Location: Westchester, California 90045, United States

Susan Palwick’s debut novel, Flying in place, won the Crawford Award for best fantasy debut, and was an early MG staff favorite. Her latest, Mending the Moon, thoughtfully explores community, family, creation and destruction, chaos and stability, and the wide-spread impact of an inexplicable assault and murder on both the friends and family of the murdered woman and the murderer.

Location: Street: 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Additional: Ste 302 City: San Diego, Province: California Postal Code: 92111-1040 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

As part of the Rockridge Spring Stroll, Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, welcomes local acoustic band Smooth Toad back to the store. On Saturday, May 18th from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, come hear the sweet sounds of these veterans of three art forms: music, poetry, and theater.

Their repertoire ranges from such traditional classics as “Mole In The Ground” and “The Parting Glass” to original twisted tunes. Sometimes, they’ll throw in an original poem or two in lively musical settings. Band members: G. P. Skratz: vocals, guitar. Hal Hughes: vocals, fiddle, guitar. Bob Ernst: vocals, blues harp, percussion. Andy Dinsmoor: Toad Emeritus, vocals, lead guitar. For a preview, visit the band on myspace.

This event is free and open to the public!

Location: Street: 5433 College Ave City: Oakland, Province: California Postal Code: 94618-1502 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Theroux first came to Africa as a twenty-two-year-old Peace Corps volunteer, and the pull of the vast land never left him. Now he returns, after fifty years on the road, to explore the little-traveled territory of western Africa and to take stock both of the place and of himself. His odyssey takes him northward from Cape Town, through South Africa and Namibia, then on into Angola, wishing to head farther still until he reaches the end of the line. Journeying alone through the greenest continent, Theroux encounters a world increasingly removed from both the itineraries of tourists and the hopes of postcolonial independence movements.

Location: Street: 695 E. Colorado Blvd City: Pasadena, Province: California Postal Code: 91101 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

We’ve got action, romance, humor and adventure!
We’ve got music, FREE parking and refreshments!
We’ve got Hollywood LIVE!

The ONLY thing we’re missing is YOU!

This week's feature: "Death Waits at Sundown" a Western by L. Ron Hubbard.

Enter a world where bold men and woman come to life – in stories that take you by surprise and spark your imagination.

Admission: $10 per person (first time FREE)
To reserve your seat, call (323) 798-1635 or
email: Jonil@AuthorServicesInc.com (MARKUSWUETHRICH)… (more)

HEADS ARE TURNING, CHILDREN ARE LEARNING - Eighth Annual Literacy Day at CAAM. In celebration of National Children's Book Week, CAAM offers a full day designed to promote reading and literacy as well as provide fun for families. This year our program will be headlined by the multi-talented author/illustrator Kadir Nelson who will also be on-site to sign copies of his popular books. Special guests include Debbie Allen who will read from her book Dancing in the Wings, the Cosby Show's Malcolm Jamal-Warner, and Tina Lifford from Parenthood, among others.

Saturday, 18 May 2013

11:00 AM

-

04:00 PM

California African American Museum

600 State Drive, Exposition Park Los Angeles, CA 90037 USA

Location: Street: 600 State Drive, Exposition Park Additional: http://www.caamuseum.org/hcalendar/events City: Los Angeles, Province: California Postal Code: 90037 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Return to the fascinating lively and sometimes lethal world of Lucky O’Toole’s Las Vegas with Deborah Coonts and Lucky bastard. Lucky’s latest customer relations challenge is dealing with the corpse of a murdered young woman left on display in the Babylon casino resort’s Ferrari dealership. Romantic and family complications and high fashion add to the sassy mix. With David Freed.

Location: Street: 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Additional: Ste 302 City: San Diego, Province: California Postal Code: 92111-1040 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood welcomes Lian Dolan to the store to discuss and sign her new book, Elizabeth the First Wife, on Sunday, May 19th at 3pm.

In Elizabeth the First Wife, Elizabeth Lancaster, an English professor at Pasadena City College, finds her perfectly dull but perfectly orchestrated life upended one summer by three men: her movie-star ex-husband, a charming political operative, and William Shakespeare. Until now, she'd been content living in the shadow of her high-profile and highly accomplished family. Then her college boyfriend and one-time husband of seventeen months, A-list action star FX Fahey, shows up with a job offer that she can't resist, and Elizabeth's life suddenly gets a whole lot more interesting. She's off to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for the summer to make sure FX doesn't humiliate himself in an avant-garde production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Lian Dolan is the author of Helen of Pasadena and co-author of The Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses. As part of the Satellite Sisters, Lian and her four sisters found national acclaim first on NPR, then on ABC Radio and XM Satellite Radio. She also creates the popular podcast and blog Chaos Chronicles.

