Cornerstone Books

Join writers and photographers as they share their personal experiences of being touched by war. Frank Schaeffer, parent of a Marine deployed to Iraq, wrote about that experience in Keeping Faith and Faith of Our Sons; he also co-wrote AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military ... (more)Service -- and How It Hurts Our Country. Brian MacQuarrie is a Boston Globe reporter who was embedded in a unit during the Iraqi Invasion. Kim Ponders is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, and was one of the first American women to fly in a combat zone in Desert Storm; she is also the author of two novels. Barry Goldstein, author of Gray Land: Soldiers on War, spent two years photographing and interviewing more than fifty actively serving members of a veteran US Army battalion, including two month-long trips during which he lived and patrolled with the unit. This event is open to all; contributions to Operation Troop Support will be gratefully accepted. Donations can be monetary or non-perishable, non-breakable and non-meltable new items. Please see their website for more specific recommendations at www.troopsupportusa.com . Operation Troop Support is an organization (locally based in Danvers) that sends care packages to troops, supplies military hospitals with comfort items, spearheads holiday gift wrapping and distribution, offers family support groups, and generates public awareness of the issues faced by soldiers and their families. We hope you will join us for this important event, showing support through your presence or through donations.

Tickets $15, $10 for members. "A dynamo of a human being and a captivating speaker, Packer will lecture on the challenges facing directors and actors who wish to bring Shakespeare productions to the stage. For 30 years, the British-born Packer has been the artistic director of Shakespeare & Company, ... (more)which she founded, in Lenox, Massachusetts. One of the country's foremost experts on Shakesapeare and theatre arts, she has been the recipient of more than 18 awards, honors, and fellowships, including the Eliot Norton Award for Continued Excellence in Theatre. She has also published a collection of Shakespeare for children, entitled Tales from Shakespeare Retold by Tina Packer."

Free. Reservations appreciated but not required (978-744-0991x126). "Howard P. Chudacoff, author of Children at Play: An American History, presents the first history of children's play in the United States and considers what it tells us about ourselves. Through expert investigation in primary ... (more)sources, Chudacoff explores the "underground" of play. Dr. Chudacoff is the George L. Littlefield Professor of American History at Brown University ."

"Jenna Blum's debut novel, Those Who Save Us, was published by Harcourt in 2004; four years later, in October 2007, it jumped onto the New York Times paperback bestseller list. Currently Those Who Save Us is #18 and climbing. Jenna, who earned her master's at BU and has taught fiction at ... (more)Boston's Grub Street Writers for a decade, will discuss the writing and grassroots publicity campaign behind her novel."

Panel discussion, Q&A, and book signing.

The most fundamental question in investing is, how do you value that asset? We will go over two popular stock valuation techniques and introduce you to the process we use at Salem Schooner Investment Management. Join Ken for this FREE seminar and get smarter about investing in these tough economic times!

Join illustrator Andy J. Smith for this back-to-school tale. Brainy Buzz Beaker thought nothing could be grosser than cafeteria food. That’s before the school’s lunch lady turned into a mutant blob. Now, Buzz and his best friend Larry must discover a way to stop the Cafeteria Creature. Activity and ... (more)snack provided.

Join us for an a capella evening in the café – no cover!

Hannah Diozzi of the Salem Historical Commission and Julie Rose of Historic Salem present information about their organizations and lead a conversation on the wealth of historical resources and the many fields of historical inquiry available in our region. Join the Salem History Society for this interactive ... (more)discussion.

Join attorney and psychotherapist Kresh as she reviews students’ and parents’ rights within the public education system, and outlines what parents should be aware of in monitoring their child’s needs and the schools response. This presentation and interactive discussion can clarify sometimes confusing ... (more)information and can be extremely valuable in aiding parents who are advocating for their child’s’ needs. Sue-Ellen Kresh is an attorney and clinician with over two decades of combined experience providing a variety of services to children, families and s. She is currently operating a solo legal practice emphasizing family law and mediation, special education and employment-related issues.

Join the Merrimack Rounders for this Open Jam…come play along or just enjoy the music!

At the height of the Vietnam War protests, Judith Nies held “the most interesting job in Washington” as the chief staff assistant to a core group of anti-war congressmen. A graduate of John Hopkins School of Advance International Studies (SAIS) with an impressive international resume, Nies had everything ... (more)she needed to succeed in Washington except for one obvious characteristic: she was the wrong gender.
In The Girl I Left Behind: A Narrative History of the 1960’s and How Women Transformed America, Nies chronicles her struggle to cope with and finally overcome the limited opportunities for women in society and politics. Shocked to find herself the focus of an FBI investigation due to her political activities, Nies traded in her role as a dutiful wife and marginalized employee to become one of a growing number of brave women who carved out a new path toward social reform.

This new Sci-Fi novel with YA appeal introduces us to Jemma, whose independent nature gets her labeled by the Administrative Government of North America as rebellious, and her behavior as inappropriate. Decrying the choices that the government allows her, she is remanded to a facility that will change ... (more)her… or kill her. Join Phoebe Wray for a Reading, Q&A and Book Signing.

