FULL STORY.
Author Nancy Heinzen signs The Perfect Square: A History of Rittenhouse Square, the first full-length history of this famous location in Philly. The book is published by Temple University Press. READ A REVIEW.
Local author C. G. (Chris) Bauerwill talk about his work and sign copies of his Philadelphia-based debut horror novel Scars on the Face of God: The Devil’s Bible at the Doylestown Bookshop starting at 7 PM. Bauer’s book is inspired by St. Vincent’s Home, an iconic orphanage in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. For more information about Scars on the Face of God visitwww.cgbauer.net. If you would like to reserve a copy of Bauer’s novel before the signing, contact the Doylestown Bookshop at 215-230-7610. Photo: Jillian Bauer.(see also 12/12)
12/12/09
G. (Chris) Bauer talks about and signs Scars on the Face of God: The Devil’s Bible at 3 PM at Between Books in Claymont DE. (see also 12/11).
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Several Philly Liars Club authors take turns signing at Farley’s Bookshop on Main Street in New Hope, PA, and Canterbury Tales Forever in Peddler’s Village, Lahaska. Schedules are as follows:
At Farley’s:
- 11 AM-1 PM— Kelly Simmons and Gregory Frost
- 1-3 PM— Merry Jones and Jonathan Maberry
- 3-5 PM— Keith Strunk, L. A. Banks and Marie Lamba
- 5-7 PM — Don Lafferty and Dennis Tafoya
At Canterbury Tales:
- 11 AM-1 PM— Keith Strunk and Marie Lamba
- 1-3 PM— Don Lafferty, L. A. Banks and Dennis Tafoya
- 3-5 PM— Kelly Simmons and Gregory Frost
- 5-7 PM— Merry Jones and Jonathan Maberry
Books by all of the authors will be on sale at both locations throughout the day, and for every three Philly Liars Clubbooks purchased, customers will get a free Philly Liars Club book bag.
Philly Liars Club authors have deep ties to the local area. In addition to their living nearby, many of their books also take place in the vicinity. Lamba’s novel, What I Meant… takes place in Doylestown, as does Tafoya’s Dope Thief. Strunk’s Prallsville Mills and Stockton taps into the history of the river town, and Jones’ The Borrowed and Blue Murders, as well as the other mysteries in her series, all take place in Philadelphia.
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12/15/09
Julie Powell, author of Julie and Julia, talks about her new book, Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession.
Jonathan Safran Foer, best-selling author of the novels Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, returns to Philadelphia after his recent signing at the Free Library to read and sign his new non-fiction book, Eating Animals, at the Penn Bookstore. Photo by Kathye Fetsko Petrie
12/15/09
Sports journalist Mike Sielski, author of Fading Echoes: A True Story of Rivalry and Brotherhood from the Football Field to the Fields of Honor, signs at Doylestown Bookshop a 6 PM.
