The Book Stall at Chestnut Court

Santa is coming to the Bookloft for the 1st time. He will be here Sunday December 14th and will host a very special reading of "The Polar Express" at 2:45pm by the fireplace for the kids. You can meet personally with Santa and take pictures. So come all for a perfect afternoon with Santa

This is a luncheon and discussion.

"HEATHER SUMMERHAYES CARIOU, a native Canadian and former actress, signs Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir, the story of her relationship with her sister, who died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 26."

---from bookstall.booksense.com

"SCOTT SIMON, Chicago native and host of NPR’s “Weekend Edition,” signs his second novel, Windy City, a detailed and fascinating portrait of Chicago politics that begins with the sudden death of the mayor and quickly shifts focus to the Indian vice-mayor."

---from bookstall.booksense.com

Luncheon at Prairie Grass with BILL KURTIS, media personality and owner of the Tall Grass Beef Company in Kansas, where he grew up. Kurtis presents his new book, The Prairie Table Cookbook, telling the story of today’s beef revolution in historical and modern recipes. Lunch buffet features Tall Grass ... (more)beef dishes created by Chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris. For reservations ($35), call 847 205-4433.

BRUCE BOUCHER, curator of European decorative arts and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago, speaks about his book, Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time, his comprehensive handbook exploring the career of the architect who transformed the building design and construction of the Western world.

GARY MOORE, Bourbonnais executive, motivational speaker, and musician, talks about Playing with the Enemy, the fascinating story of his father, whose early promise as a great baseball catcher was derailed by World War II and—not least—an assignment guarding German POWs, whom he taught to play baseball.

JULIE KLAM talks about Please Excuse My Daughter, her memoir describing her indulged youth (her mother wrote excuse notes for her school absences by explaining the two had gone shopping at Bloomingdale’s) and her late arrival into responsible adulthood

LIBBY FISCHER HELLMAN, Chicago writer, and CARA BLACK, San Francisco-based mystery author, present their newest books. Hellman’s is Easy Innocence, a dark, disturbing tale of high school girls and what they do when they are not adequately supervised. Black’s latest, Murder in the Rue de Paradis, ... (more)is her eighth Aimée Leduc mystery set in Paris.

JOHN FLANAGAN, author of the fantastic Ranger’s Apprentice series, will be here to talk and sign books, including his new release, Ranger’s Apprentice: Battle for Skandia.

BARBARA GOLDBERG, award-winning poet and poetry and speechwriting teacher at Georgetown University, reads from her new collection, The Royal Baker’s Daughter, in which cooking stands as a metaphor for devotion to the fruits of the earth and to the creation of human hopes.

Women Writers Series - MARY DORIA RUSSELL, author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated A Thread of Grace, speaks about Dreamers of the Day, her historical novel featuring a heroine who illuminates the long, rich history of the Middle East.

Beer and Wine Pairing SAM CALAGIONE, a “rock star of the craft beer world,” and MARNIE OLD, a master sommelier, talk about He Said Beer, She Said Wine, their illustrated book giving in-depth instruction on how to successfully pair both beer and wine with a wide variety of foods.

NANCY RIPS, an Omaha bookseller and radio book review host, signs her new book, Seder Stories: Passover Thoughts on Food, Family, and Freedom, with memories of childhood Seders from 101 Jewish people.

DEBORAH FINLEY speaks about What Your Future Holds and What You Can Do to Change It, combining her tragic real life experiences with biblical guidance that can give life new meaning.

Come meet New York literary agent MICHELE RUBIN, Senior Agent at Writers House, one of the largest literary agencies in the world. Hear Ms. Rubin describe her work and the agency’s history and clients, including National Book Award and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winners. If you have a book in your head ... (more)or a manuscript in your hand, come to talk to Michele Rubin.

JAMIE GILSON, one of our favorite children’s authors, reads from and signs her latest chapter book, Chess! I Love It I Love It I Love It!.

BOB VORWALD, executive producer of WGN Sports, signs Cubs Forever: Memories from the Men Who Lived Them, celebrating 60 years of broadcasting triumphs—and including a special DVD with interviews with key Cubs players and broadcasters.

SUSAN BENJAMIN and STUART COHEN speak about their new book, Great Houses of Chicago, the first authoritative study of Chicago’s grand city houses, with 350 duotone photographs, drawings, and floor plans. No reservations needed.

ALEXANDER LOBRANO, Gourmet magazine’s European correspondent, speaks about Hungry for Paris: The Ultimate Guide to the City’s 101 Best Restaurants.

POETRY READING featuring local members of the Illinois State Poetry Society.

SHAKUNTALA RAJAGOPAL, an Algonquin resident and native of Kerala, South India, signs her novel, Radha, the story of two medical students—Radha, a young girl raised in strict Hindu traditions, and a young Christian boy, Danny, who meet and fall in love.

SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL, senior adviser to President Bill Clinton (and currently to Sen. Clinton), speaks about his two new books, The Strange Death of Republican America, an exploration of what he believes is the ongoing collapse of Republicanism, and The Rise of the Counter-Establishment: From Conservative ... (more)Ideology to Political Power, new in paperback.

DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK, bestselling author and South Carolina native, signs her newest book, Bulls Island, described by the author as a story with “a cast of power-crazed liars who all get nailed.”

ROBERT ALEXANDER, author of the bestseller The Kitchen Boy, speaks about his latest work of historical fiction, The Romanov Bride, the story of the beautiful and ill-fated grand duchess, who give up everything, and the peasant who determines her fate.

ROBERT ALEXANDER, author of the bestseller The Kitchen Boy, speaks about his latest work of historical fiction, The Romanov Bride, the story of the beautiful and ill-fated grand duchess, who give up everything, and the peasant who determines her fate.

Join us for Tea at the Women’s Exchange when SUSAN McCARTHY speaks about her book, The Value of Money.

JOHN McEVOY, Evanston resident and author, signs Close Call, his third horse-racing mystery featuring a cast of offbeat characters and a climax as exciting as a Derby photo finish.