Location: Street: Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood Additional: Brentwood Country Mart - 225 26th Street at San Vicente City: Santa Monica, Province: California Postal Code: 90402 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Easy Rawlins is back (almost literally from the dead after the car wreck that ended Blonde Faith, his last outing) and cruising the streets of the Sunset Strip circa 1967, in search of a young black man who has gone missing—and maybe of his own rebirth.

Location: Street: 695 E. Colorado Blvd City: Pasadena, Province: California Postal Code: 91101 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Lurlene McDaniel (All the Days of Her Life, Always and Forever, Angel of Hope, Angel of Mercy, Angels in Pink: Holly's Story, Angels in Pink: Kathleen's story, Angels in Pink: Raina's Story, Angels Watching Over Me, A Rose for Melinda, A Season for Goodbye, As Long as We Both Shall Live, A Time to Die, Baby Alicia Is Dying, Breathless, Briana's Gift)

“I write the kind of books I write because I want to help kids understand that nobody gets to pick what life dishes out to them. What you do get to choose is how you respond to what life gives you. No matter what happens, life is a gift. And always worth living.”—Lurlene McDaniel Lurlene McDaniel is a recipient of the RITA Award and several of her works have received the IRA–CBC Children’s Choice Award.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Everyone loves a good cry, and no one delivers heartwrenching stories better than Lurlene McDaniel. But there’s more to her books than that. McDaniel has written over 40 novels about kids who face life-threatening illnesses, who sometimes do not survive. These are powerful, inspirational stories about courage, love, and strength in the face of overwhelming trauma. McDaniel’s books touch the hearts and spirits of the teenagers and adults who read them. Her following is a devoted group of appreciative fans. McDaniel says: “These are books that challenge you and make you think.” Some readers—and their parents—have wondered why McDaniel chooses to write about sad situations. “I tell them that sometimes tragedy hits people—kids, too. They want answers. They want to know ‘why.’ By using novels, I show ordinary kids confronting and overcoming great odds.” McDaniel’s books are ultimately optimistic and life-affirming. McDaniel began writing about young adults when her son Sean was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 3. His illness changed the lives of everyone in her family forever. “I saw what life was like for someone who was chronically ill, and I experienced how it affected the dynamics of the family,” says McDaniel. She says she found that writing about the trauma and its effects was therapeutic. To make certain that her books are medically accurate, McDaniel conducts extensive research. She interviews health care professionals and works with appropriate medical groups and hospice organizations, as well as the Tennessee Organ Donor Services. “I study medicine and traditional grief therapy techniques to give the novels a sense of serious medical reality,” she says. “I also study the Bible to instill the human element—the values and ethics often overlooked by the coldness of technology.” Growing up, McDaniel lived in different parts of the country because her father was in the Navy. Eventually her family settled in Florida. She attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she earned a B.A. in English. She now lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In addition to her popular YA novels, McDaniel has written radio and television scripts, promotional and advertising copy, and a magazine column. She is a frequent speaker at schools, writers’ conferences, and conventions. McDaniel’s books have been named to several bestseller lists, including Publishers Weekly. Three of her novels were selected by children as IRA–CBC Children’s Choices: Somewhere Between Life and Death, Too Young to Die, and Goodbye Doesn’t Mean Forever. Six Months to Live has been placed in a literary time capsule at the Library of Congress, to be opened in the year 2089. The One Last Wish books focus on the interconnected stories of the residents and counselors of Jenny House—a group home for critically and terminally ill young girls. Through the kindness of a secret benefactor, each girl receives a cashier’s check for $100,000, to be used to make her last wish come true. Every One Last Wish novel is a compassionate story of triumph and inspiration that makes McDaniel’s dedicated fans come back for more. McDaniel’s works include To Live Again, one of the Dawn Rochelle books; Angel of Mercy, the companion to Angel of Hope; and How Do I Love Thee, three stories about young couples who are inspired by Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s beautiful sonnet. In her novel, Telling Christina Goodbye, McDaniel shows that everything can change in the blink of an eye.PRAISE ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME “An interesting blend of romance, mystery, and problem novel. The characters are captivating and sensitively drawn and the plot is fast paced.”—School Library Journal DON’T DIE, MY LOVE “Touching scenes abound in this crisis novel. . . . Fans of tear-jerker teen romances will enjoy this offering.”—Booklist I’LL BE SEEING YOU “A satisfying story for those who like to take their romance with tears and gutsy characters who know what it means to live beyond the pale of ‘normal.’ ”—School Library Journal SAVING JESSICA “Readers of McDaniel will enjoy; it’s good to read positive stories about teens.”—VOYA SHE DIED TOO YOUNG “McDaniel has a way of getting you to look at the complicated emotions experienced by YAs with major medical problems. . . . Another winner in her One Last Wish series.”—KLIATT STARRY, STARRY NIGHT “The stories are absorbing, the characters are well developed, and the author does not resolve the girls’ dilemmas with pat solutions. . . . This has solid YA appeal.”—School Library Journal TOO YOUNG TO DIE and GOODBYE DOESN’T MEAN FOREVER “These companion novels . . . cast the events of high school into a meaningful perspective and allow for convincing character development. McDaniel’s writing is light and well suited to this refreshing and involving story.”—Publishers Weekly (added from Random House)… (more)