From Watergate and the Pentagon Papers to Iran-Contra and Abu Ghraib, journalists have used information from confidential sources to reveal illegal conduct by our government. It is vital to our democracy that we protect the people who are the sources for the exposes that are reported in newspapers, ... (more)magazines and books and broadcast in news programs on television and radio. Please join us as Jonath bano, named “Leading Lawyer in First Amendment Law and Media Law” (2005–2008) by The Best Lawyers in America, leads a discussion on this important Constitutional issue. Jonathan Albano is a Partner at Bingham. This event is co-sponsored by The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the Medial Law Resource Center Institute.

Cornerstone favorite Kristy Kiernan returns with her new novel Matter of Faith, an Indie Bound Notable Pick for September. At age twelve, Marshall Tobias saw his best friend killed by a train. It was then that he began his search for faith—delving into one tradition, then discarding it for another. ... (more)His parents, however, have little time for spiritual contemplation. Their focus has been on his little sister Megan, who suffers from severe food allergies. Now Marshall is home from college with his first real girlfriend, but there is more to Ada than meets the eye—including her beliefs about the evils of medical intervention. What follows is a crisis that tests not only faith, but the limits of family, forgiveness, and our need to believe.

Gloucester author Janet Ruth Young will read from and discuss her novel The Opposite of Music, which tells the story of a fifteen-year old boy who, with his family, will do nearly anything to save his father from a life-threatening depression. The Opposite of Music takes place in the fictional town of ... (more)Hawthorne, Massachusetts, a composite of several North Shore towns. Unlike many books that deal with depression, the novel focuses not on the depressed person but on the illness's effects on the family. The Boston Globe praised the novel as a contribution to the literature of mental illness, calling it the best debut novel of the year. The Opposite of Music has been honored as a PEN New England Discovery Award winner, a Book Sense pick, a Borders Original Voices selection, and an American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults nominee. Janet Ruth Young is a graduate of Beverly High School and Salem State College.

Join Ken Nagy of Salem Schooner Investment Management to take a look at investing in renewable energy and other green technology, and get answers such questions as: Which companies are making money now? Which firms can survive without government subsidies? Who is closest to bringing technology to the ... (more)masses? and Which firms will be hurt by the Green Revolution?

Newbury author Donna Siems retells a Caribbean folktale that has passed along in the oral tradition for generations. Donna is donating proceeds of this book about a donkey who just won’t give up to the children’s program at the Turks & Caicos National Museum, which was heavily damaged by three separate ... (more)hurricanes this year. Join us as Donna reads this story, and stay for a snack and activity. Donna will also be signing books, which make great holiday gifts.

National Book Award winner Julia Glass (The Three Junes) reads from her new novel, a tale of two sisters, the careful Louisa, and charismatic Clem. Their complicated bond draws them together even as they push each other away, as the story explores the limits of what we can do for the people we love, ... (more)and the intricate relationship of sisters.

Join the Merrimack Rounders for this Open Jam…come play along or just enjoy the music!

Cornerstone welcomes author Robillard and one of the funniest books this year: Captain Freedom: A Superhero’s Quest for Truth, Justice, and the Celebrity He So Richly Deserves. A take-no-prisoners send-up of everything we hold, er, sacred—politics, Hollywood, branding, high culture, low culture, ... (more)mass culture, Homeland Security, NPR— skewers the cult of celebrity through the hilarious story of a fallen comic book hero in search of an identity.

Today, 150 authors visit over 40 independent bookstores in New England to spread the literary love. Cornerstone features three picture book authors (Valarie Giogas and In My Backyard, Donna Siem and Where is Simon, Sandy, and Ann Stott and Always) and the author of an hysterical middle-grade mystery ... (more)(Jack D. Farraiolo and The Big Splash). Join us for readings, fun activities, and special Valentine’s Day treats! Authors love kids and independent bookstores, so come share the love!

Join us as nine local authors showcase their works, including fiction, poetry and memoir. Come meet authors Jacqui DeLorenzo, Chava Hudson, Heather Hutsell, Lynn Potoff, Michael Ramseur, Davida Rosenblum, Jason Tavares, Estevan Vega, and Suellen Wedmore.

One museum, two thieves, and the Boston underworld—the story behind the lost Gardner masterpieces and the art detective who swore to get them back…A tale of art and greed, of obsession and loss, The Gardner Heist is as compelling as the stolen masterpieces themselves. This is your front-row ticket ... (more)to Boston’s biggest mystery! Reading and talk followed by Q&A and book signing.

Scotland. 1307. Thirteen-year-old Tormod MacLeod is different. He knows things before they happen. Even his own brother treats him differently, and all Tormod can do is bide his time until he's old enough to leave the village and make something of himself. His chance comes sooner than expected when a ... (more)Templar knight asks him to deliver a secret message. But Tormod's efforts end up endangering both their lives. What follows is a desperate journey to escape the army of King Philippe le Bel of France. If he is to survive, Tormod must learn to harness the powers within. Join this new Scholastic author to hear from this exciting middle-grade debut, compared to Crispin and The Ranger’s Apprentice (Kidliterate).

