The University of South Florida's Contemporary Art Museum is presenting "Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture" from November 4th to December 17th.
This exhibition of multi-media art and design ...explores the recent work of a diverse group of visual artists that have emerged from aspects of street culture loosely organized around the subcultures of skateboarding, graffiti, punk and hip-hop in urban U.S. cities. It includes painting, sculpture, photography, film, video and performance by 30 individuals who have emerged over the last decade. For information visit www.usfcam.usf.edu/framestest/irafs.html.
(From an email from USF.)
On Friday, November 4th from 6 to 7 p.m. at USF's Contemporary Art Museum, there will be a booksigning with artist Ryan McGinness on his new publication Installationview.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Opening Lines:"Good Girls Don't" by Kelley St. John
From Kelley St. John's new book Good Girls Don't (coming out in December 2005):
Digging through her briefcase, Colette Campbell snagged her cellular phone in one hand and her contact's information sheet in the other, while her sister rummaged through her green glitter-embellished duffel bag to grab a bright, pink, misshapen vibrator. Both girls were notorious for bringing their work home; tonight was no exception.
Oh yes, you read that correctly.
I started reading Good Girls Don't Friday morning in my doctor's office's waiting room and caused a minor stir when I half-gasped, half-laughed while reading the first page. I finished it last night and will post my review this week. Go ahead and put Good Girls Don't on your holiday shopping list for yourself, your sister or your friend. (But not for your mother or your elderly aunt!)
Digging through her briefcase, Colette Campbell snagged her cellular phone in one hand and her contact's information sheet in the other, while her sister rummaged through her green glitter-embellished duffel bag to grab a bright, pink, misshapen vibrator. Both girls were notorious for bringing their work home; tonight was no exception.
Oh yes, you read that correctly.
I started reading Good Girls Don't Friday morning in my doctor's office's waiting room and caused a minor stir when I half-gasped, half-laughed while reading the first page. I finished it last night and will post my review this week. Go ahead and put Good Girls Don't on your holiday shopping list for yourself, your sister or your friend. (But not for your mother or your elderly aunt!)
Yesterday's Festival of Reading
Have you ever climbed out of bed in the morning and known that you were going to have a good day? That doesn't happen to me very often, but it did yesterday. After The Husband got home from work at 11 a.m., we headed to St. Pete for the Times' Festival of Reading. I returned home with a sore throat from constant talking, sunburned, and very, very happy.
Did I buy lots of books, get some books signed or attend a panel discussion? Um...no, no, and no. I spent about five hours walking around talking to local authors and learning about their books. It was wonderful.
I learned about the Alley Cat Players, a local group who put on poetry readings and performances at local libraries. I finally got to meet the wonderful local author Wendy Boucher in person and learn how to pronounce her last name correctly (for the record, it's "boo-SHAY"). I learned that the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative is updating its website in January and will have the capacity for email lists, for those (like me) who are interesting in finding out about upcoming events.
I finally got to meet local author Skip Allen in person. Skip has mastered the art of the cliffhanger. He told me a little about the book he has just finished (the sequel to Out of Ashes), but stopped mid-plotline to end his sentence with "and you'll have to wait until the book comes out to find out what happens." No, Skip, I'm not anxiously awaiting your next book; nope, not at all. Wait, when did you say it was coming out?
I had a chance to meet local author David McRee, a.k.a. Beach Hunter, author of the new book Florida Beaches. I picked up some information about the Tampa Writers Alliance and met several of its members.
And much, much more. Over the next week or so I will write about the local authors I met and post a couple of pictures from the event.
Did I buy lots of books, get some books signed or attend a panel discussion? Um...no, no, and no. I spent about five hours walking around talking to local authors and learning about their books. It was wonderful.
I learned about the Alley Cat Players, a local group who put on poetry readings and performances at local libraries. I finally got to meet the wonderful local author Wendy Boucher in person and learn how to pronounce her last name correctly (for the record, it's "boo-SHAY"). I learned that the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative is updating its website in January and will have the capacity for email lists, for those (like me) who are interesting in finding out about upcoming events.
I finally got to meet local author Skip Allen in person. Skip has mastered the art of the cliffhanger. He told me a little about the book he has just finished (the sequel to Out of Ashes), but stopped mid-plotline to end his sentence with "and you'll have to wait until the book comes out to find out what happens." No, Skip, I'm not anxiously awaiting your next book; nope, not at all. Wait, when did you say it was coming out?
I had a chance to meet local author David McRee, a.k.a. Beach Hunter, author of the new book Florida Beaches. I picked up some information about the Tampa Writers Alliance and met several of its members.
And much, much more. Over the next week or so I will write about the local authors I met and post a couple of pictures from the event.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Writer Looking for Input from Baptist Women
From the Florida Baptist Witness:
Writer Denise George is gathering research for an article to be published in a future issue of the Witness. The information also will be part of a nation-wide survey for her new book What Women Wish Their Pastors Knew About Women in the Church.
Those interested in participating should answer the following questions:
• As a church woman, what would you most like your pastor to know, and why?
• What do you believe is the number one problem church women face today, and why?
Optional information to include in your answer is: marital status, age, employment, and number and age of children or grandchildren.
Names will not be published and answers are confidential.
Please send answers to Denise George at cdwg@aol.com or
Denise George
Beeson Divinity School
800 Lakeshore Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35229
For more information, visit http://www.authordenisegeorge.com/.
Writer Denise George is gathering research for an article to be published in a future issue of the Witness. The information also will be part of a nation-wide survey for her new book What Women Wish Their Pastors Knew About Women in the Church.
Those interested in participating should answer the following questions:
• As a church woman, what would you most like your pastor to know, and why?
• What do you believe is the number one problem church women face today, and why?
Optional information to include in your answer is: marital status, age, employment, and number and age of children or grandchildren.
Names will not be published and answers are confidential.
Please send answers to Denise George at cdwg@aol.com or
Denise George
Beeson Divinity School
800 Lakeshore Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35229
For more information, visit http://www.authordenisegeorge.com/.
Is Haslam's Haunted?
