Michigan Library Author Visits

Willard Public Library is hosting Helen Simonson on January 26th

2012-01-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

I have been remiss in my posting lately and Willard Public Library has come to my rescue. They will be hosting Helen Simonson at the end of the month. Her debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is on my list for reading. Booklist's review complimented it on being a sharply observed domestic comedy ... a dash of P. G. Wodehouse ... the perfect lens through which to view contemporary England" Not bad for a first time novelist. What a great choice.

What are other libraries up to for 2012 plans and spring author visits?

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Willard Library in Battle Creek is pleased to present....author, Helen Simonson !

Thursday, January 26th, 2012
7:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Burnham Brook Community Center

Helen Simonson's debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, is one of two novels chosen for this year's Battle Creek Reads Program. For more information on the Battle Creek Reads Program & a complete schedule of events visit www.willard.lib.mi.us.

Maurice Sendak exhibit and related author events at Spring Lake District Library

2011-12-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

We can't always get big name authors at our libraries, but that doesn't mean we can't have events related to them to draw in fans and create a tapestry of related topics and events. Spring Lake District Library is doing this with a Maurice Sendak exhibit and related events. I am a fan of having related events around the theme of an exhibit, a one book selection, an author visit, etc. I think it brings in people who might not have been interested in the main event a way to participate and for those who are busy (everyone these days) another chance to come if the main event is not at a good time for them.

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Libraries offer much more than books in today’s world. Spring Lake District Library will be offering the community a taste of Jewish history and culture from Dec. 28, 2011 to Feb. 24, 2012, the dates the library will be hosting “In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak” “In a Nutshell” is a traveling exhibit about renowned children’s book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak...

The schedule of Sendak programs is as follows:

Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Holocaust survivor Dr. Maria Orlowski, born Miriam Winter, shares her story of survival. Hear how 8 year old Miriam was turned over to a stranger on a train in an attempt to keep her safe in war-torn Poland during WW II. Copies of Maria’s book Trains: A Memoir of a Hidden Childhood During and After World War II will be available for purchase and signing following her presentation.

Sunday, Jan. 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Oompa! Live Klezmer Music featuring Heartland Klezmorim. Experience traditional Klezmer music at its best. Klezmer originated in the shtetl' (villages) of Eastern Europe where Jewish troubadours known as 'klezmorim' performed at happy events such as weddings.

Monday, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Brundibar: music and images from the children’s opera composed by Hans Krasa. This opera was performed 55 times by children in the Terezin concentration camp. Speaker Don Hoogenstyn Jr. shares the unforgettable history of the children’s opera. The opera was later the basis for the book Brundibar which was illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m.

In the Night Kitchen: Traditional Jewish Cooking with Marla Tulett. Marla demonstrates how to make a traditional Jewish dish and provides samples for audience.

Call 616.846.5770 to register or for more information.

Cromaine District Library's upcoming author events - Colleen Gleason & Robert Laura

2011-11-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

Things get so busy at this time of year, that it is nice to step back and see what programming is going on in our libraries. These events would all be great ways to spend a few hours and may spark an idea for a visit in your library. While not an "author" visit, Cromaine is also doing a series on Harry Potter - one with a speaker about astronomy, another with an herbalist, one with medieval foods. It's a nice way to have a popular series without repeating the same topic.

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Creating a New World with Colleen Gleason – for Writers and Readers

Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 pm

Colleen Gleason, acclaimed Livingston County author, has created very believable and very different worlds in the vampire slayer series set in Regency England and then in the post-apocalyptic series written as Joss Ware. Come learn as a writer and a reader what it takes to create a believable, but fictional, world. Books for sale and signing. Register – Village.

Get Your Life in Order – Naked Retirement with Robert Laura

Tuesday, January 31 at 6:30 pm

Fun and creative approach to retirement that strips away the numbers and addresses everyday life in retirement. Learn how to replace your work identity, stay socially connected, and remain physically healthy, and more. Too many people start their first day of retirement with only financial plan and nothing else. Don't let this happen to you and avoid the dark side of retirement. Robert Laura’s book, Naked Retirement, will be given away to the first five registrants. Register – Village.

Michigan author Jerry Dennis at two libraries in November

2011-11-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

Jerry Dennis is a favorite for author visits and his books are great choices to give to readers with an interest in Michigan's natural settings and history. He'll be in Traverse City and Grand Rapids this month. If you are in the area, take time out to see him speak. As the Peninsula Community Library listing notes, he's also been one of the Michigan Library Association authors of the year.

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November 21 – Peninsula Community Library , Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, MI, 7-9 pm

Great Lakes Country

Bestselling author, Jerry Dennis, joins us Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. to talk about his new book, The Windward Shore: A Winter on the Great Lakes. Jerry has been a Michigan Author of the Year and calls Old Mission home.

November 30 – Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library, Grand Rapids, MI 7-9 pm

A Winter on the Great Lakes

Jerry Dennis will read from and discuss his powerful and insightful new book about winter in Great Lakes country. Grounded by a knee injury, Dennis learned to live at a slower pace while staying in accommodations ranging from a log cabin on Lake Superior's Keweenaw Peninsula to a $20 million mansion on the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Walking beaches and exploring nearby woods and villages, he muses on the future of the Great Lakes, the nature of time, weather, waves, agates, books, words for snow and ice, our complex relationship with nature and much more. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Conference season lull

2011-11-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, I checked the blog today and see that I have not posted on what's going on in Michigan libraries for a month now. I have missed a lot of nice events to post about. On the plus side, I did get a vacation in and two great library conferences, the Michigan Library Association and the Michigan Association for Media in Education. I'm back on posting about library events though, so send your news my way!