In the dead of a Michigan winter, pieces of a snowmobile wash up near the crumbling, small town of Starvation Lake—the same snowmobile that went down with Starvation’s legendary hockey coach years earlier. Every small town has its triumphs and disappointments, secrets and festering grudges. In the ... (more)enormously accomplished Starvation Lake, debut novelist and award-winning Chicago bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal Bryan Gruley gives readers a window into the lives of townspeople shocked out of their complacency by a discovery that turns the town, and its history, upside down. Starvation Lake was an Indie Next pick for March ’09. “A wonderfully polished and assured first novel. Many good crime novels appear every month, but few have the depth and poignancy of Starvation Lake, which deserves comparison with Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River.”– Booklist, starred review “A great debut from a major talent.” – New York Times bestselling author, Harlan Coben

A portion of all purchases made between 5-9pm goes to benefit Salem Academy Charter School. Shop then and make your purchase count by supporting a local school!

Come see what the buzz is all about with these celebrated entries in the Young Adult canon of the undead! This follow-up to the popular Generation Dead continues the adventures of Goth girl Phoebe and her undead crush, Tommy. As teens continue to die…sort of…Phoebe’s friend Adam puts his life on ... (more)the line. These “differently biotic” teens must find a way to manage all of the typical slings and arrows of adolescence while being treated as outcasts by those who want to see the “living impaired” disappear. Meet the creator of this spooky, sweet, and funny world, Dan Walters, who joins us for a reading, Q&A, and book signing. Hyperion Book CH (May 12, 2009) 1423109236 Retail $16.99

Six local authors showcase their fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Meet Rich Murphy (The Apple in the Monkey Tree, Family Secret), Heather Hutsell (The Inter-Twinning), Steve Kappotis (Midnight in a Perfect World), Daniel F. McNeill (The Theater of the Impossible), Deahn Berrini (Milkweed) and Judy Copp ... (more)(The Cosmic Power of Healing Energy: A Guide to Awaken Yourself, Others, and Our Planet). Brief readings starting at 1pm, followed by Meet the Author. Books available for sale and autographing.

On April 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy stepped to the podium at the City Club of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio and gave an address titled the "Mindless Menace of Violence." It had been one day since an assassin's bullet killed civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Two months later, Kennedy himself would ... (more)be assassinated. In his examination of this 1968 speech, Martin demonstrates that, as American society has become increasingly violent, Kennedy's words are just as important today. Zachary J. Martin is Adjunct Professor of American History at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island and Adjunct Professor of American History and American Government at Bristol Community College in Fall River, Massachusetts. Hamilton Books (April 28, 2009) 076184449X Retail $25.00

A princess, a spell and a kiss… the timeless and enchanting story of “The Sleeping Beauty”. Following a reading of the story, everyone is welcome to join in the ballet’s celebrated “Garland Waltz” and children will make their very own magic wand like the story’s famous Lilac Fairy. Presented ... (more)by the Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education.

Your Theatre Company performs modern poetic conversation with a flare of burlesque and cabaret tradition. Their repartee is fast and furious, and they have been compared to a naughty poetic Gracie and Burns, or Sonny and Cher! There is never a dull moment in this racy dialogue ranging from comedy (politics?) ... (more)to erotica and including everything in-between. They have performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gallery 55 and the Worthen Café. “The poetry itself is powerful and imaginative, working at the boundaries between the beat and the beat box…” Gareth K. Vile British Review Guide

Come discover what’s in your own backyard as Christopher Klein, author of Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands (Union Park Press, June 2008), shares the little known history of Boston Harbor Islands. Think: pirates, pilgrims, shipwrecked sailors, and prisoners of war! Join us for this free event, ... (more)just in time to inspire your summer activity plans.

Cornerstone favorite Jennifer McMahon (“One of the brightest new stars of literary suspense.” — Los Angeles Times) returns with Dismantled, a gripping thriller about the power of the past. An eclectic group of college friends spend the summer after graduation together in a remote Vermont cabin ... (more)plotting elaborate and sometimes dangerous pranks. When one project spirals horrifically out of control and culminates in the death of one of the friends, the group tries to cover it up and forget the tragic summer all together. Nearly a decade later, one of the group commits suicide unable to let go of what happened that fateful summer, setting off a chain of eerie events that brings that catastrophic summer rushing to the present. Harper (June 16, 2009) 0061689335 Retail $24.99

Thursday's Theatre of Words & Music features three to four established and emerging writers and artists to read/display/perform their work for the public at Cornerstone Books in Salem, MA on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm. An open mike will be held following featured writers/artists--artists ... (more)are chosen by first-come-first-serve. Featured writer for June: Kim Aubrey is a Bermudian writer who lives in Toronto and holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College. Her stories and essays have appeared in Best Canadian Stories, North Dakota Quarterly, poem memoir story, upstreet, Event, the Writer’s Chronicle, The Globe and Mail, and The Berkshire Review. One story was nominated for a Pushcart prize, another for the Journey Prize. Kim teaches creativity workshops, is an editor for Red Claw Press, and the director of the Bermuda Writing Conference, a week-long retreat in Bermuda for writers and other artists. Kim has recently completed a memoir, The Girl in the Blue Leotard.