Just in time for Halloween:
According to tbt* (*Tampa Bay Times), local artist Brandy Stark and the S.P.I.R.I.T.S. (Servicing Paranormal Investigators Reporting Information Through Study) have visited Haslam's Bookstore in St. Pete...
...on three occasions to see if, according to local lore, it's haunted by the ghost of Jack Kerouac, the famed Beat Generation writer who died in 1969 in St. Petersburg. While alive, Kerouac regularly visited Haslam's, reshelving his own novels to make them eye-level with customers. For decades, it's been rumored the writer's ghost still hangs around.
According to tbt* (*Tampa Bay Times), local artist Brandy Stark and the S.P.I.R.I.T.S. (Servicing Paranormal Investigators Reporting Information Through Study) have visited Haslam's Bookstore in St. Pete...
...on three occasions to see if, according to local lore, it's haunted by the ghost of Jack Kerouac, the famed Beat Generation writer who died in 1969 in St. Petersburg. While alive, Kerouac regularly visited Haslam's, reshelving his own novels to make them eye-level with customers. For decades, it's been rumored the writer's ghost still hangs around.
Oprah Says: Read "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey
The awesome power and influence of Oprah continue undiminished (and somewhere in America, James Frey (A Million Little Pieces) is jumping for joy).
The Book Standard Interviews Stuart Woods
Here's an interview with Stuart Woods (Chiefs, Iron Orchid) that I found in the Book Standard. Woods will be at Inkwood Books on November 7th.
What Are You Doing Tomorrow?
The St. Petersburg Times' Festival of Reading is Saturday and I'm ready to go. I've charged the batteries in my digital camera and practically memorized the schedule on the Festival's website. While there will be many authors there from Florida and across the U.S., I must admit that I'm most excited about meeting the authors from the Tampa Bay area who will be at the Festival.
Featured local authors include Gary Mormino (Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams), Jeff Klinkenberg (The Seasons of Real Florida), Marc D. Giller (Hammerjack), Lee Irby (7,000 Clams) and Raymond Arsenault (Paradise Lost? The Environmental History of Florida).
Among the local booksellers and exhibitors will be the Largo Area Historical Society, the Tampa Writers Alliance (where Skip Allen, author of Out of the Ashes, will be in the afternoon), the Literacy Council of St. Petersburg, and Hoyden Press, LCC (where Wendy Boucher, author of Parvenue Throws a Party, can be found).
This list is only partial; there's no way I can post the complete list here. The Festival of Reading is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 29th at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus and is FREE. Hope to see you there.
Featured local authors include Gary Mormino (Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams), Jeff Klinkenberg (The Seasons of Real Florida), Marc D. Giller (Hammerjack), Lee Irby (7,000 Clams) and Raymond Arsenault (Paradise Lost? The Environmental History of Florida).
Among the local booksellers and exhibitors will be the Largo Area Historical Society, the Tampa Writers Alliance (where Skip Allen, author of Out of the Ashes, will be in the afternoon), the Literacy Council of St. Petersburg, and Hoyden Press, LCC (where Wendy Boucher, author of Parvenue Throws a Party, can be found).
This list is only partial; there's no way I can post the complete list here. The Festival of Reading is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 29th at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus and is FREE. Hope to see you there.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Running Moonshine? Trouble With The Law? It's All "Water Under The Bridge"
Carol Overstreet has used the very colorful life of 93-year-old moonshine-runner/watermelon farmer Clarence Lane of Zephyrhills as one of the main characters in her new book Water Under the Bridge. The Tampa Tribune has more.
(Thanks go to Sticks of Fire for sending this to me.)
(Thanks go to Sticks of Fire for sending this to me.)
Monday, October 24, 2005
Counting Down To the Times Festival of Reading This Weekend
Only a few more days until the Times Festival of Reading. In the meantime, check out Margo Hammond's great summary in the St. Pete Times.
Local Author Kendall Smith-Sullivan in St. Pete Times
The St. Pete Times recently had a nice article about local author Kendall Smith-Sullivan and her new book Soulmate Logic. Faithful readers will remember that I mentioned Smith-Sullivan's new book here a few weeks ago. I'm always glad to see local authors get some publicity.
A Sonnet By Edna St. Vincent Millay
Time does not bring relief; you all have lied
Who told me time would ease me of my pain!
I miss him in the weeping of the rain;
I want him at the shrinking of the tide;
The old snows melt from every mountain-side,
And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;
But last year's bitter loving must remain
Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide.
There are a hundred places where I fear
To go, -- so with his memory they brim.
And entering with relief some quiet place
Where never fell his foot or shone his face
I say, "There is no memory of him here!"
And so stand stricken, so remembering him.
-- from Collected Sonnets of Edna St. Vincent Millay
I must admit that I don't often read poetry. I hated learning all the "rules" of poetry in school and loathed struggling to figure out what the author really meant (the kid in the back row asking "Why didn't the author just write what she wanted to say?" was me).
I checked this book out of the library recently and have been working my way through it. Rules and symbolism be damned; all I know is this poem moved me.
Who told me time would ease me of my pain!
I miss him in the weeping of the rain;
I want him at the shrinking of the tide;
The old snows melt from every mountain-side,
And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;
But last year's bitter loving must remain
Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide.
There are a hundred places where I fear
To go, -- so with his memory they brim.
And entering with relief some quiet place
Where never fell his foot or shone his face
I say, "There is no memory of him here!"
And so stand stricken, so remembering him.
-- from Collected Sonnets of Edna St. Vincent Millay
I must admit that I don't often read poetry. I hated learning all the "rules" of poetry in school and loathed struggling to figure out what the author really meant (the kid in the back row asking "Why didn't the author just write what she wanted to say?" was me).
I checked this book out of the library recently and have been working my way through it. Rules and symbolism be damned; all I know is this poem moved me.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Haunting Tales at Largo Public Library
From the Largo Public Library website:
Haunting Tales
October 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Haunting Sunshine: Ghostly Tales from Florida's Shadows, a lecture and slide presentation by author Jack Powell will be held in Room B of the Jenkins Community Wing. Get set to go on a wild ride from Pensacola to Jacksonville and down to Key West, touring Florida's places and history through some of its best ghost stories! Powell served 20 years in the military. When he retired, he was recruited to set up a practice in rural Florida, where he began to collect folklore, including many tales of haunting.