YA author Michael Spradlin will be at the Homer Public Library on Oct. 29th

2011-10-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Homer Public Library will have young adult author Michael Spradlin. For those looking for a new author to bring to your teens, Spradlin is a Michigan author and currently lives in Lapeer. Stop by the Homer Library on Oct. 29th, 10 am, to see him.A book signing will follow the presentation.

www.michaelspradlin.com

More adventure writing - Robert Kurson will be at the Boyne District Library on the 20th

2011-10-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

This must be the month for non-fiction adventure writing. I like 2 things Boyne is doing. Programmatically, having the author also do a writing workshop is a great way to include the schools and to bring in local writers as well as readers. Personally, I am all for the dessert reception!

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Boyne District Library will host Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers and Crashing Through, on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Crashing Through: the extraordinary true story of the man who dared to see is the selection for the library's One Book, One Community - Boyne Reads 2011 program.

In Crashing Through, Kurson explores the life of Mike May, who has spent his life crashing through barriers. Blinded at the age of three, he defied expectations by breaking world records in downhill skiing, joining the CIA, and becoming a successful inventor, entrepreneur and family man.

The event is free, and will be followed by a dessert reception and book signing. More information can be found on the library's website at www.boynelibrary.org.

Kurson will also conduct a writing workshop for students and the public on Friday, Oct. 21 from 8:30-9:30 at Boyne City High School.

Carol Higgins Clark at Willard next week!

2011-10-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Willard frequently has great author programs and this one with Carol Higgins Clark sounds like another one. This may be something to take a road trip for.

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Willard Library in Battle Creek is pleased to present...

An Evening with Carol Higgins Clark
Thurs. October 13th
7:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm)
Burnham Brook Community Center

Best-selling mystery author Carol Higgins Clark will talk about her Regan Reilly detective series, take questions, and sign books. The program is free of charge and all are welcome!

Mitchell Zuckoff will be at the Grosse Pointe Public LIbrary on the 20th

2011-10-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

For those communities that have an interest in memoirs, WWII history and/or adventure stories, Mitchell Zuckoff's book sounds like a winner. It is coming up quickly, but if you aren't able to bring someone like this to your library, you might be able to organize attendance at this event for your local book group.

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The Grosse Pointe Public Library, in partnership with Wayne County Community College District, is pleased to present distinguished professor, journalist and bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff. His nonfiction book Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II, has received numerous accolades, including Amazon’s Best Book of the Year (So Far) and an impressive run on the New York Times bestseller list. Visit Zuckoff’s website at www.mitchellzuckoff.com for more information on the book, including historic photographs of the survivors and their rescuers.

The event will take place on Thursday, October 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 16 Lakeshore Drive, in Grosse Pointe Shores.

The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Please reserve a spot on the library’s online calendar at www.gp.lib.mi.us or call 313-343-2074 ext 222. A book signing will follow the event.

Baldwin Public Library is hosting Bonnie Jo Campbell and Samuel Park for National Reading Group Month

2011-10-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Baldwin Public Library is doing a nice partnership with the Detroit Women's National Book Association to have 2 authors visit on October 9th. While not everyone has a WNBA type association to work with, you may have a group you can partner with in town to develop programming. We all tend to think of grants to apply for, but sometimes developing a local partner may gain you the funds/staff for have or promote an event.

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Join the Detroit chapter of the Women's National Book Association (WNBA) in celebrating National Reading Group Month. Come see acclaimed Michigan author Bonnie Jo Campbell and Chicago author Samuel Park at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham on Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Campbell is the author of Once Upon a River, American Salvage, Q Road and others. Park is the author of This Burns My Heart.

This event is free and open to the public. Copies of Once Upon A River and This Burns My Heart will be available for sale from Book Beat Bookstore at the event.

Jerry Dennis will be at the Royal Oak Public Library this month

2011-10-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

For those with strong community interest in nature, Michigan outdoors, or environmental topics, Jerry Dennis is a great Michigan author to have. He has range of books that are all excellent.

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On Tuesday, October 25 at 7:00 pm, meet Jerry Dennis, Michigan author of literary and popular works about nature, science and outdoor recreation at the Royal Oak Public Library. Jerry will read from and discuss his insightful new book, The Windward Shore: A Winter on the Great Lakes. The author will be signing copies of his book, which will be available for purchase. Jerry is also the author of The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas.

Registration is requested. Register online at ropl.org or call the adult reference desk at 248-246-3727 for more information.

The Michigan Humanities Council and events throughout the state

2011-09-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Michigan Humanities Council funds humanities events, which seems a bit obvious. What a lot of people don't realize is author and literary events are included in that. For an idea of what types of events and programs the Humanities Council funds, take a look at their October Happenings for a list of events and festivals across Michigan in October. If it doesn't give you an idea of a potential partner or a program your institution may want to participate in, it will certainly give you plans for an upcoming weekend!

Kristina Riggle will be at the Kent District Library next week

2011-09-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Kent District Library will have local author Kristina Riggle at the Kentwood Branch next week. Kristina is another local author I have been hearing a lot about. Any comments on her presentations or books?

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Meet West Michigan author Kristina Riggle at the Kentwood Library at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, October 4. She will talk about and read a portion of her latest book, Things We Didn’t Say, the story of a frayed blended family about to come undone completely when a teenage son goes missing. There will be a book signing immediately following the discussion. Copies of Things We Didn’t Say will be available for purchase.

Kristina lives and writes in West Michigan. Her debut novel, Real Life & Liars, was a Target “Breakout” pick and a “Great Lakes, Great Reads” selection by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association. The Life You’ve Imagined was honored by independent booksellers as an IndieNext “Notable” book. She has also published short stories in the Cimarron Review, Literary Mama, Espresso Fiction, and elsewhere, in addition to working as co-editor for fiction at Literary Mama. Kristina was a full-time newspaper reporter before turning her attention to creative writing.