Fueling the economic engine of scientific enterprise in Southern California, the Mount Wilson Observatory and its founder, George Ellery Hale, were the motivating forces that transformed the San Gabriel Valley into a major center of technological achievement, spawning institutions such as the California Institute of Technology, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a host of other science-based organizations found here today. On Monday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m., DAVE JURASEVICH, the Superintendent at Mt. Wilson Observatory, will take the audience on a journey back in time, reliving the storied history of this greatest of American institutions. Walk in the footsteps of the finest astronomers of their age. Learn how they deciphered the code of the heavens, and marvel in their discoveries -- concepts that firmly put us in our place in the Universe and forever changed our view of the world in which we live.

As the world’s preeminent observatory during the first half of the twentieth century, Mount Wilson holds a unique place in the history of scientific endeavor. It was here that the great astronomer, Edwin Hubble, a San Marino resident, established the cornerstones of modern cosmology by unlocking the secrets of an expanding universe, paving the way for our understanding of the Big Bang and ultimate fate of the cosmos.

Dave Jurasevich attended the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Retired from the chemical industry, he is currently engaged as Superintendent of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory where he is responsible for operation and maintenance of the historic venues of that facility, infrastructure oversight, engineering support and management of capital projects, as well as active participation in public outreach efforts.

Seating is limited and attendance to this free monthly series has been to capacity so arrive early! (notparoo)… (more)

Dinosaurs, with their awe- inspiring size, terrifying claws and teeth, and otherworldly abilities, occupy a sacred place in our childhoods. They loom over museum halls, thunder through movies, and are a fundamental part of our collective imagination. In My beloved Brontosaurus, the dinosaur fanatic Brian Switek enriches the childlike sense of wonder these amazing creatures instill in us. Investigating the latest discoveries in paleontology, he breathes new life into old bones.

Location: Street: 695 E. Colorado Blvd City: Pasadena, Province: California Postal Code: 91101 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

A selection of books that go on sale this week, most on Tuesday May 21st.

Check with staff if you have questions. You can also purchase many of the below in eBook format. Just click the title to see if an eBook is available for that title. (Thanks to Kobo, most ebooks are now available for pre-sale.)

Happy Reading!

Signed titles may arrive later in the month. Contact the staff to reserve a copy.

Location: Street: 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Additional: Ste 302 City: San Diego, Province: California Postal Code: 92111-1040 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Lurlene McDaniel (All the Days of Her Life, Always and Forever, Angel of Hope, Angel of Mercy, Angels in Pink: Holly's Story, Angels in Pink: Kathleen's story, Angels in Pink: Raina's Story, Angels Watching Over Me, A Rose for Melinda, A Season for Goodbye, As Long as We Both Shall Live, A Time to Die, Baby Alicia Is Dying, Breathless, Briana's Gift)