The Parlor and Cornerstone Books invite you to readings and conversation with two up-and-coming authors now celebrating the releases of their first books. Following the authors’ readings, The Parlor's Jennifer Pieroni will moderate a question and answer session with the audience to learn more about ... (more)the authors' influences, their writing lives, and their advice for emerging writers. FREE About the Authors: Paul Yoon was born in New York City. His fiction has appeared in One Story, Ploughshares, The Best American Short Stories, The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, and elsewhere. Once the Shore, published by Sarabande Books in April 2009, is his first book. Retail $15.95 ISBN 1932511709 Laura van den Berg was raised in Florida and earned her MFA at Emerson College. She is the recipient of scholarships from the Bread Loaf and Sewanee Writers' Conferences, the 2009 Julia Peterkin Award, and the 2009-2010 Emerging Writer Lectureship at Gettysburg College. Her fiction has or will soon appear in One Story, Boston Review, Epoch, American Short Fiction, StoryQuarterly, Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008, Best New American Voices 2010, and The Pushcart Prize XXIV: Best of the Small Presses, among other publications. The winner of the Dzanc Prize, Laura’s first collection of stories, What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us, will be published by Dzanc Books in October. Retail $16.95 ISBN 0976717778. To learn more about Laura, please visit www.lauravandenberg.com.

From the bestselling author of Black Mass comes the true-life story of a violent attack by the Boston police on one of their own, their attempts at a cover-up, and the repercussions on the lives of those involved. Former Boston Globe investigative reporter Lehr brings to life this tale of police brutality, ... (more)racial tension and the culture of lying in the Boston Police Department. Reading followed by Q&A and book signing. ISBN 9780061894022, Harper Collins, June 2009

Salem Sound has been said to be one of the most treacherous for mariners to navigate. In the age of cell phones, GPS and the like, many feel that the description no longer applies. Sea kayakers take a different approach. We don’t eschew the electronics, but we understand the importance of self-sufficiency ... (more)when those electronics fail. Come to our workshop on Navigating Salem Sound as we delve into the basics of navigation, ocean awareness, reading nautical charts and sea states. You’ll leave this workshop equipped with the basic navigation skills needed to safely enjoy not only Salem Sound, but wherever your water travels might take you. The workshop will be run from the perspective of those operating human powered craft. Hosted by Gillian and Kevin Beckwith of Rock, Paddle, Surf.

Whether you’re a rookie or an old-timer, take a time out and come on out to meet Christopher Klein, author of The Die-Hard Sports Fan’s Guide to Boston. Klein will sign books and talk about Boston’s legendary sports history, offer insider’s tips to guide you through Beantown’s booming sports ... (more)scene, and provide some lesser-known facts that’ll test the knowledge of even the most die-hard fan. This event is open to the public—fair weather fans included! ISBN 9781934598047, Union Park Press, June 2009

Thursday's Theatre of Words & Music features three to four established and emerging writers and artists to read/display/perform their work for the public at Cornerstone Books in Salem, MA on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm. An open mike will be held following featured writers/artists--artists ... (more)are chosen by first-come-first-serve.

Forced to flee the brutal pogroms of Europe, Jewish immigrants sought refuge in the beauty of Boston’s North Shore. Drawing on their artisan skills, many found work in the tanneries of Peabody and the shoe factories of Lynn, while other enterprising Jews established their own businesses in Salem and ... (more)Beverly—from butcher shops and groceries to newspapers. Alongside fellow members of the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore, Alan Pierce has carefully assembled a collection of personal histories from generations of Jewish families. With entrepreneurial spirit, a little determination and plenty of faith, the North Shore’s storied Jewish communities have etched enduring marks on its streets and in its synagogues. ISBN 9781596296589, The History Press, June 2009

Topping local and national bestseller lists, this is THE book of the summer, especially in Salem! Katherine Howe takes her PhD in American Studies to craft this tale of a grad student unraveling family secrets in Salem and Marblehead. Finding a key and a scrap of paper reading only “Deliverance Dane ... (more)while readying her grandmother’s house for sale, Connie Goodwin begins a search for answers that leads her toward a mysterious book and important revelations about her family and the Salem witch trials. Reading followed by Q&A and book signing. ISBN 9781401340902, Hyperion Voice, June 2009

Join us as the Boston Ballet tells the tale of a classic ballet (TBA) and leads a themed activity. This event was a smash hit in June, so don’t miss this very special story time!

Historian and acclaimed writer Mary Malloy presents her first novel, a historical mystery. In the tradition of A.S. Byatt’s Possession, this forensic thriller follows historian Lizzie Manning to Britain where, in the course of her research, she uncovers three interrelated mysteries and startling things ... (more)about her own family’s history, and embarks on a search for a Crusader’s disembodied heart. Mary Malloy is the author of four maritime history books, including the award-winning Devil on the Deep Blue Sea: The Notorious Career of Samuel Hill of Boston. She has a Ph.D. from Brown University and is a professor of maritime history at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Mass., and of museum studies at Harvard University. (Leapfrog Press; April 15, 2009; $15.95; 978-0-9815148-5-7).

This group regularly brings down the house with their collection of pop, rock and vocal standards. Join us for this free show – fun for the whole family!