Kalkaska County Library is bringing mystery writer Aaron Stander in this week

2011-09-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Kalkaska County Library will have popular Michigan author Aaron Stander visiting on Wednesday night. A lot of libraries in the state have had author events with him. Anyone have a comment on what he typically does for a presentation and what you thought?

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Autumn Author Series presents Aaron Stander - September 28th, 6:00pm

Medieval Murders is a prequel to the Ray Elkins mystery series. If you are a reader of the series, you know that the first four books are set in Cedar County, an amalgam of the many lakes, forests, and towns found in northwest lower Michigan. In these books there are references to Ray's earlier profession- al life when he taught criminal justice at a large Midwestern state university. The plot in Medieval Murders revolves around the deaths of three members of the English department. It's a younger Ray Elkins, more hair, fewer pounds, but still very grounded.

Kent District Library's 75th anniversary party!

2011-09-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kent District Library on their 75th anniversary. As part of their celebrations, they are having party on October 18th, showcasing their services, especially digital and having a one night author tour, with authors in person and through Skype. It sounds like a fun night out. There is a registration fee. I like their anniversary slogan.

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KDL Celebrates will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Tuesday, October 18 at the KDL Service Center, located at 814 West River Center NE in Comstock Park. ...... An author book tour will highlight the event, and this is a rare opportunity for you to meet a host of your favorite local authors all in one evening. Featured authors, presented by Schuler Books & Music, include Sarah Kallio, DJ DeSmyter, Wade Rouse, Liesel Litzenburger, Michael Lindley, Sue Stauffacher, Kristina Riggle, Sue Merrell, and more! We will also feature Brilliance Audio Authors brought to us via Skype technology and video messages.

The Lives They Left Behind exhibit

2011-09-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

Today is turning into a series of posts about possible partners/exhibits. For those who have a strong community interest in genealogy, local history, or mental health issues, a great exhibit to consider is The Willard Suitcase Exhibit. It is online and also available as an onsite exhibit. It is based on an outstanding book, The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny. The site description on the book is below. There are so many social issues that cross through this book that the topic will resonate in nearly all communities. If you are looking for a thought provoking exhibit, this is it.

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Based on almost 10 years of historical detective work, ... about the lives of 10 people who were committed to Willard State Hospital in New York’s Finger Lakes during the first half of the 20th century. Starting with the belongings left behind in these individuals’ suitcases, the authors sifted through collections of photographs, old letters, diaries, archives, and personal mementos to uncover who these people were before they disappeared for decades behind the institution’s walls. They were artists, soldiers, musicians, teachers, nurses, laborers, and skilled craftsmen who led active, complicated, even fascinating lives before pain, loss, peculiar beliefs, ill-health, poverty, spiritual distress, unseen voices and circumstance intervened. The resulting volume is a fully illustrated social history, a moving—and devastating—group portrait of 20th century American psychiatric care.

Partnerships and Promotion

2011-09-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

In talking with Center for the Book affiliate libraries lately, I have heard that a good partner for events and author visits for some libraries has been local groups, usually schools or community centers, that offer Adult Community Enrichment classes. Some universities also offer evening/weekend enrichment classes for their communities, such as Michigan State University's Evening College. If you have a similar program in your area, contact them about offering lectures at the library or helping fund or promote an author visit.

Gary Schmidt is the 2011 Michigan Author Award winner

2011-09-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Center for the Book and the Michigan Library Association have awarded the 2011 Michigan Author Award to Gary Schmidt, young adult author and professor at Calvin College. Schmidt is among the select group of children’s authors who have won prestigious Newbery Award Honors from the American Library Association. His novel Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy was both a Newbery Honor Book and a Printz Honor Book in 2005 and three years later he received yet another Newbery Honor Book designation for The Wednesday Wars.

I hear from Center for the Book Board members that he is a "phenomenal" presenter, so those of you looking for a good author to talk to your teens, Gary might be it!

You can here him talk at the award luncheon at the Michigan Library Association Conference on Friday, October 28th in Kalamazoo. You can register for the luncheon at www.mla.lib.mi.us/events/annual and you can see the full press release about the award here.

Baldwin Public Library will have Bonnie Jo Campbell and Samuel Park present in October

2011-09-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Baldwin Public Library is celebrating National Reading Group month with a visit from Bonnie Jo Campbell and Samuel Park. I feel like a bad librarian because I didn't know that next month was National Reading Group month. But Baldwin has certainly picked great authors to work with for the month!

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Bonnie Jo Campbell and Samuel Park at Baldwin Public Library to Celebrate National Reading Group Month

The Detroit Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) will be celebrating National Reading Group Month at the Baldwin Public Library on Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Acclaimed Michigan author Bonnie Jo Campell and Chicago author Samuel Park will be featured at the event. Campbell is author of Once Upon a River, American Salvage, Q Road and others. Park is author of This Burns My Heart.

In Once Upon A River, Campbell created an unforgettable heroine in sixteen-year-old Margo Crane, a beauty whose unflinching gaze and uncanny ability with a rifle have not made her life any easier. After the violent death of her father, in which she is complicit, Margo takes to the Stark River in her boat in search of her vanished mother. Her river odyssey through rural Michigan becomes a defining journey, one that leads her beyond self-preservation and to the decision of what price she is willing to pay for her choices.

Park’s evocative debut novel, This Burns My Heart is equal parts classic romance, page-turning literary drama, and cultural history. Set in South Korea in the 1960s, it centers on Soo-Ja Choi, an ambitious young woman who finds herself trapped in an unhappy marriage. Faced with adversity and oppression, she struggles to protect her daughter and to fulfill her own dreams—all against the backdrop of a society caught between tradition and modernity.