“I write the kind of books I write because I want to help kids understand that nobody gets to pick what life dishes out to them. What you do get to choose is how you respond to what life gives you. No matter what happens, life is a gift. And always worth living.”—Lurlene McDaniel Lurlene McDaniel is a recipient of the RITA Award and several of her works have received the IRA–CBC Children’s Choice Award.ABOUT THE AUTHOR Everyone loves a good cry, and no one delivers heartwrenching stories better than Lurlene McDaniel. But there’s more to her books than that. McDaniel has written over 40 novels about kids who face life-threatening illnesses, who sometimes do not survive. These are powerful, inspirational stories about courage, love, and strength in the face of overwhelming trauma. McDaniel’s books touch the hearts and spirits of the teenagers and adults who read them. Her following is a devoted group of appreciative fans. McDaniel says: “These are books that challenge you and make you think.” Some readers—and their parents—have wondered why McDaniel chooses to write about sad situations. “I tell them that sometimes tragedy hits people—kids, too. They want answers. They want to know ‘why.’ By using novels, I show ordinary kids confronting and overcoming great odds.” McDaniel’s books are ultimately optimistic and life-affirming. McDaniel began writing about young adults when her son Sean was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 3. His illness changed the lives of everyone in her family forever. “I saw what life was like for someone who was chronically ill, and I experienced how it affected the dynamics of the family,” says McDaniel. She says she found that writing about the trauma and its effects was therapeutic. To make certain that her books are medically accurate, McDaniel conducts extensive research. She interviews health care professionals and works with appropriate medical groups and hospice organizations, as well as the Tennessee Organ Donor Services. “I study medicine and traditional grief therapy techniques to give the novels a sense of serious medical reality,” she says. “I also study the Bible to instill the human element—the values and ethics often overlooked by the coldness of technology.” Growing up, McDaniel lived in different parts of the country because her father was in the Navy. Eventually her family settled in Florida. She attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she earned a B.A. in English. She now lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In addition to her popular YA novels, McDaniel has written radio and television scripts, promotional and advertising copy, and a magazine column. She is a frequent speaker at schools, writers’ conferences, and conventions. McDaniel’s books have been named to several bestseller lists, including Publishers Weekly. Three of her novels were selected by children as IRA–CBC Children’s Choices: Somewhere Between Life and Death, Too Young to Die, and Goodbye Doesn’t Mean Forever. Six Months to Live has been placed in a literary time capsule at the Library of Congress, to be opened in the year 2089. The One Last Wish books focus on the interconnected stories of the residents and counselors of Jenny House—a group home for critically and terminally ill young girls. Through the kindness of a secret benefactor, each girl receives a cashier’s check for $100,000, to be used to make her last wish come true. Every One Last Wish novel is a compassionate story of triumph and inspiration that makes McDaniel’s dedicated fans come back for more. McDaniel’s works include To Live Again, one of the Dawn Rochelle books; Angel of Mercy, the companion to Angel of Hope; and How Do I Love Thee, three stories about young couples who are inspired by Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s beautiful sonnet. In her novel, Telling Christina Goodbye, McDaniel shows that everything can change in the blink of an eye.PRAISE ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME “An interesting blend of romance, mystery, and problem novel. The characters are captivating and sensitively drawn and the plot is fast paced.”—School Library Journal DON’T DIE, MY LOVE “Touching scenes abound in this crisis novel. . . . Fans of tear-jerker teen romances will enjoy this offering.”—Booklist I’LL BE SEEING YOU “A satisfying story for those who like to take their romance with tears and gutsy characters who know what it means to live beyond the pale of ‘normal.’ ”—School Library Journal SAVING JESSICA “Readers of McDaniel will enjoy; it’s good to read positive stories about teens.”—VOYA SHE DIED TOO YOUNG “McDaniel has a way of getting you to look at the complicated emotions experienced by YAs with major medical problems. . . . Another winner in her One Last Wish series.”—KLIATT STARRY, STARRY NIGHT “The stories are absorbing, the characters are well developed, and the author does not resolve the girls’ dilemmas with pat solutions. . . . This has solid YA appeal.”—School Library Journal TOO YOUNG TO DIE and GOODBYE DOESN’T MEAN FOREVER “These companion novels . . . cast the events of high school into a meaningful perspective and allow for convincing character development. McDaniel’s writing is light and well suited to this refreshing and involving story.”—Publishers Weekly (added from Random House)… (more)

Wednesday, May 22, 10:30am John Rocco presents and signs Super Hair-o and the Barber of Doom

Every super hero gets his powers from somewhere. The young hero of this book, Rocco, thinks his abilities come from his shock of red hair, and the longer it gets, the stronger he becomes. He even has a posse of super friends with wild hair of their own. Our hero is unstoppable--until the day he's dragged to the super evil villain's lair and robbed of his powers. How will he face his friends? Will he ever regain his super hero-ness? A girl who has been watching all along offers the gang a chance to save the day and get their groove back.

Location: Street: 695 E. Colorado Blvd City: Pasadena, Province: California Postal Code: 91101 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Chaperoned by Danny Harris. What’s a Book Blind Date you ask? It’s a chance to meet new people and win fantastic prizes! Danny will be chaperoning this fun event. Here’s how it works: We have a selection of books in four of the major genres we carry: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery and Horror. When you sign up, you select a book from your favorite genre. We take all the names of our participants and randomly match you up by book/genre in teams for game night. Hilarity ensues. The winning team takes home the Grand Prize. And registered contestants get 10% off of your purchases during the event. This event is for all ages, and there is a $5 (cash only) entrance fee. Please contact the store to sign up or for more information.

Location: Street: 2810 Artesia Boulevard City: Redondo Beach, Province: California Postal Code: 90278 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Bruce Buffer (It's Time!)

BRUCE BUFFER has been the official “Voice of the Octagon” for the Ultimate Fighting Championship since 1997. He also manages the career of his brother, boxing announcer Michael Buffer, and has helped parlay Michael's "Let's Get Ready to Rumble®" catchphrase into hundreds of millions in sales revenue from licensed products and ventures. When he’s not traveling with the UFC, he makes his home in Southern California. (added from Random House)… (more)