Copies of the author's book will be available for purchase and autographing. Sponsored by the Friends of the Largo Library. Call (727) 587-6715 extension 2507 to reserve a seat.
Haunting Tales
October 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Haunting Sunshine: Ghostly Tales from Florida's Shadows, a lecture and slide presentation by author Jack Powell will be held in Room B of the Jenkins Community Wing. Get set to go on a wild ride from Pensacola to Jacksonville and down to Key West, touring Florida's places and history through some of its best ghost stories! Powell served 20 years in the military. When he retired, he was recruited to set up a practice in rural Florida, where he began to collect folklore, including many tales of haunting.
Copies of the author's book will be available for purchase and autographing. Sponsored by the Friends of the Largo Library. Call (727) 587-6715 extension 2507 to reserve a seat.
Women of Mystery Series at Citrus County Library
From the Citrus County Library website:
Film and Book Discussion Series
October 24th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Lakes Region Library, Inverness
Film Women of Mystery: Three Writers Who Forever Changed Detective Fiction
St. Pete Times staff writer Mary Ann Koslasky will facilitate a discussion of the film’s author interviews, dramatic readings and fascinating insights into the writing process. In the first program, participants view and discuss Women of Mystery. The film profiles mystery writers Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller, and Sara Paretsky, and delves into the worlds of their detectives. It combines engaging interviews with the writers; dramatized readings from the books; and fascinating scenes following Grafton, Muller and Paretsky, as they research, photograph, and explore Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Second program:
November 14th at 2:00 p.m. Book Discussion: ‘F’ is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
Third program:
December 5th at 2:00 p.m. Book Discussion: Tunnel Vision by Sara Paretsky
Film and Book Discussion Series
October 24th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Lakes Region Library, Inverness
Film Women of Mystery: Three Writers Who Forever Changed Detective Fiction
St. Pete Times staff writer Mary Ann Koslasky will facilitate a discussion of the film’s author interviews, dramatic readings and fascinating insights into the writing process. In the first program, participants view and discuss Women of Mystery. The film profiles mystery writers Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller, and Sara Paretsky, and delves into the worlds of their detectives. It combines engaging interviews with the writers; dramatized readings from the books; and fascinating scenes following Grafton, Muller and Paretsky, as they research, photograph, and explore Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Second program:
November 14th at 2:00 p.m. Book Discussion: ‘F’ is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
Third program:
December 5th at 2:00 p.m. Book Discussion: Tunnel Vision by Sara Paretsky
Stuart Woods' Booksigning Rescheduled
Stuart Woods' booksigning at Inkwood Books has been rescheduled from October 24 to November 7.
"Footsteps in the Fog:Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco" Sweepstakes on TCM
It's not too late to enter Turner Classic Movies' "Footsteps in the Fog" Alfred Hitchcock Sweepstakes. Jeff Kraft and Aaron Leventhal have written a book called Footsteps in the Fog:Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco that explores all of the San Francisco locations Hitchcock used in films such as Vertigo and Shadow of a Doubt. TCM is giving away copies of the book, DVDs of Hitchcock films, and a trip to San Francisco and a personal tour of the city by the book's authors. Click here for the entry form.
Local Author Domenick Maglio Talks About New Book
The St. Pete Times recently spoke with Spring Hill educator and author Domenick Maglio about his new book Invasion Within: Overcoming the Elitists' Attack on Moral Values and the American Way. To read the article, click here.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Upcoming Author Events at the South Tampa Borders
The South Tampa Borders has a busy schedule for the next few weeks:
October 23 -- author Tim Dorsey
October 26 -- mother and daughter Puerto Rican chef personalities and authors Alice and Giovanna Huyke
November 5 -- former Muhammed Ali physician turned author Ferdie Pacheco
November 7 -- author and Florida civil rights movement historian Paul Ortiz
November 13 -- golf instructor and author Christopher Obetz
October 23 -- author Tim Dorsey
October 26 -- mother and daughter Puerto Rican chef personalities and authors Alice and Giovanna Huyke
November 5 -- former Muhammed Ali physician turned author Ferdie Pacheco
November 7 -- author and Florida civil rights movement historian Paul Ortiz
November 13 -- golf instructor and author Christopher Obetz
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
News From the Pinellas County Library System
A few updates from the Pinellas County Library System:
On Friday, October 21st, the following branches will be CLOSED for a Staff Development Day: Main Library, Johnson Branch, Mirror Lake Branch, North Branch, and South Branch. The West Community Library, 6700 8th Ave. N., will remain open from 7:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Loan times have been extended! New books may now be checked out for 14 days instead of 7, and DVDs are now loaned for 7 days (instead of 3).
Upcoming children's activities include a kids' puppeteer club, a Halloween costume parade, and a mother-daughter book club. Click here to view the schedule.
On Friday, October 21st, the following branches will be CLOSED for a Staff Development Day: Main Library, Johnson Branch, Mirror Lake Branch, North Branch, and South Branch. The West Community Library, 6700 8th Ave. N., will remain open from 7:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Loan times have been extended! New books may now be checked out for 14 days instead of 7, and DVDs are now loaned for 7 days (instead of 3).
Upcoming children's activities include a kids' puppeteer club, a Halloween costume parade, and a mother-daughter book club. Click here to view the schedule.
Tom Corcoran Coming To Inkwood Books November 8th
Inkwood Books has added another author to the list for November. Tom Corcoran will be there on November 8th to sign copies of Air Dance Iguana, his fifth mystery featuring forensic photographer Alex Rutledge.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Opening Lines:"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks
Who am I? And how, I wonder, will this story end?
The sun has come up and I am sitting by a window that is foggy with the breath of a life gone by. I'm a sight this morning: two shirts, heavy pants, a scarf wrapped twice around my neck and tucked into a thick sweater knitted by my daughter thirty birthdays ago. The thermostat in my room is set as high as it will go, and a smaller space heater sits directly behind me. It clicks and groans and spews hot air like a fairy-tale dragon, and still my body shivers with a cold that will never go away, a cold that has been eighty years in the making. Eighty years, I think sometimes, and despite my own acceptance of my age, it still amazes me that I haven't been warm since George Bush was president. I wonder if this is how it is for everyone my age.