Hazel Park is bringing John Gallagher in this Wednesday

2011-09-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Michigan Notable Books strikes again! The Hazel Park Memorial Library is bringing 2011 Notable Books author John Gallagher for a discussion on Wedneday. Both of his books are excellent and in this era of funding, Reimagining Detroit is a great start for a discussion on where we want to be in the next few decades.

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Free Press reporter and author of Great Architecture of Michigan and Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City, John Gallagher, will be at the Hazel Park Memorial Library Wednesday, September 21, at 7 p.m. for a book talk and signing. We welcome everyone, staff and patrons, to attend.

Autumn Author Series at the Kalkaska County Library!

2011-09-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Kalkaska County Library is having a series of Michigan authors in September, one a week starting today. The authors range from Civil War history to the auto industry and, my favorite genre, mysteries!

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Sept 7th, 2011 with John Mitchell

The story of Grand Traverse during the era is an account of a place and a nation rising to their shared destiny, one settled, the other redefined, during the epic struggle. Throughout the Civil War, Grand Traverse soldiers fought and died in major battles and forgotten skirmishes, earning for the region a compelling military history in the most crucial and deadly of American conflicts. All who feel a connection to Northern Michigan should read this book.

Sept 14, 2011 with Steve Lehto

Steve Lehto has interviewed all the surviving members of the turbine car program--from the metallurgist who created the exotic metals for the interior of the engine to the test driver who drove it at Chrysler's proving grounds for days on end. Lehto takes these first-hand accounts and weaves them into a great story about the coolest car Detroit ever produced.

Sept 21, 2011 with Elizabeth Buzzelli

Something nasty is afoot in Emily Kincaid's northern Michigan town-besides Emily's increasingly cranky friend Deputy Dolly. When the body of a brutally slain woman turns up in an abandoned farmhouse, Emily and Dolly uncover a disturbing pattern. Bodies of dead dogs are being thrown into migrant Mexican workers' yards-a gruesome warning to keep someone's despicable secret.

Sept 28, 2011 with Aaron Stander

Medieval Murders is a prequel to the Ray Elkins mystery series. If you are a reader of the series, you know that the first four books are set in Cedar County, an amalgam of the many lakes, forests, and towns found in northwest lower Michigan. In these books there are references to Ray s earlier professional life when he taught criminal justice at a large Midwestern state university. The plot in Medieval Murders revolves around the deaths of three members of the English department. It s a younger Ray Elkins, more hair, fewer pounds, but still very grounded.

Debut novelist Frank Slaughter will be at Traverse Area District Library on the 19th

2011-09-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

The Traverse Area District Library is hosting Frank Slaughter, a novelist whose debut work is a Civil War history novel. This novel may work well for both the Civil War enthusiast and for those who enjoy historical novels, especially those set close to home.

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The Traverse Area District Library's Main Branch will welcome first time novelist and Civil War re-enacter Frank Slaughter to its Live! at the Library author series on Monday, September 19 at 7p.m.

Slaughter will present on his book, Echos of Distant Thunder, a compelling drama following a Michigan artillery soldier and his struggle returning to civilian life after the horrors he experiences on the last day of the battle of Chickamauga.

A large portion of his book takes place in and near the Saginaw area.

Great MIchigan Reads author tour announced with Kevin Boyle

2011-08-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Michigan Humanities Council has announced the author tour of for the 2011/2012 Great Michigan Reads program. This year's program is with Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle. This is a wonderful book and he is a great author. I think the Humanities Council made a great choice for the book.

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Michigan Humanities Council Announces Author Tour Dates for Great Michigan Read

Kevin Boyle, author of the 2011-12 Great Michigan Read book Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age.

“The Great Michigan Read author’s tour is a keystone of a year-long effort to engage Michigan readers to join together and explore Michigan’s rich history. Particularly, this very compelling story of a man and set of events, served as a wake-up call for our state and our nation. It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to participate in an event like this, join in a statewide discussion, and ponder what you would have done if you were Dr. Sweet, a neighbor, a police officer or served on the jury.”

The novel tells the story of African American Dr. Ossian Sweet and the chain of events that occurred after he purchased a home for his family in an all-white Detroit neighborhood in 1925. The book won the 2004 National Book Award for nonfiction, was named a 2005 Michigan Notable Book, and was selected for the Great Michigan Read by a group of nearly 50 librarians, teachers, students, professors, authors and more from across the state.

Tour Schedule:

• Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Alpena County Library, www.alpenalibrary.org

• Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Peter White Public Library (Marquette) www.uproc.lib.mi.us/pwpl

• Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Public Library, www.grpl.org

• Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Capital Area District Library and Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing) www.cadl.org/

• Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flint Public Library, www.flint.lib.mi.us/

• Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit)

www.charleswrightmuseum.net

Upcoming author events at the Cromaine District Library - Mike Mullin and William Whitbeck

2011-08-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

One great thing about doing this blog, aside from learning about great programming ideas, is learning about new authors. Mike Mullin is a debut teen author who includes science in his storytelling. As an avid science reader, that sounds great to me. Cromaine District Library is also hosting Michigan historical mystery writer, William Whitbeck. Whitbeck is one of the 2011 Michigan Notable Books authors.

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Meet Mike Mullin, Author of “Ashfall”

Thursday, October 20 at 6:30 pm

Meet this teen author who brings a VOLCANO!, holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and talks about writing style and how he gets his ideas. A Teen Read Week event! Books for sale and signing—Ashfall to be released October 11, 2011! Registration – Crossroads.

Sallie’s Author Visits presents: William C. Whitbeck

Monday, September 12 at 6:30 pm

Willliam C. Whitbeck, celebrated mystery author and former Chief Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals, talks about his work and writing. Books for sale and signing. This program is funded by gifts in honor of former Reference Manager, Sallie Brodie. Registration - Village.