Most of us some time in our lives, come in to some money. Whether it's $25,000 or $1 million we will discuss how to make it work for you. Research shows an astounding number of people who win the lottery are broke within 5 years. We will go over the mistakes these investors make and show you how to avoid ... (more)them.

In Seen the Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Gettysburg (Simon & Schuster; June 30, 2009, ISBN 978-1416589655, $25.00), John Hough, Jr., deftly explores the moral complexity of the American Civil War through the story of two brothers fighting for the Union cause. Through the eyes of a panoply of masterfully-drawn, ... (more)unforgettable characters—including Rebel soldiers, dispossessed Southerners, the denizens of Martha’s Vineyard and Gettysburg, and even free black men and women living in hope and fear—Hough creates an authentic and enthralling story of the terrible war that helped preserve and define the American nation. John Hough, Jr., grew up in Falmouth, Massachusetts and now lives on Martha’s Vineyard. He is the author of four previous novels, including The Last Summer, and three works of nonfiction.

Prolific author and Gloucester resident Collins brings her new novel Hidden Voices, The Orphan Musicians of Venice (Candlewick Press, May 2009, ISBN 978-0763639174, $17.99) to Cornerstone Books. This YA/Fiction crossover tells the story of the longing and search for love that motivates three girls living ... (more)in the Ospedale della Pietà, an orphanage renowned for its extraordinary musical program. et in the early 1700s in the heart of Venice, this remarkable novel deftly weaves the history of Antonio Vivaldi’s early musical career into the lives of three young women who, under the composer’s tutelage and care, find expression, sustenance, and passion. A fine artist and illustrator as well as an author, Lowery Collins is known for her children’s picture books as well as her novels.

Here's a chance to test your wits and win one of 60 fabulous prizes nationwide! Cleopatra’s Daughter (Random House, September 2009, ISBN 978-0307409126, $25.00), a gripping historical novel set in Imperial Rome by bestselling author Michelle Moran, is available September 15th. On this day, cryptic ... (more)clues will be posted on www.michellemoran.com, leading to one of sixty independent bookstores scattered across twenty-seven states, including Cornerstone Books! Decode the clue to find a particular book, and claim the red and gold "Literary Archaeologist" ribbon hidden within. Take the ribbon to the counter to claim the prize, and the glory that comes with being the best-read and most cunning treasure-hunter in your region! Win a signed copy of Cleopatra’s Daughter, Cleopatra earrings, and an authentic Roman artifact – there’s only one prize per store, so act fast!

If you missed Katherine at Cornerstone Books, don’t miss her again! The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (Voice, June 2009, ISBN 978-1401340902, $25.99) is the hot book of the season, and local author Hall brings the witch trials to life in a whole new way! Scholars of the Salem witch trials have long ... (more)asked why the accusers chose to ruin so many lives, but Howe asks, what if the women really were witches? What if the magic was real?

This weekend, Salem celebrates the 200th birthday of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, artist, journalist, travel writer, wife of Nathanial Hawthorne, and one of the iconic Peabody sisters! Megan Marshall’s Pulitzer Prize finalist and Massachusetts Book Award-winner, The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited ... (more)American Romanticism (Mariner Books, May 2006, ISBN 978-0618711697, $16.95), is considered a definitive history of the captivating Peabody women. Megan will read passages from her book as well as from Sophia Peabody Hawthorne's letters and journals and take questions from audience members about the youngest of the Peabody sisters, the only one of the three born in Salem.

Join us for this fun night of free music, with popular acapella groups Fretless and None of the Above!

“Meet the Author Afternoon”: Brunonia Barry and The Lace Reader at the Wyndham Andover Join Salem’s own New York Times Bestselling Author Brunonia Barry at this special event to benefit Patient Advocacy Training and Health Services (PATHS). Hear Brunonia read from and talk about The Lace Reader ... (more)(Harper Paperbacks, August 2009, ISBN 978-0061624773, $14.99) and take questions, see a demonstration of bobbin lace making, and enjoy a fabulous dessert buffet featuring pumpkin cheese cake, warm apple crisp, cranberry pecan torte, warm cider, coffee and tea. This event will be held at the Wyndham Andover Hotel, 123 Old RoverRoad, Andover. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased by 9/15.For reservations contact Donna Wagner at author@patientpaths.org or 978-838-0290.

Thursday's Theatre of Words & Music features three to four established and emerging writers and artists to read/display/perform their work for the public at Cornerstone Books in Salem, MA on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm. An open mike will be held following featured writers/artists--artists ... (more)are chosen by first-come-first-serve.

Local authors are featured in this “book fair” formatted event. Meet the authors of an eclectic mix of memoir and fiction: Angela Heartsong, Kenneth Tingle, Dan Graffeo, Allen Farnham, Christopher Doyle, Eileen McGrath and Roxanne C. Michaud.

The Blue is for Nightmare series that put a spell on over half a million readers gets a prequel – in graphic novel form! Black is for Beginnings (Flux, September 2009, ISBN 978-0738714387, $9.95) provides the backstory for Stacey and Jacob. Join us for this release party, meet author Laurie Stolarz, ... (more)and win cool prizes!