JAMES Q. WILSON speaks about Understanding America: The Anatomy of an Exceptional Nation, in which the country's top scholars explore America's quintessential values, institutions, and challenges.

STEVE ALTEN signs The Shell Game, a thriller set in 2012 when the U.S. government plots to explode a nuclear bomb in a U.S. city and blame Iran.

Steve Goodman will be in the store to discuss his book COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TOGETHER: IT TAKES A FAMILY

DAN COUGHLIN, management consultant and author, speaks about his book, Accelerate: 20 Practical Lessons to Boost Business Momentum.

PATRICK CARMAN, author of the Atherton and Land of Elyon series, will give a presentation and sign his new book in the Atherton series, Rivers of Fire.

MINDY WEISS, the Los Angeles-based lifestyle expert and wedding planner to the stars, talks about The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day. Call us for more information.

KEVIN PHILIPS, writer and commentator, speaks about his new book, Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago-based biographer, speaks about Clinton in Exile, the story of Bill Clinton’s post-Presidency.

For ticket prices and more information about the “Honor Thy Mother Luncheon,” call, 847-869-7323.

Bestselling author LISA SEE will be the guest speaker at a “Honor Thy Mother Luncheon” benefiting Literature for All of Us on Saturday, May 3, at 11:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel at Old Orchard, ... (more)9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The Book Stall will be on hand with Ms. See’s critically acclaimed novels Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love, both of which explore the bonds of female friendship, the power of words, and the desire all women have to be heard. Literature for All of Us is a nationally recognized, award-winning organization based in Chicago that brings the rewards of reading and writing through book group discussions to teen mothers and other young people in underserved neighborhoods. The organization seeks to build communities of readers, poets, and critical thinkers.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago journalist and biographer, speaks about her highly anticipated new book, Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House, a fascinating and textured post-presidential biography of one of the most intriguing and controversial figures of our time.

CAROL FELSENTHAL, Chicago journalist and biographer, speaks about her highly anticipated new book, Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House, a fascinating and textured post-presidential biography of one of the most intriguing and controversial figures of our time.

HOWARD FINEMAN, Newsweek magazine’s senior Washington correspondent and columnist, speaks about The Thirteen American Arguments, his book that shows that every debate, from our nation’s founding to the present day, is rooted in one of thirteen arguments that—thankfully—defy resolution.

LEIF ENGER, author of the bestseller and Book Stall favorite Peace Like a River, signs his new novel, So Young, Brave, and Handsome about an aging train robber on a quest to seek forgiveness from the wife he abandoned, and the failed writer who goes with him.

ELIZABETH BERG, bestselling and popular Chicago author of the favorite Dream When You’re Feeling Blue, speaks about her new book, The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted—and Other Small Acts of Liberation, a collection of (mostly) uplifting stories exploring the everyday challenges that women face.

NANCY HORAN speaks about Loving Frank, her historical novel that tells the story of the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney.

For more information: http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/lovin...

MARJORIE PRICE, who left Chicago for France in the 1960s to become an artist, tells the story of her memoir A Gift from Brittany, the story of her liberating sojourn in Breton and a friendship that transformed her life.

Benefit at Kendall College - PATRICIA WELLS, bestselling cookbook author, and her husband,WALTER WELLS, former executive editor of The International Herald Tribune, appear at a benefit to speak about We’ve Always Had Paris…and Provence: A Scrapbook of Our Life in France, their memoir of more than ... (more)25 years in the country. Tickets, which support three Kendall College scholarships, are $100 and include one book. Reservations to be made through Kendall College (more information to come).

JERRY JACOVER, local author, speaks about and signs Merkle's Curse, the story of the Cubs' pennant victory in 1908 -- 100 years ago!

MARY TILLMAN, mother of the Army Ranger and former NFL star Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, speaks about her book, Boots on the Ground by Dusk, the story of her son’s remarkable life and her family’s quest to find out the truth about his untimely death.

PATRICIA WELLS and WALTER WELLS speak about their memoir We’ve Always Had Paris…and Provence (see also event of May 8)

GAIL CARSON LEVINE, author of the Newbery Honor Book Ella Enchanted, speaks about her new novel for young adults, Ever, the story of a girl confronted with a terrible destiny.

KENAN HEISE, Chicago Tribune journalist, speaks about his book Chicago Afternoons with Leon, his book chronicling the life and career of Leon Despres, the legendary Chicago Fifth Ward alderman.

TAMMY LECHNER, photojournalist and lifelong Cubs fan, signs Chicago Cubs: Our Team, Our Dream—a Cubs Fan’s Journey into Baseball’s Greatest Romance, her photo documentary highlighting 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

From 2 'til 4 p.m. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CHICAGO presents its new cookbook, Peeling the Wild Onion: A Collection of Chicago Culinary Culture.

AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL, children’s author, and TOM LICHTENHELD, author/illustrator will present and sign their new collaboration, It's Not Fair.

DAVID PLOWDEN, famous photographer and North Shore resident, speaks about Vanishing Point: Fifty Years of Photography, documenting a disappearing landscape of industry, small towns, wonderful devices, and noble structures.

MARCUS LUTTRELL, a Navy SEAL who served in Afghanistan, speaks about his book, Lone Survivor, the story of a Taliban attack on his four-man SEAL team that left his comrades dead and him in the hands of other Afghanis who saved his life.

JASON SEIDEN, a Highland Park resident and professional development expert, speaks about How to Self-Destruct: Making the Least of What’s Left of Your Career.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, speaks about her new book, Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe (and What You Need to Know to End the Madness).

WILLIAM BERNSTEIN speaks about his book, A Splendid Exchange, a history of world trade—from Sumer in 3000 BC to globalization today.

"An Evening at The Book Stall--Talk with the Experts about Good Books for Your Book Clubs" Wine and Refreshments and a chance to share ideas. We are always being asked what we recommend for a perfect book club book. As you plan your schedules for the Fall, come to talk about what is hot for a great discussion! ... (more)--

Reservations required: 312 222-7871.