My life? It isn't easy to explain....
-- The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is the Tampa Book Buzz Online Book Club pick for
October
The sun has come up and I am sitting by a window that is foggy with the breath of a life gone by. I'm a sight this morning: two shirts, heavy pants, a scarf wrapped twice around my neck and tucked into a thick sweater knitted by my daughter thirty birthdays ago. The thermostat in my room is set as high as it will go, and a smaller space heater sits directly behind me. It clicks and groans and spews hot air like a fairy-tale dragon, and still my body shivers with a cold that will never go away, a cold that has been eighty years in the making. Eighty years, I think sometimes, and despite my own acceptance of my age, it still amazes me that I haven't been warm since George Bush was president. I wonder if this is how it is for everyone my age.
My life? It isn't easy to explain....
-- The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is the Tampa Book Buzz Online Book Club pick for
October
"The Pinter Review" at the University of Tampa
A previous post mentioned that Harold Pinter has won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Did you know that Frank Gillen, the Dana Professor of English at the University of Tampa, is co-founder and co-editor of the Pinter Review, the only scholarly journal devoted entirely to Pinter's work?
I didn't know that until I read this article in the St. Pete Times.
Did you know that Frank Gillen, the Dana Professor of English at the University of Tampa, is co-founder and co-editor of the Pinter Review, the only scholarly journal devoted entirely to Pinter's work?
I didn't know that until I read this article in the St. Pete Times.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Upcoming Florida Humanities Council Events
The Florida Humanities Council has some interesting upcoming events:
Tuesday, 10/18/05 7:00 PM – Valrico, Hillsborough county -- Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida
Once the least populated and most isolated state in the South, Florida has emerged as one of the largest and most diverse states in the United States. Florida's meteoric rise has encompassed revolutions in technology, demography and lifestyle. Mormino tells this story of compelling characters, bewitching places and the enduring but changing idea of a dream state.
Hosted at Bloomingdale Regional Library, McLean Community Room, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. Presented by Gary Mormino. For more information, contact Patricia Boody at (813) 275-3642.
Saturday, 10/29/05 12:00 AM – St. Petersburg, Pinellas county -- Eyes on Florida: Looking at the State Through Different Lenses
Dr. Mormino will facilitate a discussion about how each writer approaches the subject of Florida through their particular lens.
Hosted at University of South Florida Campus. Presented by Florida authors Gary Mormino, Jeff Klinkenberg, Ray Arsenault, and Lee Irby. For more information, contact Maryanne Sobocinski at 727-445-4142 .
(I'm assuming that they meant "PM" instead of "AM" on that last entry.)
Tuesday, 10/18/05 7:00 PM – Valrico, Hillsborough county -- Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida
Once the least populated and most isolated state in the South, Florida has emerged as one of the largest and most diverse states in the United States. Florida's meteoric rise has encompassed revolutions in technology, demography and lifestyle. Mormino tells this story of compelling characters, bewitching places and the enduring but changing idea of a dream state.
Hosted at Bloomingdale Regional Library, McLean Community Room, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave. Presented by Gary Mormino. For more information, contact Patricia Boody at (813) 275-3642.
Saturday, 10/29/05 12:00 AM – St. Petersburg, Pinellas county -- Eyes on Florida: Looking at the State Through Different Lenses
Dr. Mormino will facilitate a discussion about how each writer approaches the subject of Florida through their particular lens.
Hosted at University of South Florida Campus. Presented by Florida authors Gary Mormino, Jeff Klinkenberg, Ray Arsenault, and Lee Irby. For more information, contact Maryanne Sobocinski at 727-445-4142 .
(I'm assuming that they meant "PM" instead of "AM" on that last entry.)
2005 National Book Awards Finalists Announced
From a www.nationalbook.org press release:
The 20 Finalists for the 2005 National Book Awards...include a few of America's most well known and pre-eminent authors and represent extraordinary writing from the last year.
...The winner in each of the four categories - Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature - will be announced at the National Book Awards Benefit Dinner and Ceremony in Manhattan on November 16. The dinner will be hosted by Garrison Keillor. Each winner receives $10,000 plus a bronze statue; each Finalist receives a bronze medal and a $1,000 cash award.
FICTION
* E.L. Doctorow, The March
* Mary Gaitskill, Veronica
* Christopher Sorrentino, Trance
* Renè Steinke, Holy Skirts
* William T. Vollmann, Europe Central
NONFICTION
* Alan Burdick, Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion
* Leo Damrosch, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius
* Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking
* Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
* Adam Hochschild, Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves
POETRY
* John Ashbery, Where Shall I Wander
* Frank Bidart, Star Dust: Poems
* Brendan Galvin, Habitat: New and Selected Poems, 1965-2005
* W.S. Merwin, Migration: New and Selected Poems
* Vern Rutsala, The Moment's Equation
YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
* Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks
* Adele Griffin, Where I Want to Be
* Chris Lynch, Inexcusable
* Walter Dean Myers, Autobiography of My Dead Brother
* Deborah Wiles, Each Little Bird That Sings
Visit www.nationalbook.org for more information about the Finalists and National Book Awards.
The 20 Finalists for the 2005 National Book Awards...include a few of America's most well known and pre-eminent authors and represent extraordinary writing from the last year.
...The winner in each of the four categories - Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature - will be announced at the National Book Awards Benefit Dinner and Ceremony in Manhattan on November 16. The dinner will be hosted by Garrison Keillor. Each winner receives $10,000 plus a bronze statue; each Finalist receives a bronze medal and a $1,000 cash award.