Mystery author panel at the Romeo District Library

2011-08-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Romeo District Library is hosting six mystery and thriller authors on Sept. 10th. They will be doing a panel on their books and on writing. This is a great way to introduce your genre readers to new authors and to bring in your local writers of all ages. I am always interested in programs that fit multiple audiences. That is much easier in some ways than trying to craft an individual program for each patron group.

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Saturday September 10th at 1:30 PM:

Mystery and Thriller authors Tasha Alexander, Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, Karen Dionne, Andrew Grant, Libby Fischer Hellmann, and Mark Terry will be at the Romeo District Library Graubner branch. The panel of award winning authors will talk about their books and the writing craft. Books will be available for sale from the Books Connection of Shelby. Refreshments will be served. This free program is made possible by grants from the Friends of the Romeo District Library and the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information call the Romeo District Library at (586)-752-0603, option 4.

Capital Area District Library will host Kevin Boyle as part of the Great Michigan Read!

2011-08-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

The Michigan Humanities Council is working with the Capital Area District Library as part of the 2011-2012 Great Michigan Read program. CADL will be hosting Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice, on October 25th. I have heard Kevin speak and he was quite good. If you are interested in the book and want to do a program with it, the Center for the Book has a reader's guide for Arc of Justice in the One Book Archive at the Center for the Book site.

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Each year the Michigan Humanities Council Michigan Humanities Council selects a book for The Great Michigan Read initiative, a free, statewide project that invites residents to read and participate in book discussions and events.

The 2011-2012 selection is Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age, by Detroit native Kevin Boyle. It’s the electrifying account of a murder trial that resulted when an African American physician purchased a home in a white Detroit neighborhood in 1925. Arc of Justice won the 2004 National Book Award for nonfiction and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6:00 pm

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing Campus

300 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing

Ferndale Public Library welcomes MI YA author Lisa McMann

2011-08-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

The Ferndale Public Library is hosting Lisa McMann on Oct. 15th. Michigan has a wealth of YA and children's authors and I'm happy to add Lisa to my list. If you'd like to see other MI authors, check the children and teen booklists in the Michigan Booklists section of the Center for the Book site. Who is your favorite?

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YA author Lisa McMann will visit Ferndale Public Library to discuss her new book for middle readers, The Unwanteds (to be released August 30). Lisa McMann is a Michigan native and the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake series. She will speak and autograph books on Saturday, October 15th, 2011, 2:30-4 pm. Please join us! This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Book Beat.

Lisa McMann is originally from Holland, Michigan.

Jaimy Gordon will be at the Baldwin Public Library on October 2nd

2011-08-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

Baldwin Public Library will be hosting Jaimy Gordon in October. I've heard a variety of responses to her book Lord of Misrule. Is it popular at your library? Does winning a national award like the National Book Award bring attention to an author in your area? If I am already interested in a book, an award will push it up my list of books to read, but it doesn't usually put a book on my list. What about you?

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Writers Live with Jaimy Gordon, Winner of the 2010 National Book Award

Presented by the Jane Cameron Endowment Fund

Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m.

Baldwin Public Library, 300 W. Merrill, Birmingham, MI 48009

248-554-4650

Critically acclaimed author Jaimy Gordon will be at the Baldwin Public Library on Sunday, October 2 for a book talk and signing. Dr. Gordon’s appearance is generously made possible by the Jane Cameron Endowment Fund. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Book Beat.

Lord of Misrule is a brilliant novel that captures the dusty, dark, and beautiful world of small-time horse racing, where trainers, jockeys, grooms and grifters vie for what little luck is offered at a run-down West Virginia track. Lord of Misrule was a 2011 Michigan Notable Books selection.

Program flyer can be viewed at http://www.baldwinlib.org/assets/PDFs/Adult-Services/Jaimy-Gordon-2011.pdf.

Bob Tarte will be at the Krause Memorial Branch of Kent District Library on August 13th

2011-08-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Kent District Library will be hosting Michigan author Bob Tarte next weekend at the Krause Memorial Branch. Tarte has written several memoirs that include the family pets. As someone who has a few pets that do rule the roost, or at least think they do, I can relate! He will also be talking about becoming published, which is always a nice draw for local writers groups.

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You are invited to meet Bob Tarte, the delightful author of the humorous pet memoirs Enslaved by Ducks, Fowl Weather, and the forthcoming The Funnel of Happiness. Bob will present “Making Your Memoir Memorable” at 10:30 am on Saturday, August 13 at the Krause Memorial branch. Bob will share his own publishing experiences and will talk about the two main components that agents and publishers look for in a memoir.

This exciting program is part of the 3rd annual Rockford Reading Festival. Don’t miss it!

Good vs. Evil in Grand Rapids

2011-08-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Public Library has planned their summer reading activities (Grand Rapids Reads) around a theme "Good vs. Evil" and selected 10 books that fit with the theme, instead of doing a one book program. This is a great way to bring a range of activities (author events, movies, clubs, etc.) that can attract a variety of audiences, while maintaining the feeling of everyone participating together. You can find program info at www.grpl.org/grreads, with author events and other program listings.

The books they selected are wide ranging, including fiction, history, biography, and graphic novels.

The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich
Batman Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli
The Detroit Electric Scheme: A Mystery by D.E. Johnson
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Horns by Joe Hill
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Eden Springs by Laura Kasischke
Punching Out: One Year in a Closing Auto Plant by Paul Clemens
The Michigan Murders by Edward Keyes

Mysteries & Murders in Michigan

2011-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

For those who like mysteries or true crime and are looking for good books set in Michigan, the Center for the Book has published a new reading list Mysteries & Murders in Michigan. It lists mysteries and thrillers by real and fictional locations and true crime novels by location. There are some great recommendations to make you a little nervous of going outside the cabin on a trip up north. You can print the brochure at

www.michigan.gov/mcfb - in the Michigan Book Lists section

along with various other Michigan themed book lists.