Sen. HARRY REID of Nevada, the Senate Majority Leader, speaks about his new autobiography, The Good Fight, about a life spent overcoming obstacles. Free and open to the public.

DALIA SOFFER discusses her novel, Septembers of Shiraz, as part of the Winnetka-Northfield One Book, Two Villages program. Note these times and locations: SATURDAY from 10 – 11 a.m. at the Winnetka Public Library: A small discussion group with the author 2 – 3 p.m. at The Book Stall: Ms. Sofer reads ... (more)from and signs her book

Registration required. Call the Winnetka Public Library at 847 446-7220.

From 11 a.m. 'til 1 p.m. enjoy Brunch with Dalia Sofer. Interview with the author and book discussion led by Juli Janovicz and Jane Levine.

MARCUS LUTTRELL, a Navy SEAL who served in Afghanistan, speaks about his book, Lone Survivor, the story of a Taliban attack on his four-man SEAL team that left his comrades dead and him in the hands of other Afghanis who saved his life.

PINO LUONGO, chef and restaurateur (Coco Pazzo in Chicago and New York), and MARK STRAUSMAN speak about Two Meatballs in the Italian Kitchen, with delicious recipes representing the best in Italian and Italian-American cooking.

Time to be determined.

Admission free with a book purchase; additional tickets $5.

BRYAN MEALER speaks about his book, All Things Must Fight to Live: Stories of War and Deliverance in the Congo, the story of his experiences as a foreign correspondent in the Congo.

SIMON WINCHESTER, author of the bestselling The Professor and the Madman, speaks about his latest, The Man Who Loved China, the extraordinary story of Joseph Needham, the brilliant Cambridge scientist who unlocked the most closely held secrets of China.

"An Evening at The Book Stall--Talk with the Experts about Good Books for Your Book Clubs" Wine and Refreshments and a chance to share ideas. We are always being asked what we recommend for a perfect book club book. As you plan your schedules for the Fall, come to talk about what is hot for a great discussion!

SUSAN BENJAMIN and STUART COHEN speak about Great Houses of Chicago the first authoritative study of Chicago’s grand city houses, with 350 duotone photographs, drawings, and floor plans. No reservations needed.

SHELDON SIEGEL, San Francisco attorney and bestselling author, signs Judgment Day, the sixth novel in his series of critically-acclaimed, best-selling courtroom dramas featuring San Francisco criminal defense lawyers Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez.

Scott Raab will be at the Book Stall on May 31st at 1:00 pm to discuss and sign his new book, "Real Hollywood Stories." For 15 years "Esquire's" Raab has intimately (and wittily) profiled celebrities--from Will Ferrell to Sean Penn. In this work, he presents his greatest hits--22 profiles from "Esquire" ... (more)and "GQ"--on what it feels like to get up close and personal with the biggest stars of our time.

WEN HUANG, Chicago writer and Chinese scholar, speaks about The Corpse Walker: Real Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up, the remarkable book by Chinese dissident LIAO YIWU that Huang has translated. It features stories based on interviews with an incredible cast of characters across the spectrum of ... (more)Chinese society—a work Huang compares to the oral histories compiled by Chicago icon Studs Terkel.

MARLENA DE BLASI, author of the bestselling A Thousand Days in Venice, and A Thousand Days, signs her newest, That Summer in Sicily, a true story of life, love, and the magic of Sicily.

ROBERT OLMSTEAD signs Coal Black Horse, his critically acclaimed novel about a 14-year-old boy sent out by his mother to find his father on Civil War battlefield.

RANDALL BALMER, historian and author, discusses his new book, God in the White House, an examination of the religious affiliations of several presidents from the last half of the 20th century. He and other panelists will discuss the role of religion in the White House and this year’s ... (more)presidential election. Free program. Reservations required: 312 222-7871.

LINCOLN HALL, Australian mountain climber, tells the amazing story behind his book, Dead Lucky, in which he recounts the night in May 2006 that he spent near the summit of Mount Everest, where he had been left for dead by other members of his expedition.

CHRISTY ROST, culinary expert, and TV cooking personality, presents her new book Where’s My Spatula? Fast Healthy Meals for When Your Kitchen or Your Life Is a Mess, featuring healthy, stress-relieving meals that can be made even if you are otherwise preoccupied or without your usual equipment to cook ... (more)with. Wine and cheese.

JOHN COYNE, author of the novel The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan, signs his latest golf-centered novel, The Caddie Who Played with Hickory, set in the postwar Midwest of 1946—at Midlothian Country Club, where Coyne himself was once a caddie. A perfect Father’s Day gift for the Dad who loves the game!

KATIE HICKMAN signs The Aviary Gate, the story of a researcher who discovers a story locked away for four centuries—of a British sea captain’s daughter held captive in a sultan’s harem. The novel alternates between present-day Istanbul, where the protagonist travels to uncover the fate of the young ... (more)woman, and 16th century Constantinople.

RACHEL SONTAG, Evanston native, signs House Rules, her acclaimed new memoir about growing up with a father obsessed with control.

JACK FULLER, recently retired president of the Tribune Publishing Company as well as a novelist and Pulitzer Prize-winner editorial writer, signs his exciting new novel, Abbeville, the story of a man who learns to embrace the world around him after struggling through personal grief, war, and material ... (more)failure in the 20th century.

ALAN FURST, described by The New York Times as “America’s preeminent spy novelist,” signs The Spies of Warsaw, an intrigue set in pre-World War II Warsaw and featuring French, Polish, and German intelligence officers.

R. ALAN KING, one of the Iraq war’s most decorated officer, speaks about Twice Armed: An American Soldier’s Battle for Hearts and Minds in Iraq, the story of his experience capturing some of the most wanted leaders of the former regime and his success, based on his nuanced understanding of Iraqi ... (more)culture. Free. Reservations requested: 312 587-0234.

CORKY SIEGEL, Chicago blues legend and harmonica artist, signs Let Your Music Soar: The Emotional Connection, his book (with accompanying CD) that explains how performers can tap the natural dynamic power in their music.