FICTION
* E.L. Doctorow, The March
* Mary Gaitskill, Veronica
* Christopher Sorrentino, Trance
* Renè Steinke, Holy Skirts
* William T. Vollmann, Europe Central
NONFICTION
* Alan Burdick, Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion
* Leo Damrosch, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius
* Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking
* Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers
* Adam Hochschild, Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves
POETRY
* John Ashbery, Where Shall I Wander
* Frank Bidart, Star Dust: Poems
* Brendan Galvin, Habitat: New and Selected Poems, 1965-2005
* W.S. Merwin, Migration: New and Selected Poems
* Vern Rutsala, The Moment's Equation
YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE
* Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks
* Adele Griffin, Where I Want to Be
* Chris Lynch, Inexcusable
* Walter Dean Myers, Autobiography of My Dead Brother
* Deborah Wiles, Each Little Bird That Sings
Visit www.nationalbook.org for more information about the Finalists and National Book Awards.
Bookseller Alibris Donating Books To Libraries Affected by Hurricane Katrina
From an Alibris press release:
Alibris, the premiere destination for used, new, and out-of-print books, is inviting booklovers to donate books to libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The online used-book seller has partnered with the Texas Library Association (TLA), which is administering the book donation program.
Alibris has created an online Gulf Coast book wishlist at http://www.alibris.com/, where customers can donate new or used books to libraries in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina. For each book donated by a customer, Alibris will donate a book to the drive.
...According to the American Library Association, dozens of public, school, academic, and private libraries have sustained significant damage. Affected Gulf Coast libraries will have to rebuild local historic collections in addition to restocking general reading materials.
...The Alibris wishlist will be available at least through the end of October. TLA has arranged to hold donations until the affected libraries are ready for shipments.
Alibris, the premiere destination for used, new, and out-of-print books, is inviting booklovers to donate books to libraries devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The online used-book seller has partnered with the Texas Library Association (TLA), which is administering the book donation program.
Alibris has created an online Gulf Coast book wishlist at http://www.alibris.com/, where customers can donate new or used books to libraries in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina. For each book donated by a customer, Alibris will donate a book to the drive.
...According to the American Library Association, dozens of public, school, academic, and private libraries have sustained significant damage. Affected Gulf Coast libraries will have to rebuild local historic collections in addition to restocking general reading materials.
...The Alibris wishlist will be available at least through the end of October. TLA has arranged to hold donations until the affected libraries are ready for shipments.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Kids and Books and Reading, Oh My!
A little news about the younger set:
Kids at Coachman Middle School in Clearwater are combining reading and community service. (from the St. Pete Times)
Children in the 4th and 5th grades at Lee Academy of World Studies at Technology in Tampa are writing, illustrating and publishing their own books. (from Tampa Bay's 10 News)
The teen room at the new Largo Library is a big success. (from the St. Pete Times)
Kids at Coachman Middle School in Clearwater are combining reading and community service. (from the St. Pete Times)
Children in the 4th and 5th grades at Lee Academy of World Studies at Technology in Tampa are writing, illustrating and publishing their own books. (from Tampa Bay's 10 News)
The teen room at the new Largo Library is a big success. (from the St. Pete Times)
Tampa Author Wins the O. Henry Prize
From the St. Pete Times: local author Karen Brown has won the O. Henry Prize for her short story Unction. Wow!
Quill Award Winners Announced
The 2005 Quill Award winners have been announced. Here are the highlights:
Book of the Year - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Debut Author of the Year - The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Audio Book - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show
General Fiction - The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Biography/Memoir - Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan
History/Current Events/Politics - 1776 by David McCullough
For the complete list of winners, visit the Quill Awards website.
Book of the Year - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Debut Author of the Year - The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Audio Book - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show
General Fiction - The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
Biography/Memoir - Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan
History/Current Events/Politics - 1776 by David McCullough
For the complete list of winners, visit the Quill Awards website.
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Lecture Series at Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College in Lakeland has an interesting lecture series lined up for this school year:
October 20 -- Tracy Jean Revels, associate professor of history at Wofford College (Grander in Her Daughters: Florida's Women During the Civil War)
November 10 -- Joe Ackerman, professor emeritus of history at North Florida Junior College (Jacob Summerlin: King of the Crackers)
January 19 -- Bertram Wyatt-Brown, professor emeritus of history at the University of Florida (The Honor of Andrew Jackson)
February 9 -- Kevin Boyle, professor of history at Ohio State University (Arc of Justice: Bartow's Ossian Sweet, Clarence Darrow and the Fight for Racial Equality in America)
March 16 -- Diane Roberts, professor of English at the University of Alabama (Pioneer Mothers, Confederate Daughters, Citrus Princesses and Other Florida Wild Women)
All lectures are free and open to the public.
(thanks to the Lakeland Ledger)
October 20 -- Tracy Jean Revels, associate professor of history at Wofford College (Grander in Her Daughters: Florida's Women During the Civil War)
November 10 -- Joe Ackerman, professor emeritus of history at North Florida Junior College (Jacob Summerlin: King of the Crackers)
January 19 -- Bertram Wyatt-Brown, professor emeritus of history at the University of Florida (The Honor of Andrew Jackson)
February 9 -- Kevin Boyle, professor of history at Ohio State University (Arc of Justice: Bartow's Ossian Sweet, Clarence Darrow and the Fight for Racial Equality in America)
March 16 -- Diane Roberts, professor of English at the University of Alabama (Pioneer Mothers, Confederate Daughters, Citrus Princesses and Other Florida Wild Women)
All lectures are free and open to the public.
(thanks to the Lakeland Ledger)
Book Relief Helps Children Affected by Hurricane Katrina
I read about Book Relief yesterday in Newsweek. Book Relief is an offshoot of the nonprofit national literacy organization First Book and has convinced publishers to commit to donate about 5 million new children's books to the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Books will go to individual children (to restart personal libraries), schools and libraries supporting the evacuees, and to replenish the destroyed Gulf Coast schools and libraries when they are rebuilt.
To learn more or to contribute, visit www.bookrelief.org.
To learn more or to contribute, visit www.bookrelief.org.