Enjoy!

Additional events at Hackley Public Library

2011-08-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

I posted too quickly. Hackley will be hosting two other authors in the fall, one from the Michigan Notable Authors list and the popular Doc Fletcher.

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November 8, 2011 - Visit with Notable Books author Raymond Goodwin, author of Sawdusted.

One of this year's Michigan Notable Books, Sawdusted builds upon the history of the lumber industry in Michigan. Old photos in a restaurant provide author Raymond Goodwin with an opportunity to reminisce on his experiences a century later and relate them to Michigan's history. The people he knew could have been some of the same men memorialized on the walls. Whiskey Tim, Tattoo Man, Blue Old Man, and Big Tom are just a few of the interesting characters the reader meets.

November 1, 2011 - Visit with Doc Fletcher

Please join us as PBS-featured Michigan author Doc Fletcher presents his "Canoeing & Kayaking through Michigan & Wisconsin" program. The program is an hour-long photographic journey down selected rivers from each of his two books, Weekend Canoeing in Michigan & Michigan Rivers Less Paddled, and a sampling of rivers from his upcoming book about Wisconsin. Take a virtual trip down each river and hear what makes that river uniquely FUN! Histories of towns along the riverbanks are discussed and tales are told of local, old-time, taverns in those towns where you can relax and relive the day's river adventure.

Fall author plans at Hackley Public Library

2011-08-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am beginning to see author visits listed for the fall. The Hackley Public Library (Muskegon) has some nice events coming up. Anyone in the area might be able to work in an extra stop with one of the authors.

December 6, 2011 - Visit with Gregg Granger, author of Sailing Faith: The Long Way Home

Sailing Faith: The Long Way Home is a memoir. Gregg Granger, his wife and their two teenage daughters and young son, spent 4 ½ years sailing around the world. The journey was about travel and culture, but more about relationships. Relationships with God, with each other, with people on similar journeys, and with others in the thirty-eight countries they visited during their four and a half years abroad.

December 13, 2011 - Visit with Tobin Buhk, coauthor of true crime novels with Dr. Stephen Cohle

True Crime: Michigan examines crime in the state and explores the landmark cases of robbery, mob activity and murder that have received national attention. They’re all here – some of the most notorious fiends in Michigan’s inglorious criminal history. They’re all here – some of the most notorious fiends in Michigan’s inglorious criminal history. Tobin T. Buhk, coauthor of Cause of Death: Forensic Files of a Medical Examiner and Skeletons in the Closet: Tales from the County Morgue, will present on various famous Michigan cases.

January 31, 2012 - Visit with Dianna Stampfler - Postcards to Michigan's Past

Before email and text messages, postcards were the premier way to send a quick message to family and friends. Fortunately, these cards have been preserved and saved from generation to generation — offering a glimpse into a simpler time of carefree vacations around the Great Lakes State. ... While many seem to focus on the waters, boating and lighthouses, the primary theme in the collection is that the postcards hold ties to Dianna’s home state of Michigan — for which she is undoubtedly passionate.

Mysteries and Murders in Michigan

2011-07-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Center for the Book writes a new Michigan themed book list every year for the National Book Festival and for libraries, schools, readers....anyone interested in Michigan. Our most recent is Mysteries and Murders in Michigan. Please feel free print the brochure or use the text with attribution. Check it out for some great mysteries and true crime from around the state.

Bob Woodward will be at the Alpena County Library this Fall

2011-07-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, being on vacation and then catching up with my desk has taken me away from the blog longer than I thought it would. I had a nice staycation (the house is much cleaner), but am back with great author visit news. The Alpena County Library has been doing an authors in the fall program for some time now and has had outstanding authors visit. For those that aren't sure how to get prominent authors to come to places off the beaten path, talk to Alpena's staff! This fall their headliner for the program will be journalist Bob Woodward. I've included more details below. If anyone else has fall visits lined up, please send them to me!

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Bob Woodward coming to Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library October 13

Best-selling author Bob Woodward will be the headline speaker for the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library's Authors in the Fall 2011. Tickets are $20 for orchestra seats or $10 for balcony seats. You can buy tickets at the library, online at www.alpenalibrary.org, or via mail at Alpena County Library, Attention:

Woodward Tickets, 211 N. First, Alpena, MI 49707.

Woodward is best known for his coverage of the Watergate break-in with Carl Bernstein, and their subsequent book, All the President's Men. The book factored in Nixon's decision to resign. Since then, Woodward has written 16 non-fiction national best-sellers. Twelve of those books have been #1 best-sellers. He has written about every presidential administration since Nixon, and also about Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, Actor John Belushi, the Supreme Court, and secret CIA wars.

Authors in the Fall ..In previous years has featured Bill Bryson, George Plimpton, Geraldine Brooks, Billy Collins, Edward Albee, Jodi Piccoult, and many others.

D.E. Johnson will be at the Grand Rapids Public Library on July 11th

2011-06-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

For those who like their mysteries local, D.E. Johnson is writing mysteries set in Detroit in the early part of the 20th century, when Detroit was the Paris of the Midwest. He is one of the 2011 Michigan Notable Book authors and will be at the Grand Rapids Public Library on July 11th.

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D.E. Johnson, author of the mystery ”The Detroit Electric Scheme,” will speak about his book at the Grand Rapids Public Library on Monday, July 11 at 7:00 pm. Hia appearance is part of the Library’s adult summer reading program GR Reads.