REBECCA STOTT, British professor and historian, signs her stunning debut novel, Ghostwalk, centered on a real historical mystery discovered by Stott—filled with evocative descriptions of Cambridge, past and present, of 17-century glassmaking, alchemy, the Great Plague, and Isaac Newton’s scientific ... (more)innovations. The New Yorker describes the book as “an ambitious, learned thriller.” Starred reviews by both Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Just released in the U.S. as a paperback.

JOSEPH PARISI, longtime editor of Poetry magazine, and KATHLEEN WELTON, book publishing veteran, read from and sign their volume, 100 Essential Modern Poems by Women, featuring the greatest poems written by women in English over the past 150 years. Don’t miss this wonderful evening with these two poetry ... (more)luminaries. Wine and cheese.

JOSEPH PARISI, longtime editor of Poetry magazine, and KATHLEEN WELTON, book publishing veteran, read from and sign their volume, 100 Essential Modern Poems by Women, featuring the greatest poems written by women in English over the past 150 years. Don’t miss this wonderful evening with these two poetry ... (more)luminaries. Wine and cheese.

JULIA KELLER, Chicago Tribune Cultural Critic, Pulitzer Prize-winner, and Book Stall favorite, signs Mr. Gatling’s Terrible Marvel, the story of Richard Gatling’s invention of the world’s first machine gun and its tremendous impact on American and world events.

JERRY JACOVER, local author, speaks about and signs Merkle's Curse, the story of the Cubs' pennant victory in 1908 -- 100 years ago! Rescheduled from May.

N.M. KELBY, Florida novelist described by Carl Hiaasen as a “natural-born writer,” signs her hot new novel, Murder at the Bad Girl’s Bar, featuring colorful characters and a couple of murders in a sedate South Florida retirement community.

Sen. JIM WEBB of Virginia speaks about his new book, A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America, a provocative assessment of the thorniest issues Americans face today.

More info to follow.

PAULA NANGLE, raised by missionaries in the U.S. and southern Africa, signs her debut novel, The Leper Compound, the story of a girl growing into womanhood in Rhodesia’s final conflict-ridden years.

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC News correspondent, speaks about The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family, her story of the 2004 attack on U.S. troops in Baghdad’s Sadr City that took the lives of eight American soldiers. Free. Reservations requested: 312 587-0234.

“Front & Center with John Calloway” interviewing ELIZABETH SAMET, author of Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature Though Peace and War at West Point, based on her 10 years as an English professor at the U.S. Military Academy. Free. Reservations requested: 312 587-0234.

JANE GENIESSE, former New York Times journalist, who speaks about American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spofford and the American Colony in Jerusalem, about the Chicago woman whose evangelicanism led her to Israel. This fascinating tale sweeps through the dramatic collapse of the Ottoman ... (more)Empire, the establishment of the British Mandate, and finally the founding of Israel where Anna’s house in East Jerusalem, now the American Colony Hotel, stands as an exemplar of beauty and comfort, despite its turbulent history.

JEFF KARZEN, Michigan sportswriter and Evanston native, signs Homer: The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey the inspirational story of a small-town Michigan school that forged a national-record winning streak and won multiple state titles.

SALMAN RUSHDIE, esteemed novelist and international literary icon, speaks about his new novel, The Enchantress of Florence, the story of a woman legendary for her beauty and sorcery and two great cities at the height of their powers—Florence during the High Renaissance and the Mughal Indian capital ... (more)of Sikri. Call us at 847 446-8880 for reservations.

ANN O’FARRELL, Irish writer now Florida resident, signs her novel Norah’s Children, about a Irish family in the 1920s who must endure the death of the mother — with a surprising ending that segues into a sequel already in the making.

BILLIE LETTS, bestselling author of Shoot the Moon and Where the Heart Is (an Oprah pick), signs her newest novel, Made in the U.S.A., the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place ... (more)they can finally call home.

Thomas Greanias, AUTHOR OF "Atlantis Prophecy" will be at the store for a signing and talk.

ELAINE MARGOLIS, local novelist and short story writer, signs A Picturebook on the Wall, a memoir that takes her from her childhood during the Depression and World War II to a writing career in New York.

Book Launch DAVID J. WALKER, local mystery writer and former parish priest, investigator for the Chicago Police Department, and lawyer, signs Saving Paulo, his new suspense novel about three people drawn together in a struggle to save a strange, silent little boy from murderous kidnappers. Join the author ... (more)at J.P. McCarthy’s on Chestnut Street after the signing.

RICHARD H. THALER, Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago, speaks about his book Nudge, providing important lessons for structuring social policies so that people still have complete choice over their own actions but are gently nudged to do what is in their own best ... (more)interests.

DOUG CUMMINGS, local novelist and broadcast journalist, signs his new book, Every Secret Crime, a follow-up to his debut novel Deader by the Lake, about an ace TV reporter’s discovery of corruption in an upscale Chicago suburb.

SHANNON BURKE signs his new novel Black Flies, the story of a paramedic and his first year on the job in mid-‘90s Harlem.

(Free and open to the public. For more information, call 312 263 0111)

Reception and book signing co-sponsored by the Midwest office of the National Parks Conservation Association. NEVADA BARR, bestselling author of mysteries set in America's national parks, speaks about her latest thriller, Winter ... (more)Study, in which National Park Service ranger Anna Pigeon joins a winter research project intended to study the wolves and moose of Michigan's Isle Royale National Park. Ms. Barr will discuss her book as well as the actual Isle Royale wolf-moose study and her life in the national parks.

AMY SHEARN signs her novel, How Far Is the Ocean from Here?, her acclaimed debut novel that explores the ways in which people care for one another—and the strangeness and unpredictability of love.

SIMON BAATZ signs his new book, For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Chicago.

Book Group #3 meets to discuss Joyce Carol Oates's We Were the Mulvaneys. All book groups are free to join and all are welcome!
For more on Joyce Carol Oates, click here

Book Group #1 reads Henry James's Portrait of a Lady. All book groups are free to join and all are welcome!
For more on Henry James, click here

Pelham, NH author Sybil Brown visits to chat with ya'll and share her collected memoirs of growing up in eastern Kentucky in, "Appalachian Mamma".