Council on Aging Book Release Party – Personal Perspectives of a Changing Salem Volume II The initial volume of the Council on Aging Writer’s Group was a huge success, and they’ve followed up with this new book. The new volume is bigger than the first volume and has many more photographs, antique ... (more)postcards and two special sections, World War II and Remembering Salemites. Please join the authors for refreshments and book signing at this Book Release Celebration!

Join author and major Halloween fan Chris Kullstroem to get the low-down on how to make this the most fun Halloween ever! Discover all-ages games based on monster movies and get tips on decorations, crafts, trips and more games and seasonal activities! Games, Q&A and book signing.

Though located on Massachusetts’ scenic North Shore, Salem is often remembered for its less than picturesque history. The “Witch City,” as it is internationally known, is home to numerous landmarks dedicated to the notorious trials of 1692. Of these, the Witch House is perhaps most significant; ... (more)this former residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who ordered the execution of twenty men and women, is the town’s only true historic tie to the trials. It was here that Corwin examined the unfortunate accused. There is, however, more to this ancient building than its most famous occupant. From wars and death to prosperity and progress, local author and respected historian John Goff searches beneath its beams and studs to find stories of those who called this place home.

The Good Thief (Dial Press Trade Paperback, August 2009, ISBN 978-0385337465, $15.00), a New York Times Notable Book of the Year along with many other honors, is now out in paperback! Join Salem’s own Hannah Tinti as she reads from an adventurous tale that has been compared to the work of Charles Dickins ... (more)and Robert Louis Stevenson (pretty heady stuff!). Orphan Ren is adopted by a con-artist, and struggles, in Colonial New England, to find the truth about his past. The Boston Globe says “Reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.”!

This YA crossover gothic pits twin sisters against one another as they struggle with the parts they play in an ancient prophecy that hastens Armageddon. Join Michelle to learn more about the book, and meet her 17 year-old son Kenneth, who wrote and performed the musical score for the book trailer. The ... (more)Prophecy of the Sisters (Little, Brown Young Readers, August 2009, ISBN 9780316027427, $17.99) is the first book of a trilogy and will leave you excitedly awaiting the second book!

Blue Ridge Mountain musician LaFleur is back in town and makes a special return visit to Cornerstone for a cover-free show! With a rich tenor voice and a mastery of the guitar, dobro, mandolin, and dulcimer, LaFleur has been performing his unique mixture of folk, Appalachian, blues, and bluegrass for ... (more)over 20 years, and has opened for such legends as Emmylou Harris and Tom Rush. Superb musicianship and an artful array of thoughtful and sometimes hilarious songs mixed with dynamic stage presence and dry wit keep LaFleur in high demand at concerts and festivals. Don’t miss this show!

Join us as we welcome art and artist back to Cornerstone for the first time all year! Beverly artist David Provost displays oil on canvas nudes along with other bright and bold representations. All are welcome!

Join us and listen to the ghostly legend of Giselle, a peasant girl who saves the life of her true love from beyond the grave! Following the reading we will view costumes and props from Boston Ballet's production of Giselle, learn a peasant harvest dance and conclude the hour with a fun art activity. ... (more)Come and let Giselle's story warm your heart! Note: This special event replaces Cornerstone’s regular story time, and starts ½ hour later

Join author Roxie Zwicker (Haunted Pubs of New England) as she invites the curious into some of the most fascinating burial grounds of New England in "Haunted Cemeteries of New England: Stories, Stones, and Superstitions. Full of bone-chilling, mystical, and ghostly stories, the book offers a glimpse ... (more)into the region's history and haunted past. Get ready to be spooked!

Join Cornerstone on the Essex Street Mall for the Bizarre Bazaar, and meet author Brunonia Barry, who will be signing her bestselling book, The Lace Reader. This novel tells the haunting story of Towner Whitney, who comes from a line of women who can see the future in a piece of lace. Towner must unravel ... (more)her family’s past as she strives to find her missing aunt, and must overcome her own history, which prevents her from embracing her future.

Local author Brunonia Barry reads from her bestselling (and set in Salem!) novel, The Lace Reader, which has been optioned for a thrilling Hollywood movie! Reading, followed by Q&A and book signing. ”Suspenseful and literary… surprisingly gritty for having ‘lace’ in the title…” New York Magazine ... (more)”Gripping. . .a marvelously bizarre cast of characters (living and dead) in a uniquely colorful town.” Washington Post Book World ”The Lace Reader is a page-turner, and the ending is almost as shocking as the film ‘The Sixth Sense.’” Salem Gazette

Join Jean and Jennifer as they read On a Dark, Dark Night (Pleasant St. Press, September 2009, ISBN 978-1935025009, $16.95), a just-spooky-enough story about strange sounds in the night. Come in costume and stay for a craft and Halloween treats!