Set against the backdrop of the burgeoning electric automobile industry in 1910 Detroit, “The Detroit Electric Scheme” is a suspenseful mystery that takes the reader through the Detroit underworld. Real-life characters include a teenage Edsel Ford, John and Horace Dodge, William Anderson, Vito Adamo, and Big Boy, the 6’4” 260-pund bouncer the The Bucket, a saloon so violent newspapers called it “The Bucket of Blood.”

“The Detroit Electric Scheme,” Johnson’s first novel, received a starred review in Booklist and won a 2011 Michigan Notable Book Award. The sequel, “Motor City Shakedown” will be published in fall 2011. Johnson is a resident of Kalamazoo.

Peter White Public Library's U.P. Book Tour 2011

2011-06-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

It's my day for posting about great programs in Upper Peninsula libraries. As part of their adult Summer Reading program, Peter White Public Library in Marquette is having four sessions of the U.P. Book Tour 2011. Each session is a panel discussion with authors, literature professors, bookstore owners, etc. on the literature of the region and the state. If I counted right, they are having 16 panelist, some of whom are local and some of whom are statewide names. I suspect all are great at presenting on the literature of Michigan. What a cool idea!

Poet M.L. Liebler at 2 Bayliss Public Library locations this week

2011-06-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

M.L. Liebler is one of the Michigan Notable Book authors this year. He writes, he presents, he does a great job. Consider him for an event if you have people interested in poetry and music in your community.

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Bayliss Public Library is hosting Detroit poet M.L Liebler, editor of Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams on Tuesday, June 14, for a day of music, poetry, book and CD signing, and question-and-answer time. Engadine Library, a branch of Bayliss Library, will host M.L. Liebler on Monday, June 13. Each library will feature a workshop from 3:30-5:00 p.m. and a program at 7:00 p.m., on their respective day.

Kalamazoo Public Library will have Holly Black and Robin Wasserman on Nov. 4th

2011-06-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Now I have read Holly Black (a YA author) and thought her books were great. She is also a librarian. This isn't a library visit, but a workshop and seminar for librarians, teachers, students, and others with a desire to promote children’s literature. They have wonderful authors for it this year. This is a great and affordable event.

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Kalamazoo Public Library will be hosting Holly Black and Robin Wasserman at the 34th Youth Literature Seminar. The seminar will be held at Western Michigan University on November 4, 2011.

Watch the KPL website for further information, including registration:

http://kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/

This is always a great day of learning and networking and the cost is usually very affordable (around $35, including lunch).

Hope to see you there!

Jaimy Gordon will be at the Iosco-Arenac District Library

2011-06-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

Jaimy Gordon is having a breakout year with her Notable Books title and receiving the National Book Award for The Lord of Misrule. I did realize until I saw this notice that she also was a PEN/Faulkner Award finalist too. Of course, she was selected for the Michigan Notable Books first! The Iosco-Arenac District Library will host her on next Thursday.

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Iosco-Arenac District Library Event:

Thursday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. the Iosco-Arenac District Library and co- sponsor Standish-Sterling Community Education are hosting Jaimy Gordon for an author talk and book signing at the Standish-Sterling High School Auditorium located in Standish.

Jaimy is the winner of the 2010 National Book Award for Fiction, a 2011 Michigan Notable Author, and PEN/Faulkner Award finalist for her novel Lord of Misrule.

Please feel free to invite anyone from your community interested in attending to join us at this free program.

Grand Rapids Public Library is bringing YA author ReShonda Tate Billingsley to GR on June 16th

2011-06-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

With Summer Reading starting, this is the season for teen and children's authors. GRPL is hosting YA author Reshonda Tate Billingsley next Thursday for both a reading and writing workshop. Is anyone bringing in an author through the summer for the children or teen programs?

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Author ReShonda Tate Billingsley to Speak, Mentor Teen Writers at the Grand Rapids Public Library

Author ReShonda Tate Billingsley will lead a teen writing workshop (grades 6-12) and discuss her work at the Grand Rapids Public Library on Thursday, June 16, 2011. The writing workshop begins at 3:00 pm and the lecture at 7:00 pm. Both events will be held at the Main Library – 111 Library St NE. Both events are sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation.

Billingsley is the national bestselling author of 20 titles - eight adult novels, eight teen novels, one non-fiction, two anthologies and one poetry book. Her teen novels include Caught Up in the Drama, Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise, With Friends Like These, Getting Even, Fairweather Friends, and Friends ‘Til the End.

Romeo District Library is hosting Sarah Miller on June 25th

2011-06-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

I need to catch up again on all the author visits I am hearing about. Feel free to let me know about your events too. First up is a nice event at the Romeo District Library. Sarah Miller is a new author to the blog. I haven't read her books, but they certainly sound worthwhile from the review comments.

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You are all invited to the Romeo District Library for the following event!

Book Launch Party for The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

The Romeo District Library will host the book launch party for Sarah Miller's book The Lost Crown on Saturday June 25, 2011 at 2 PM. Ms. Miller will be there to read from her second book for young adults. Books will be available for purchase from The Books Connection of Shelby bookstore. Refreshments will be served.

Booklist: "This thoroughly researched novel brings the four young women to readers in their own voices... [E]ach girl is given time and space to reveal and reflect, and like the best historical novels, this allows modern-day teens to see parts of themselves in very different people....[B]y the heartbreaking book's conclusion, readers will be caught up in the girls' story."

Kirkus: "Tsar Nicholas II's four ill-fated daughters provide a fictional, inside look at Imperial Russia's dying days in this thoroughly researched, poignant and compelling account of how the deposed Romanovs coped with abdication and arrest from 1914 to 1918."
(Starred review)

June author events at Cromaine District Library

2011-05-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Cromaine District Library is hosting 3 author events in June linked to their children and youth Summer Reading program. Each program links to Authors Around the World theme they are using for adults. Cromaine does a nice job linking a variety of programs to various audiences to a theme/event for those looking to do something similar.