BOB VORWALD, Executive Producer of WGN Sports, speaks about his book Cubs Forever: Memories from the Men Who Lived Them, celebrating the 60-year romance between the Cubs, the superstation WGN, and the fans.

GARY ANDREW POOLE discusses his new book, Galloping Ghost: Red Grange, An American Football Legend, the first major biography of the gridiron great, revealing how a gifted athlete and a wily agent gave birth to professional football in America.

NEIL STEINBERG, veteran Chicago Sun-Times columnist, speaks about Drunkard: A Hard-Drinking Life, a memoir about his life as a functioning alcoholic and the realities of recovery.

GARY ANDREW POOLE speaks about Galloping Ghost: Red Grange, An American Football Legend, the first major biography of the gridiron great, revealing how a gifted athlete and a wily agent gave birth to professional football in America.

Friday, September 5, 7:00 p.m. Back to School Book Bash with author Tonya Hurley, whose new novel, Ghost Girl is getting great reviews. Girls ages 12-16 will love this off-beat, hip story and we’ll have lots of fun hanging out with the author!

DONOVAN TRACY signs The Glass Doctor, his novel about a pathologist in a crisis that provides readers with a view of life through the lens of hospital medicine.

Jenny Meyerhoff, author of Third Grade Baby, will be signing her book.

RUTH SPIRO, a Deerfield writer, signs her delightful children’s book, Lester Fizz: Bubble Gum Artist, the story of a boy who develops a special talent for blowing artful bubbles.

Join us for tea when
MARGARET AHNERT speaks about The Knock at the Door: A Journey Through the Darkness of the Armenian Genocide, the story of her mother’s terrifying experiences as a young woman during the Armenian genocide in Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century—along with an intimate portrait ... (more)of her relationship with her now 98-year-old mother.

BRAD MELTZER, author of the #1 bestseller The Book of Fate, signs his latest thriller, The Book of Lies, a story linking the Biblical villain Cain and the creator of the ficitional hero Superman.

Well, ok. They're only two feet tall. But the cool thing is you made them! Enter our "Design a Dragon" contest to celebrate the release of "Brisingr" by Christopher Paolini on September 20th. Make a dragon in sculpture, drawing, or any visual art project with materials of your choosing. We ask that your ... (more)finished project be NO BIGGER than two feet in any direction, so they all fit in the store! Entries are due no later than 9pm September 8, 2008. Winners will be notified by Sept 18th. Runners up will receive $15 Toadstool gift certificates; the Grand Prize winner will receive a free copy of the new Brisingr book! Get busy and good luck!

JOSH BARKAN signs Blind Speed, his uniquely satirical novel with strains of global warming, 9/11, government and corporate deceit, and ecoterrorism.

Book signing and slide show.
GIOIA DILIBERTO signs her novel The Collection, the story of a young seamstress from the French countryside who in 1919 takes a job in the Parisian atelier of Coco Chanel.

RICHARD ELLIS, author of The Book of Sharks and a celebrated marine artist, signs Tuna: A Love Story, about one of the biggest, fastest, and most highly evolved marine animals and the source of some of the world’s most popular delicacies — now hovering on the brink of extinction.

Join us for a luncheon with VIRGINIA WILLIS, a French-trained chef and former TV producer of Martha Stewart Living and Epicurious (on the Discovery Channel), speaks about her new cookbook, Bon Appetit Y’All, a family collection of 200 recipes for great Southern home cooking imbued with contemporary ... (more)sensibility and classical French technique.

ELLIS GOODMAN, England-born Glencoe resident and former chairman and CEO of a major U.S. beverage alcohol producer, importer and distributor, signs his debut novel, Bear Any Burden, a spy story and epic family saga spanning decades and continents, from 19th century Poland to the height of the Cold War.

TIM REID and TOM DREESEN, pioneering Chicago comedians, along with author RON RAPPOPORT, Chicago Sun-Times columnist and NPR commentator, speak about their new book, Tim & Tom: An American-Comedy in Black and White, the story of the first interracial comedy team in the history of show business—who ... (more)polished their act in Chicago nightclubs before going on the road.

LEWIS SCHIFF, a private wealth expert, speaks about The Middle Class Millionaire: The Rise of the New Rich and How They Are Changing America, examining the far-reaching impact of people who enjoy a net worth ranging from one million to ten million dollars and have earned rather than inherited their ... (more)wealth.

PHILIP ROTH, through a virtual broadcast live from New York, will participate in a rare interview and discuss his new novel, Indignation, featuring a young college student in the early 1950s. The first 48 Book Stall customers to make a reservation will be able to purchase a signed First Edition of Indignation. ... (more) Call us at 847 446-8880.

FRANCES DePONTES PEEBLES, born in Brazil and educated in the U.S., signs her debut novel, The Seamstress, a sweeping saga of love, courage, loyalty and adventure featuring two seamstress sisters in 1930s Brazil.

DAPHNE BEAL signs her debut novel, In the Land of No Right Angles. An American student in Nepal agrees to the request of a friend back home to help a young Nepali woman desperate to flee her traditional family.

Join Little Bookworms to celebrate the release of Brisingr, the highly anticipated 3rd installment of the Inheritance Cycle. Activities will include: Breakfast food Trivia Sword-fighting Costume Contest Dragon egg hunt
Ancient language quiz There's no need to stay up until midnight when Little Bookworms ... (more)is planning another great event!
Pre-order your book today and get a free Eragon mouse pad (while supplies last).

Release of Brisingr, the third in the Inheritance Cycle. Be among the first to read this long-awaited book by Christopher Paolini.

PATRICIA POLACCO, beloved author known for her body of children’s literature including The Keeping Quilt, Welcome Comfort, and Mrs. Katz and Tush, will be in the store to sign her newest, For the Love of Autumn. Check back with us for the time of her appearance.