Friday, October 7, 2005
Upcoming Events at Inkwood Books
I've added a couple of Inkwood Books signing events to the sidebar calendar:
Christine Kling will be there October 20
Joy Castro will be there November 18
Christine Kling will be there October 20
Joy Castro will be there November 18
Upcoming Events at Borders Books
Upcoming events at local Borders stores:
Cuban poet Silvia Curbelo will be at the South Tampa Borders on October 15
Author Sheri A. Rosenthal will be at the St. Pete Borders on October 16
Cuban poet Silvia Curbelo will be at the South Tampa Borders on October 15
Author Sheri A. Rosenthal will be at the St. Pete Borders on October 16
Florida Suncoast Writers' Conference February 7--9
It's not too early to mark your calendars for February 7--9. From the USF website:
Acclaimed writers Carl Hiaasen, Jane Smiley, Myla Goldberg and Alan Cheuse will be the featured speakers at the 30th annual Florida Suncoast Writers' Conference, held at University of South Florida St. Petersburg on Feb. 7-9. The USF conference, which brings nationally known speakers and workshop faculty to the Tampa Bay area, is considered one of the top 10 conferences for aspiring and published writers in the country.
To read the rest, click here.
Acclaimed writers Carl Hiaasen, Jane Smiley, Myla Goldberg and Alan Cheuse will be the featured speakers at the 30th annual Florida Suncoast Writers' Conference, held at University of South Florida St. Petersburg on Feb. 7-9. The USF conference, which brings nationally known speakers and workshop faculty to the Tampa Bay area, is considered one of the top 10 conferences for aspiring and published writers in the country.
To read the rest, click here.
Three New Book Clubs For Girls
The University of Tampa Press
The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently had an interesting article about the University of Tampa Press.
Local Author Zane Lalani Has Book Signing on October 15
Local author Zane Lalani will sign copies of his book Teenagers Guide to the Beatles at Borders on North Dale Mabry on October 15th.
Next Authors in the Park Event is November 5
Ybor City Saturday Market's next Authors in the Park event is Saturday, November 5th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are still looking for local authors to participate. Visit their website for more information. (Note: they've changed their name from Ybor City Fresh Market to Ybor City Saturday Market.)
Local Book Babes Have Article on the Book Standard Website
The Book Babes (Margo Hammond of the St. Pete Times and Ellen Heltzel) recently led a workshop at the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors in Denver. Read their post-workshop comments at the Book Standard.
Thursday, October 6, 2005
Patricia Cornwell Launching New Website
Author Patricia Cornwell is launching a new website on October 25 to coincide with the release of her new book Predator. According to the press release:
Visitors to the Predator site will see a frightening video trailer for the book, an exclusive interview with Cornwell herself and an advance preview of exciting scenes from the "Forensic Challenge," which will allow viewers to experience crime scene investigations firsthand. Prime-time TV has never been this authentic!
Visitors will also be given an opportunity to win one of 25 autographed copies of Predator and to sign up for early access to an excerpt from the book at one minute after midnight on the day of publication.
At 12:01 am on October 25th, when Predator will be released, Cornwell's fans will be given, for the first time, interactive access to the actual world of forensic science on her new web site. "Forensic Challenge" is a central feature of the site. Visitors will be able to witness a frightening crime scene reenactment as forensic investigators apply the techniques they use to bring compulsive killers, rapists, and other violent criminals to justice.Following each reenactment, visitors will be challenged to test their forensic knowledge and skills.
Phase One of the website is up and running at www.patriciacornwell.com. Read the press release for more information.
Visitors to the Predator site will see a frightening video trailer for the book, an exclusive interview with Cornwell herself and an advance preview of exciting scenes from the "Forensic Challenge," which will allow viewers to experience crime scene investigations firsthand. Prime-time TV has never been this authentic!
Visitors will also be given an opportunity to win one of 25 autographed copies of Predator and to sign up for early access to an excerpt from the book at one minute after midnight on the day of publication.
At 12:01 am on October 25th, when Predator will be released, Cornwell's fans will be given, for the first time, interactive access to the actual world of forensic science on her new web site. "Forensic Challenge" is a central feature of the site. Visitors will be able to witness a frightening crime scene reenactment as forensic investigators apply the techniques they use to bring compulsive killers, rapists, and other violent criminals to justice.Following each reenactment, visitors will be challenged to test their forensic knowledge and skills.
Phase One of the website is up and running at www.patriciacornwell.com. Read the press release for more information.
National Book Award Finalists Announced Next Week
From the National Book Foundation:
On Wednesday, October 12th at 1 p.m. (CST), John Grisham, one of America's leading novelists, will announce this year's National Book Award Finalists from the front porch of the recently restored Rowan Oak, the home of novelist William Faulkner for the last thirty years of his life. The announcement will be made in conjunction with the University of Mississippi, which owns the Oxford, Mississippi home. William Faulkner was the recipient of two National Book Awards for Fiction. Grisham, America's foremost writer of legal thrillers, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Law School and a resident of Oxford. Grisham will be introduced by Richard Howorth, mayor of Oxford and owner of the independent bookstore Square Books.
On Wednesday, October 12th at 1 p.m. (CST), John Grisham, one of America's leading novelists, will announce this year's National Book Award Finalists from the front porch of the recently restored Rowan Oak, the home of novelist William Faulkner for the last thirty years of his life. The announcement will be made in conjunction with the University of Mississippi, which owns the Oxford, Mississippi home. William Faulkner was the recipient of two National Book Awards for Fiction. Grisham, America's foremost writer of legal thrillers, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Law School and a resident of Oxford. Grisham will be introduced by Richard Howorth, mayor of Oxford and owner of the independent bookstore Square Books.
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
"The Wit and Humor of Pioneer Florida"
Florida history buffs should check out the new book The Wit and Humor of Pioneer Florida.
Terri Schaivo's Family Has Book Deal
You read here a while back that Michael Schaivo has written a book about his wife Terri.
Now the Schindlers, Terri's parents, and their other children have written a book of their own, due in March 2006. Here's a good summary from a Canadian publication.
Now the Schindlers, Terri's parents, and their other children have written a book of their own, due in March 2006. Here's a good summary from a Canadian publication.
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Local Author Wendy Boucher Has Been Busy
Local author Wendy Boucher (Parvenue Throws A Party) has been busy lately. She's got a new blog at www.wendyboucher.blogspot.com and also will be a guest blogger/contributor over at Sticks of Fire. I enjoyed her book and am looking forward to reading her posts on Sticks of Fire.