Cornerstone’s first ever young adult Halloween party features ghoulishly good, freakishly famous authors Dan Waters, Tonya Hurley, and Megan Kelley Hall. Come hear their tales of witchery, the undead, and the terminally adolescent! Come in costume and win prizes! Contests, giveaways and treats – ... (more)oh my! All teens invited, but only the coolest of adults should dare enter. Dan Waters is the author of Generation Dead (Hyperion Book CH, April 2009, ISBN 978-1423109228, $8.99) and its sequel, Kiss of Life (Hyperion Book CH, May 2009, ISBN 978-1423109235, $16.99), the story of “living impaired” teens at Oakdale High. Tonya Hurley is the author of Ghostgirl (Little, Brown Young Readers, August 2008, ISBN 978-0316113571, $17.99) and its sequel, Ghostgirl: Homecoming (Little, Brown Young Readers, July 2009, ISBN 978-0316113595, $17.99), featuring Charlotte Usher, the girl who was just dyyyying to be popular! Check out the amazing 6’ Ghostgirl cake on an October episode of Food Network’s Ace of Cakes! Megan Kelley Hall is the author of Sisters of Misery (Kensington, August 2008, ISBN 978-0758226792, $9.95) and its sequel The Lost Sister (Kensington, August 2009, ISBN 978-0758226808, $9.95) set in the nearby fictional town of Hawthorne, MA, where the evil of the Salem witch trials has not completely disappeared.

Thursday's Theatre of Words & Music features established and emerging writers and artists to read/display/perform their work for the public at Cornerstone Books in Salem, MA on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm. An open mike will be held following featured writers/artists--artists are chosen ... (more)by first-come-first-serve. October’s featured artists, our local Julie and Julia: Julia Glass is the author of Three Junes, which won the National Book Award for Fiction, and the national bestsellers The Whole World Over, and I See You Everywhere. For all three of her books, she was awarded the 2009 Sense of Place Award. She has held fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Her short fiction has won several prizes, including the Tobias Wolff Award and the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society Medal for Best Novella; her essays have appeared in numerous anthologies. Julie Dougherty has been singing since the mid-sixties, performing folk music at coffeehouses in the Boston area such as the Unicorn Coffeehouse and the King’s Rook (where they were lucky enough to open up several times for the Kingston Trio in the 70’s). Through the years, Julie has travelled much of the country singing Irish music, original folk-rock music, country-rock music and has made several trips to Nashville, where she placed two original songs with two major publishing firms. Julie also hosted a songwriting cable TV show, called Songwriters In The Round for three years which featured many fine songwriters including Noel Paul Stookey, Chris Smither, and Al Kooper. She has collaborated and performed with the funk band the Boston Horns and also explored some jazz and blues combinations. Julie is a fan of all kinds of music and loves singing in as many styles as she can. Her latest CD is available for purchase.

Topping local and national bestseller lists, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (Voice, June 2009, ISBN 978-1401340902, $25.99) is the hot book of the season! Local author Howe brings the witch trials to life in a whole new way in the tale of a grad student unraveling family secrets in Salem and Marblehead. ... (more)Finding a key and a scrap of paper reading only “Deliverance Dane while readying her grandmother’s house for sale, Connie Goodwin begins a search for answers that leads her toward a mysterious book and important revelations about her family and the Salem witch trials. Meet Katherine Howe at the house of Judge Jonathan Corwin, local magistrate serving as judge during the witch trials of 1692, 310 ½ Essex Street, Salem, MA, 978-744-8815.

The Heretic’s Daughter (Pan Books, September 2009, ISBN 978-0330456302, $13.99) is a beautifully written novel that tells the story of Kent’s ancestor Martha Carrier, who was hung as a witch in Salem. Set in Andover and Salem and based on true fact and family lore, The Heretic’s Daughter is a novel ... (more)as much about the strength of family and the complex relationship between mothers and daughters as it is an account of the Salem witchcraft trials. This thoroughly researched book is an excellent portrait of Puritan life, and puts a truly human face on one of American history’s most shameful episodes. Reading and talk followed by Q&A and book signing.

Come in costume as your favorite alternative life form – or your favorite geek, whether wizard, elf, orc, or Bill Gates, and join this celebration of the intersection of fantasy and so-called “real life”. In FantasyFreaks and Gaming Geeks (The Lyons Press, September 2009, ISBN 978-1599214801, $24.95), ... (more)Gilsdorf examines the desire to escape, and the desire to belong. Reading and book signing, plus a prize for best costume! “This book—part memoir and part insider’s guide—is both poignant and hilarious, baffling and informative, disturbing and entertaining. It is a must read for anyone whose idea of a good night involves dragons, spaceships, or one-eyed monsters dripping with slime.”—Jake Halpern, NPR Commentator and author of Fame Junkies

Frank Schaeffer has a problem with fundamentalist Christians. But he also has a problem with the New Atheists. And despite the obvious differences in their ideology, it’s the same problem: mindsets that leave no room for questions, and even less for tolerance. He’d even argue that atheism has become ... (more)a religion in itself. In Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don’t Like Religion (or Atheism) (DeCapo Press, October 2009, ISBN 9780306818547, $25), Schaeffer offers a middle ground for those who find right-wing evangelists as distasteful as the uber-liberal lefties who mock them. As Schaeffer explains, there are a whole bunch of people out there—Republican and Democrat—who are disgusted with the polarizing forces that exist in our nation, and who believe (or at least try to believe) in God. Frank Schaeffer is the author of the New York Times bestseller Keeping Faith and, most recently, the memoir Crazy for God. He has appeared on NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. A prolific blogger for the Huffington Post, he and his wife, Genie, live in Massachusetts and have three children.