LAURENCE GONZALEZ, Evanston writer and author of Deep Survival, signs Everyday Survival, showing how modern society has made us susceptible to previously unknown threats. Curiosity, awareness and attention are the tools of “everyday survival.”

NAOMI WOLF speaks about her book, Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, illustrating the changes that can take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended.

JILL BLOOMFIELD, children’s cooking expert, speaks about her new book, Jewish Holidays Cookbook, a beautiful modern cookbook geared toward kids and their families.

JENNET CONANT, journalist and author, speaks about The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington. Dahl took up a post at the British Embassy in 1942 with the assignment to use his good looks, wit, and considerable charm to gain access to the most powerful figures in American ... (more)political life.

From 5:30 until 7 p.m., join LUCIEN LAGRANGE, one of Chicago’s most prominent architects, and the author ROBERT SHAROFF who will speak about Sharoff’s new book, Lucien Lagrange: The Search for Elegance, a monograph on the work of Lagrange. Sharoff is a frequent writer on architecture for The New ... (more)York Times and Chicago magazine. Also speaking will be photographer WILLIAM ZBAREN, whose camera stunningly captured Lagrange’s projects. Call The Book Stall at 847 446-8880 for reservations.

PEG TYRE, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, speaks about her book, The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do.

ANDREI CHERNY speaks about the Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour, his story— -told on the Airlift’s 60th anniversary-—of one of the great military and humanitarian successes of American history.

PEGGY MACNAMARA, Chicago artist and adjunct associate professor at the School of the Art Institute, signs Architecture by Birds and Insects, her beautifully illustrated celebration of the natural feats of engineering and ingenuity demonstrated in nature.

TOM MOON, award-winning music journalist and regular contributor to NPR’s “All Things Considered,” speaks about his fabulous new book, 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (by the publisher of the bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die), drawing from the diverse worlds of classical, jazz, ... (more)rock, pop, blues, country, folk, musicals, hip-hop, world, opera, soundtracks, and more. Don’t miss this!

BOB SCHIEFFER, chief Washington correspondent for CBS since 1982 and anchor of “Face the Nation” since 1991, speaks about his new book, Bob Schieffer’s America, with wise, rueful, and graceful commentaries filled with anecdotes, reflections, updates, and insights.

DAVID LEAVITT, author of several novels including While England Sleeps, signs The Indian Clerk, his new novel about a strange and ultimately tragic relationship between an esteemed British mathematician and an unknown and unschooled mathematical genius.

Join us for luncheon at Mirani’s when GAIL TSUKIYAMA, bestselling author of The Samurai’s Garden and Dreaming Water, speaks about her novel, A Street of a Thousand Dreams, following two brothers in Japan through the devastation of World War II and the hardships of reconstruction. For reservations ... (more)($45 includes a signed book), call us at 847 446-8880.

BONI ASHBURN, Illinois native and resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, signs her children's book, Hush Little Dragon.

Join us for a book launch party with wine and cheese.
BETH BOOSALIS DAVIS, an attorney and former Evanston alderman, launches her new book, Mayor Helen Boosalis: My Mother’s Life in Politics, the story of her mother’s life and career as the mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska—and candidate for the state’s ... (more)top office in 1986, the first gubernatorial contest between two women in U.S. history.

Judge Joan Lefko will be in the store to talk about her mother's book of poetry - I Speak of Simple Things. Joan Lefko was the wife and daughter who's husband and mother were murdered in their home over a year ago.

SUSAN ORLEAN, author of the Orchid Thief, joins us with Lazy Little Loafers, her adorable new children’s picture book.

Big sisters and big brothers are welcome - as are children and parents. Refreshments will be served.

SUSAN ORLEAN, author of the Orchid Thief with her adorable new children’s picture book, Lazy Little Loafers.

NEWTON MINOW and CRAIG LEMAY speak about their book, Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future, their very topical look into the origins of the presidential debates.

Join us for lunch and a lively conversation.

Call The Book Stall for reservations.

Newton Minow and Craig LeMay will talk about their book, a very timely discussion of Inside the Presidential Debates.

Join us for lunch and a lively conversation.

Call The Book Stall for reservations.

Join us as Peter Post presents his new book Playing Through: A Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Golf.

LUCIAN LAGRANGE, prominent Chicago architect, author ROBERT SHAROFF and photographer WILLIAM ZBAREN will speak about the book, Lucien Lagrange: The Search for Elegance. Wine, cheese, and other refreshments. (See event of September 24.)

Gary Marx and Photographer Dan Overturf will be at the Book Stall for a signing and slide presentation for their new book A River Through Illinois.

Relative Discomfort: The Family Survival GuideJeremy Greenberg’s new book, Relative Discomfort revolutionizes the ways in which people deal with the stress of seeing family.

Let this holiday season be the first in which you don’t dread seeing your loved ones.

Under the guise of a “guidebook,” ... (more)Jeremy delights readers with hilarious, original, smart perspectives on the family dynamic. Readers will laugh out loud, and come away with a richer understanding of what exactly makes their families tick, and what about their families ticks them off.

An internationally headlining stand-up comedian, columnist and author, Jeremy Greenberg writes a column entitled “Eastside: Center of the Universe,” which celebrates the elevated status of suburban Seattle. He has been a contributor to the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes , a joke writer for Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, and has written for MSN, Geek Monthly, Twins Magazine, and Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine. When not traveling and writing, Jeremy is home with his wife and twin sons in Kirkland, Washington.FUN READING and BOOK SIGNING:Saturday, October 11 at 2 p.m.

TAMMY LECHNER will be here to sign her book
Chicago Cubs..Our Team, Our Dream

Join us for luncheon at Mirani’s in Winnetka when KELLY CORRIGAN, a weekly newspaper columnist, speaks about her memoir The Middle Place, about the family one creates and the family one comes from — and locating, navigating, and celebrating the place where the two meet. For reservations ($50 includes ... (more)a signed book), call us at 847 446-8880.

NEWTON MINOW and CRAIG LE MAY speak about Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future, their look into the origins of the debates and the battles that have waged around them.