(Thanks go to Population Statistic for his post about Sticks of Fire.)
(Thanks go to Population Statistic for his post about Sticks of Fire.)
Sunday, October 2, 2005
Some Trivia About "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks
Since Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook is the Tampa Book Buzz Online Book Club Pick for October, each week I'll post something about it here.
According to www.nicholassparks.com:
The Notebook was only the third novel in recent history to spend over a year as a hardcover best-seller.
One of the poems by Walt Whitman quoted in the novel is entitled To a Common Prostitute.
The title for the novel was chosen by Sparks' agent Theresa Park.
The Notebook is Sparks' first novel and was inspired by his grandparents.
According to www.nicholassparks.com:
The Notebook was only the third novel in recent history to spend over a year as a hardcover best-seller.
One of the poems by Walt Whitman quoted in the novel is entitled To a Common Prostitute.
The title for the novel was chosen by Sparks' agent Theresa Park.
The Notebook is Sparks' first novel and was inspired by his grandparents.
I'll Meet You at MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders
Recently I mentioned an article in the St. Pete Times about MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders, a new bookstore in St. Pete that specializes in books about Florida and by Florida authors. Proprietor T. Allan Smith was kind enough to post this comment:
Lisa,
Thank you for the mention of MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders on your wonderful book blog. It’s the perfect union of the old and new, isn’t it? A modern online space devoted to the ancient pleasure of curling up with a good book.
You and your readers are invited to come over for a cup of coffee, a sweet delicacy and good conversation about Florida literature. We’re surrounded by the likes of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston, John D. MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen and many others. (Did you know that Theodore Pratt, who wrote The Barefoot Mailman, also wrote two other books about the development of Florida? The others were The Flame Tree, about the turn-of-the-century railroad era, and The Big Bubble, about the 1920s real estate boom. He called them his Florida trilogy.)
Ours is a mission more than a retail endeavor. We are honored to carry on the work of Tom and Georgine Mickler, who were the premier purveyors of Floridiana for decades. They started Mickler’s Floridiana more than 40 years ago in the tiny town of Chuluota in Seminole County. Lovers of Florida literature and memorabilia came from all over the state to their old Florida home, Florida Breezes, to discover forgotten treasures. For more than 15 years a retail store was open in nearby Oviedo.
Now we’re ensconced in a delightful 1920s building at the edge of Old Northeast, one of St. Petersburg’s great old neighborhoods. We think it’s the perfect place to celebrate the arts and culture of this great state. Our shelves are packed with volumes both old and new chronicling Florida’s history, offering advice and information on living here and getting the most out of most human pursuits, or simply spinning tales of this subtropical paradise. (By the way, we also have Florida folk music, thanks to help from our friends Pete Gallagher and Bobby Hicks on The Florida Folk Show on WMNF 88.5 FM.)
As wired as our world gets, there remains a visceral pleasure in exploring the shelves of a local bookstore, just as there is a visceral pleasure to settling down with a newfound treasure. We believe in local, independent bookstores, and we believe that there will always be patrons who understand and willingly support such institutions. Far from dying, locals bookstores continue to thrive because they offer a pleasure unmatched online or in the chain stores.
Keep up the good work in furthering the cause of reading great books. Yours is a mission as well!
And come on over! The coffee’s on!
T. Allan Smith
Proprietor
MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders
I'll race you there -- ready, set, go!
Lisa,
Thank you for the mention of MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders on your wonderful book blog. It’s the perfect union of the old and new, isn’t it? A modern online space devoted to the ancient pleasure of curling up with a good book.
You and your readers are invited to come over for a cup of coffee, a sweet delicacy and good conversation about Florida literature. We’re surrounded by the likes of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston, John D. MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen and many others. (Did you know that Theodore Pratt, who wrote The Barefoot Mailman, also wrote two other books about the development of Florida? The others were The Flame Tree, about the turn-of-the-century railroad era, and The Big Bubble, about the 1920s real estate boom. He called them his Florida trilogy.)
Ours is a mission more than a retail endeavor. We are honored to carry on the work of Tom and Georgine Mickler, who were the premier purveyors of Floridiana for decades. They started Mickler’s Floridiana more than 40 years ago in the tiny town of Chuluota in Seminole County. Lovers of Florida literature and memorabilia came from all over the state to their old Florida home, Florida Breezes, to discover forgotten treasures. For more than 15 years a retail store was open in nearby Oviedo.
Now we’re ensconced in a delightful 1920s building at the edge of Old Northeast, one of St. Petersburg’s great old neighborhoods. We think it’s the perfect place to celebrate the arts and culture of this great state. Our shelves are packed with volumes both old and new chronicling Florida’s history, offering advice and information on living here and getting the most out of most human pursuits, or simply spinning tales of this subtropical paradise. (By the way, we also have Florida folk music, thanks to help from our friends Pete Gallagher and Bobby Hicks on The Florida Folk Show on WMNF 88.5 FM.)
As wired as our world gets, there remains a visceral pleasure in exploring the shelves of a local bookstore, just as there is a visceral pleasure to settling down with a newfound treasure. We believe in local, independent bookstores, and we believe that there will always be patrons who understand and willingly support such institutions. Far from dying, locals bookstores continue to thrive because they offer a pleasure unmatched online or in the chain stores.
Keep up the good work in furthering the cause of reading great books. Yours is a mission as well!
And come on over! The coffee’s on!
T. Allan Smith
Proprietor
MicklerSmith Florida BookTraders
I'll race you there -- ready, set, go!