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Monday, June 13 at 7:00 pm

Ladies of the Lights: Women Lighthouse Keepers by Patricia Majher – Hear the stories of ten women who were Michigan lighthouse keepers. It was a rugged life of long hours and hard work punctuated by periods of real peril. Books for sale and signing. Registration - Village.

Monday, June 20 at 7:00 pm

Sailing Faith: the Long Way Home by Gregg Granger – Gregg Granger and his family took a spiritual four-year trip sailing trip round the world. Books for sale and signing. Registration - Village.

Thursday, June 30 at 7:00 pm

A Footpath in Umbria: Learning, Loving & Laughing in Italy by Nancy Solak – An honest, moving and witty look at the year long shoestring-budget trip to Italy that gave Nancy Solak new perspective on her life. Books for sale and signing. Registration - Village.

Lincoln Township Public LIbrary is hosting short story writer Adam Schuitema today

2011-05-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit late with posting this, but the Lincoln Township Public Library is hosting Notable Books author Adam Schuitema tonight. He one of our growing group of excellent literary short story writers from Michigan. We have such a great group of local authors.

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Michigan Notable book author Adam Schuitema will be at the Lincoln Township Public Library this Wednesday, May, 25 at 7 pm. Mr. Schuitema is the author of Freshwater Boys, a short story collection. Mr. Schuitema will be talking about his work and taking questions from the audience. He will also be available after the presentation to sign books. Books will be available for sale.

Author fair at Hamburg Township Library on Sept. 24th

2011-05-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

And for those who can't attend the author fair at Royal Oak, you can try the Author Fair at the Hamburg Township Library in September. Perhaps not coincidentally, it is on the same day as the National Book Festival in Washington, DC that the Michigan Center for the Book will have a booth at. If you can't have an author that day like Hamburg Township, you can have CSPAN on for the author presentations in DC. I'll post more on Hamburg's authors as I hear more.

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The Hamburg Township Library will be hosting a Michigan author fair on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This will be a forum for authors to share ideas with one another as well as the public. For more details please check www.hamburglibrary.org.

Royal Oak Public Library Author Fair

2011-05-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Author fairs seem to be becoming a popular way to bring a larger group of people in to meet a variety of local authors. I have always thought that events that bring in a range of people were nice because it exposes them to speakers, authors, events that they might not have come to if it was the only program. Sort of cross-population.

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The First Annual Black Literary Marketplace Expo
June 30 through July 1 and 2, 2011
Royal Oak Public Library

The First Annual Black Literary Marketplace Expo Summer Conference will be a 3 day event in Royal Oak, Michigan. The Expo is FREE and Open to the Public and will be held at the Royal Oak Public Library and at the City of Royal Oak, Leo Mahany / Harold Meininger Senior/Community Center. The program includes: exhibitors, vendors, authors, book exhibits, author signings, speakers, press party, a luncheon, and a closing recognition dinner and dance at the downtown Detroit Seafood Market in Detroit Michigan.

Michigan Notable Books author tour events at the Kent District Library in May

2011-05-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Kent District Library is hosting 2 Michigan Notable Books program authors in May. These 2 authors show the nice range of the Notables list. One is an excellent book of literary short stories and the other is a memoir of an important event for national and Michigan history. Take a look a the Notable Books web site for other books from 2011 and previous years for some great authors and titles.

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Kent District Library is pleased to present two Michigan authors from this year’s list of Michigan Notable Books.

Adam Schuitema, author of Freshwater Boys, will visit the Byron Township branch at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 19. Freshwater Boys is a collection of eleven short stories set in and around the Great Lakes of Michigan.

Gordon Olson, editor of A Michigan Polar Bear Confronts the Bolsheviks: A War Memoir, will speak at the Sand Lake / Nelson Township branch at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 21. This book tells the graphic story of a young Michigan soldier’s experiences during President Woodrow Wilson’s ill-fated 1918 military expedition against the Bolsheviks in the frozen reaches of northern Russia.

Books will be for sale at the programs and refreshments will be served.

Capital Area District Library is hosting several Notable Books authors in May

2011-05-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

EDIT - New Time for John Gallagher - 7:00 pm. Even better for those of us who take a while getting around to dinner.

Hopefully you had a chance to come to the Night for Notables at the Library of Michigan last Saturday and meet most of the Notable authors. Here in Lansing, the Capital Area District Library will be hosting 2 of the authors, Michael Federspiel, who appeals to literary readers and those interested in Michigan history and northern Michigan, and John Gallagher, who will appeal to those interested in urban renewal, sustainability and making our urban areas greener.

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CADL Welcomes Notable Authors...

On May 18 at 6:30 pm, CADL welcomes Michael R. Federspiel, author of Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan. This beautifully illustrated book offers a unique look into the time Ernest Hemingway spent at Michigan’s Walloon Lake, which provided the setting and influences for his early writing. Readers not only get a glimpse of the young writer’s life, but also a vivid picture of summertime in northern Michigan. Federspiel‘s appearance, in partnership with Bestsellers Books & Coffee Co. in Mason, will take place at Bestsellers.

On May 26 at 6:30 pm, CADL will host John Gallagher, author of Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City. Gallagher has covered urban redevelopment for the Detroit Free Press for two decades, and spent a year researching Detroit’s current situation. Instead of writing just another account of the city’s decline, he uses Reimagining Detroit to showcase the innovative community-building work already being done and describes ways to make Detroit leaner, greener, and more economically self-sufficient. What lessons can Lansing learn from this project? CADL partners with Lansing Area Capital Gains to present a night of reimagining cities, held at Art Alley in Lansing’s historic REO Town.