ROWAN JACOBSEN, Vermont writer on food and the environment, speaks about Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Crisis, his account of how the disappearance of the world's honey bee population puts the food we eat at risk.

CHERIE BLAIR, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, talks about Speaking for Myself: My Life from Liverpool to Downing Street, her autobiography revealing what it was like to combine life as a working mother with life married to the Prime Minister.

Join us from 3 until 4:30 p.m. when BARBARA FAIRCHILD, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit: Fast, Easy, Fresh, speaks about her new cookbook with 1,100 quick dishes for cooking every night.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18TH – PEAK INTO PETERBOROUGH – events throughout the town for all ages –come and enjoy!
AT 2 PM – NICKOLAS LUPININ introducing and signing THE RUSSIAN CENTURY: A HUNDRED YEARS OF RUSSIAN LIVES a new book he has co-edited with George Pahomov, composed of first person accounts ... (more)painting a vivid portrait of the Russian people through the turbulent years of the collapse of the Soviet Union

EVENT TIME CORRECTION!The correct event time is 3pm, and not noon as it had been originally posted.
Join Clare Langley-Hawthorne at Diesel Bookstore as she presents the second book in her fantastic new historical mystery series! Featuring the strong, outspoken, intelligent and sassy Ursula Marlow, THE ... (more)SERPENT AND THE SCORPION is a thrilling story of scandal and betrayal that's richly detailed and action-packed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Clare Langley-Hawthorne was raised in England and Australia. She practiced law in Melbourne until 1995 when she emigrated moved to the United States and began work as a health economist. Clare has since put her pursuit of a PhD on hold to focus on her career as a writer. She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband and twin sons. This is her second novel.

You'll also be able to enjoy complimentary refreshments courtesy of Clare after the event, so make an afternoon of it!

For more information, visit her web site at www.clarelangleyhawthorne.comPURCHASE OF THE BOOK RESERVES YOU A SEAT AT THE EVENT!

ALICE SCHROEDER, a noted insurance industry analyst and managing director at Morgan Stanley, speaks about The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life,,/i>, recounting the life experience and life wisdom of the "Oracle of Omaha".

CHERYL GANZ, chief curator of philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, speaks about The 1933 Chicago World's Fair: A Century of Progress, with stories of fair planners and participants who showcased education, industry, and entertainment to sell optimism during the depths of the Great Depression.

CHERYL GANZ, chief curator of philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, speaks about The 1933 Chicago World's Fair: A Century of Progress, with stories of fair planners and participants who showcased education, industry, and entertainment to sell optimism during the depths of the Great Depression.

LIZA MUNDY, a staff writer for The Washington Post, speaks about Michelle: A Biography, capturing the complexity of the wife of Barack Obama by drawing upon interviews with more than one hundred people, including Mrs. Obama herself.

STEVE LeVINE, chief foreign affairs writer for Business Week and a correspondent in Russia for more than a decade, speaks about Putin's Labyrinth: Spies, Murder, and the Dark Heart of the New Russia,, providing a penetrating account of modern Russia under the repressive rule of an all-powerful autocrat.

LIZA MUNDY, a staff writer for The Washington Post, speaks about Michelle: A Biography, capturing the complexity of the wife of Barack Obama by drawing upon interviews with more than one hundred people, including Mrs. Obama herself.

ROBIN PREISS GLASSER, illustrator of the Fancy Nancy books, with her new book, Tea For Ruby, written by Sarah Ferguson. Join us for an afternoon tea!

STEVE COLL, New Yorker writer and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars, speaks about The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century, the story of the Bin Laden family's rise to power and privilege - showing how American influences changed the family and how one of its members changed ... (more)America. Free. Reservations requested:
312 587 0234

LISA HOLTON Evanston writer, speaks about For Members Only: A History and Guide to Chicago's Oldest Private Clubs, a fascinating history of the hidden world of Chicago's private social clubs that have united - and divided - the city's leaders since Chicago's first days.

MIA BAUER introduces Crumbs: Bakeshop in a Box, a kit with a picture book and baking utensils for young children.

DAVID MURA, memoirist, poet, and playwright, signs his debut novel, Famous Suicides of the Japanese Empire, the story of a third-generation Japanese-American and sole surviving member of his family who finds his personal history entwined with the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II.

From 7:30 until 9:30 p.m., KERRY SHOOK, founder of the Fellowship of the Woodlands church in Texas, speaks about One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life.

ROBERT BAER, bestselling author and former top CIA operative, speaks about The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian Superpower, in which he contends that Iran has maneuvered itself into the elite superpower ranks by exploiting Americans' false perceptions of what the country is.

ANDREW JAMPOLER speaks about The Last Lincoln Conspirator: John Surratt’s Flight from the Gallows, an adventure and mystery that tells the story of the Lincoln assassination conspirator who managed to evade capture for 20 months and escape punishment once he was put on trial.

DICK MEYER speaks about his book Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium

12:30 'til 2 p.m., Lunch & Learn.
ALAN CHEUSE, longtime NPR contributor, signs To Catch the Lightning: A Novel of American Dreaming, based on the story of Edward Curtis, who in the early 20th century dedicated his life to creating a photographic record of Native American tribes.

TUESDAY, OCT. 28
MAURICE YORK and RICK SPAULDING speak about Natural History of the Intellect: The Last Lectures of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mr. York and Mr. Spaulding have edited into book form for the first time the final product of what Emerson himself considered to be the "chief task of his life”—a ... (more)cycle of 17 lectures that he delivered at Harvard University in 1871.

MAURICE YORK and RICK SPAULDING speak about Natural History of the Intellect: The Last Lectures of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mr. York and Mr. Spaulding have edited into book form for the first time the final product of what Emerson himself considered to be the "chief task of his life”—a cycle of 17 ... (more)lectures that he delivered at Harvard University in 1871.

Join us from 4 until 6 p.m. when MARTHA STEWART signs her new book, Martha Stewart’s Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook. Tickets are required. Starting Thursday, Oct. 23, we will hand out tickets with the purchase of the new book. Please call us for information updates.