Authors Fest October 8th in Maitland
The second annual Authors Festival & Book Signing is set for October 8th at the Maitland Art Center. Maitland is a little north of Orlando and out of range of what I usually write about, but this many Florida authors together in one place was too good not to mention. Here's the list of attendees I received from the event organizer:
(please note this list is subject to change)
Spirituality/Self-Help
Marcia Ford (Memoir of a Misfit)
George Armenia (Walk of Faith)
Tom Kochansky (Man of Action -- Peter's Recollection of the Christ)
Kal Rosenberg (Sold As Is)
Molly Folken (Living on the Edge: Growing to the End of Life)
Nancy R. Daly, MBA (Left-Brain Thinker on a Right-Brain Journey)
Children/Young Adult
Vic DiGenti (Windrusher)
David Wayne Stroud (Wiggles the White Blood Cell)
Andrew F. Rickis (The Magic Oak)
Historical Fiction
H. Garrett Dotson (The Govenor of Peter Creek)
Leanne Burroughs (Highland Wishes)
Action/Adventure
Lee Boyland (The Rings of Allah)
Richard Lowry (The Gulf War Chronicles)
Chuck Dowling (To Keep Our Honor Clean)
Andy Bufalo (The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday)
William F. Russell (The Face of the Enemy)
Don Fox (Patton's Vanguard)
Bob Morrisey (The Humorous Beat:Actual Funny Police Stories)
Women's Literature
Sally Malkowski (The Bittersweet Parkway)
Wendy Boucher (Parvenue Throws A Party)
Cissy Hassell (Deceit Times Two)
Tsipi Keller (Jackpot)
Carol Miller (The Master of Plans)
Sunny Serafino (Secrets)
Daren Lamb (Djakarta)
Humor
Freda Gower Ward (God, This Is A Good Time To Say No)
"How To" Books
Frances E. Robinson and Lorraine Lush (Unfinished Business:How You Can Build Your Dream, Lose It and Still Survive)
Jacquelyn Lynn and Charlene Davis (Make Big Profits on eBay:Start Your Own Million Dollar Business)
Miscellaneous
Jim Ernst (Coincidence)
Sheryl P. Kurland (Everlasting Matrimony:Pearls of Wisdom From Couples Married 50 Years or More)
Darlene Duncan (Life Is Full Of Surprises)
Lynn Sholes and Joe Moore (The Grail Conspiracy)
Estelle Lipp (Heartspeak)
Leslie Halpern (Reel Romance:The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies)
Dickie Anderson (From the Porch)
(please note this list is subject to change)
Spirituality/Self-Help
Marcia Ford (Memoir of a Misfit)
George Armenia (Walk of Faith)
Tom Kochansky (Man of Action -- Peter's Recollection of the Christ)
Kal Rosenberg (Sold As Is)
Molly Folken (Living on the Edge: Growing to the End of Life)
Nancy R. Daly, MBA (Left-Brain Thinker on a Right-Brain Journey)
Children/Young Adult
Vic DiGenti (Windrusher)
David Wayne Stroud (Wiggles the White Blood Cell)
Andrew F. Rickis (The Magic Oak)
Historical Fiction
H. Garrett Dotson (The Govenor of Peter Creek)
Leanne Burroughs (Highland Wishes)
Action/Adventure
Lee Boyland (The Rings of Allah)
Richard Lowry (The Gulf War Chronicles)
Chuck Dowling (To Keep Our Honor Clean)
Andy Bufalo (The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday)
William F. Russell (The Face of the Enemy)
Don Fox (Patton's Vanguard)
Bob Morrisey (The Humorous Beat:Actual Funny Police Stories)
Women's Literature
Sally Malkowski (The Bittersweet Parkway)
Wendy Boucher (Parvenue Throws A Party)
Cissy Hassell (Deceit Times Two)
Tsipi Keller (Jackpot)
Carol Miller (The Master of Plans)
Sunny Serafino (Secrets)
Daren Lamb (Djakarta)
Humor
Freda Gower Ward (God, This Is A Good Time To Say No)
"How To" Books
Frances E. Robinson and Lorraine Lush (Unfinished Business:How You Can Build Your Dream, Lose It and Still Survive)
Jacquelyn Lynn and Charlene Davis (Make Big Profits on eBay:Start Your Own Million Dollar Business)
Miscellaneous
Jim Ernst (Coincidence)
Sheryl P. Kurland (Everlasting Matrimony:Pearls of Wisdom From Couples Married 50 Years or More)
Darlene Duncan (Life Is Full Of Surprises)
Lynn Sholes and Joe Moore (The Grail Conspiracy)
Estelle Lipp (Heartspeak)
Leslie Halpern (Reel Romance:The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies)
Dickie Anderson (From the Porch)
Saturday, October 1, 2005
Local Author Gabi Lorino
As always, I'm thrilled to find out about another local author:
Filmmaker/actress/author/world traveler Gabi Lorino's new book The Independent Woman's Guide To Life is available at several local bookstores. You can read an excerpt at www.gabilorino.com and learn about her upcoming appearances and events. Check out her profile on the Tampa Theatre's Member News page.
Filmmaker/actress/author/world traveler Gabi Lorino's new book The Independent Woman's Guide To Life is available at several local bookstores. You can read an excerpt at www.gabilorino.com and learn about her upcoming appearances and events. Check out her profile on the Tampa Theatre's Member News page.
Welcome to October
October is National Book Month and there's plenty for local book lovers to do.
Mark your calendar with the dates for the Authors Festival in Maitland (October 8th) and the St. Pete Times' Festival of Reading in St. Pete (October 29th).
Mark your calendar with the dates of all the local book signings, discussions and events listed in the sidebar calendar to the left.
Discover a new local author. Or a non-local author. Visit your library. Stop by the bookstore you pass by daily but never have time to visit. Join a book club. Start a book club. Join the TBB Online Book Club.
Celebrate Buy A Friend A Book Week and give someone a book just for fun and not as a birthday or holiday gift.
Make plans for Teen Read Week.
Most importantly, read, read, read. Oh, and visit this blog every day.
Mark your calendar with the dates for the Authors Festival in Maitland (October 8th) and the St. Pete Times' Festival of Reading in St. Pete (October 29th).
Mark your calendar with the dates of all the local book signings, discussions and events listed in the sidebar calendar to the left.
Discover a new local author. Or a non-local author. Visit your library. Stop by the bookstore you pass by daily but never have time to visit. Join a book club. Start a book club. Join the TBB Online Book Club.
Celebrate Buy A Friend A Book Week and give someone a book just for fun and not as a birthday or holiday gift.
Make plans for Teen Read Week.
Most importantly, read, read, read. Oh, and visit this blog every day.