In Sexism in America: Alive, Well and Ruining Our Future (Lawrence Hill Books, September 2009, ISBN 9781556527760, $24.95), renowned feminist author Barbara J. Berg debunks the many myths about how far women have come and the pervasive belief that ours is a postfeminist society. Combining authoritative ... (more)research and compelling storytelling, Berg traces the assault on women’s status from the 1950s—when Newsweek declared “for the American girl, books and babies don’t mix”—to the present, exploring the deception about women’s progress and contextualizing our current situation. All women are hurt by a society lauding their attributes in speeches while scorning them in public policy and popular culture, and the legacy of the women’s movement is being short-circuited in every aspect of their lives. Passionate, extensively documented, humorous, and persuasive, Sexism in America is simultaneously enlightening, frightening, and revitalizing. Berg, an ardent optimist, helps women understand where they are and why and how they can move beyond the marginalizing strategies. It is exactly the right book at exactly the right time.

Boston Globe reporter Brian MacQuarrie tells the story of Bob Curley, father of murdered 10-year-old Jeffrey Curley, killed in 1997 in Cambridge, MA. The murder sparked debate about reinstatement of the death penalty, of which Bob Curley was an outspoken proponent. In The Ride: A Shocking Murder and ... (more)a Bereaved Father's Journey from Rage to Redemption (DeCapo Press, June 2009, ISBN 9780306816260, $26) MacQuarrie vividly describes Curley’s struggle with grief, alcoholism and vengeance, family conflict and others’ political agendas, from which Curley emerges a staunch opponent of capital punishment, completely reversing his earlier position. Join both men to learn more about this fascinating true-crime story and a father’s healing journey.

In this very user-friendly series of books (The Lateral Approach to Creating Success, The Lateral Approach to Managing Projects, and The Lateral Approach to Taking Charge), authors Ho-Wing Sit and Ling Bundgaard teach business strategy in the form of simple short stories. The Lateral Approach Series ... (more)is about powerful management principles that produce results and bring out the best in people. During her 31-year tenure at Intel Corporation, Ling Bundgaard managed many large projects. As General Manager, she started up the first manufacturing plant in Shanghai, China, establishing the first major corporate commitment from Intel inside China. Ms Bundgaard also managed several large cross-cultural projects in other countries including the Philippines and Denmark. Ho-Wing Sit has been pursuing, refining, and applying powerful and effective management principles and techniques for over 30 years. He has an MBA from MIT, and as an inventor has been awarded four patents covering a wide range of technical subject matter. The Lateral Approach to Creating Success, ISBN 9780982468920, September 2009, Book Hub, $14.95; The Lateral Approach to Managing Projects, ISBN 9780982468913, September 2009, Book Hub, $14.95; The Lateral Approach to Taking Charge, ISBN 9780982468951, October 2009, Book Hub, $14.95

Tonight’s program will feature J.S. Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello, as well as more recent works for solo cello, including Richard Wernick’s Suite #1. Simon Linn-Gerstein graduated with a degree in music from Haverford College, where he studied cello with Michal Schmidt. Salem residents may recognize ... (more)Simon from his performances on Essex Street and at the Salem Farmers’ Market; he has also performed at a variety of classical music venues. Simon has performed in masterclasses with Matt Haimovitz, David Finckel (of the Emerson String Quartet), and the Colorado, Modigliani, and Momenta String Quartets, and has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Richard Wernick. Simon lives in Salem and studies with Terry King at the Longy School of Music. Free.

In the latest addition to the Akashic Noir series, Boston Noir features atmospheric crime stories from Russ Aborn, Dana Cameron, Lynne Heitman, Stewart O’Nan and Dennis Lehane (who also edits the collection), set in various Beantown neighborhoods. Meet the featured authors at this reading, Q&A and ... (more)book signing.

Come and listen to The Nutcracker, a story about a young girl named Clara who is given a special gift and goes on a magical adventure. Following the reading we will view costumes and props from Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, learn a festive dance and conclude the hour with a fun art ... (more)activity. The Nutcracker is a holiday classic, not to be missed! All are welcome; activities best suited for 2-7 year-olds.

We have had so much interest in this book from people who were unable to make David’s event at the store last summer, and so David has kindly agreed to come speak again. You can love this book because it is like the love child of Indiana Jones and The DaVinci Code, or you can love this book because ... (more)of its fascinating and meticulous research into local Templar history (yes! The Knights were here!), but you will love this book! Even the History Channel couldn’t resist; did you see David in their documentary “The Holy Grail in America”? Don’t despair because you’ve already read The Lost Symbol and you need a fix…this is it!

Join Buyers from Cornerstone Books to hear about the hottest books to give as gifts this holiday season. You’ll find a book for everyone on your list! After the presentation, enjoy free individual gift consultations and complementary hot cider and premium level gift-wrapping services. Remember, a book ... (more)is a gift that can be opened again and again. Don’t miss out on this great night of shopping advice and good cheer!