Join us from 5 until 7 p.m. when MARTHA STEWART signs and talks about her new book, Martha Stewart’s Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook. We will hand out tickets for a place in line on Thursday, Oct. 23. Preferential placement in line for those who purchase a book.

JOYCE HOFFMAN, a reporter whose byline has appeared in numerous newspapers—including The Chicago Tribune—and now a teacher at Old Dominion University, speaks about On Their Own: Women Journalists and the American Experience in Vietnam, with vivid portraits of their personal lives and professional ... (more)triumphs woven into the controversial details of America’s 20-year entanglement in Southeast Asia.

Karen Levin Coburn, co-editor of Letting Go, describes Writin' on Empty: Parents Reveal the Upside, Downside, and Everything in Between When Children Leave the Nest perfectly in her glowing review: "This collection of essays about the universal experience of children leaving home is guaranteed to strike ... (more)a chord—to make you smile and laugh out loud—and yes, even shed some tears. It will confirm what you've been thinking as well as challenge you to think a bit differently."

Now, DIESEL, A Bookstore in Oakland is proud to welcome local authors and editors of Writin' on Empty, Risa Nye, Joan Taylor Cehn and Julie Renalds, to the store as they discuss a topic that is sure to pull at the heartstrings of every parent out there, whether you've already gone through this experience yourself or are about to.

Head down to DIESEL, A Bookstore on Thursday, October 30 at 7pm and mingle & meet other parents in the perfect opportunity to share your own stories at this wonderful event!PURCHASE OF THE BOOK RESERVES YOU A SEAT AT THE EVENT!

SIMON BAATZ, history professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the City University of New York, discusses his book, For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb, and the Murder That Shocked Chicago, as a part of the Larry Gutter Literary Series. All are welcome.

MARGARET BENEFIEL, theology teacher and expert in the field of spirituality and leadership, speaks about The Soul of a Leader: Finding Your Path to Success and Fulfillment, providing new perspectives on the qualities of leadership.

JOEL KRAEMER, Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago Divinity School, discusses Maimonides: The Life and World of One of Civilization’s Greatest Minds, his biography of the 12th century philosopher, physician, and lawyer whose life, career, and writings are the highest expression of the intertwined ... (more)worlds of Judaism and Islam.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7
DAVID HACKETT FISCHER, Pulitzer Prize-winning history professor at Brandeis University, speaks about Champlain’s Dream, his biography of the remarkable 17th century explorer Samuel de Champlain, the French soldier, spy, master mariner, cartographer, and artist who founded, colonized, ... (more)and administered French settlements in North America.

ANDREW HOLLINGSWORTH author of Danish Modern, is the show’s featured speaker. His book is a market guide with tips, facts, and resources for collectors of Danish Modern furniture.

KIM WILSON, Wisconsin writer and garden enthusiast, signs In the Garden with Jane Austen, bringing Jane Austen’s gardens—real and fictional—to life, with excerpts from her novels and letters and tips for creating English gardens.

JAMES McPHERSON, bestselling Civil War historian and History Professor Emertius of Princeton University, speaks about Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief, his new book illuminating how Lincoln worked with—and often against— his senior commanders to defeat the Confederacy and create ... (more)the role of commander in chief as we know it.

MAXWELL TAYLOR KENNEDY, maritime historian and son of Robert F. Kennedy, speaks about Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her. (See book description for event of Nov. 7.)

DAVID THOMSON, film critic and historian, signs Have You Seen…? A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films, his sweeping collection offering up a taste of controversy, little-known facts, and ideas about what films to see.

CAROL LaCHAPELLE, Chicago writer and memoir writing teacher, talks about her book, Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories, giving journal writers and family historians tools to explore their memories and turn them into great stories. Join Carol for reading and discussion — and wine and cheese.

NEIL HARRIS, Professor of History and Art History Emeritus at the University of Chicago, speaks about The Chicagoan: A Lost Magazine of the Jazz Age, his story of a forgotten treasure—the magazine that in the 1920s and ‘30s was the Chicago counterpart to The New Yorker.

CARLO D’ESTE, military historian, speaks about Warlord: Churchill at War, a biography of one of history’s most fascinating and influential leaders through the prism of his military service.

Diana’s fiction has appeared in Glimmer Train Stories, Moment, Lilith, and elsewhere. She received her MFA degree from the University of Montana and was a Steinbeck Fellow at San Jose State University. She currently lives in New York City, where she is at work on her second novel.

Publisher’s Weekly ... (more)has raved, “In her affecting debut, Spechler [explores] whether, in rescuing others, we risk ruining ourselves . . . Told in alternating chapters by [the three main characters] the narrative is notable in large part for how little the family members interact with one another despite the drama that confronts them all . . . raises provocative questions about religion, violence, and the resilience of families and individuals.

KAREN PAGE and ANDREW DORNENBURG international culinary luminaries and weekly wine columnists for The Washington Post, sign The Flavor Bible, a guide to seasoning ingredients to coax the greatest possible flavor from them.

TED TURNER speaks about his memoir, Call Me Ted, the story of his amazing life as businessman, television revolutionary, sailor, Major League baseball owner, and private person—complete with revealing “Ted Stories” written about him by friends, colleagues, and family.

JOHN FASMAN, Chicago native and journalist, signs The Unpossessed City, his novel about a young American who finds himself adrift in Russia amid murderous bureaucrats.

PETER GREENBERG, travel expert and radio show host, talks about Don’t Go There!: The Travel Detective’s Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World, a resource with Greenberg’s ideas of cities, countries, locations, airports, and airlines to avoid. A great discussion piece.

It’s MAGIC!
JOSHUA JAY, champion magician and columnist for MAGIC magazine, signs (and performs tricks from) Magic: The Complete Course, with step-by-step directions for performing 100 tricks, which includes a DVD that demonstrates 75 of them. Bring the kids!

Book Group #1 discusses Cormac McCarthy's The Road. This book is group is free and all are welcome.

LAURA BERMAN, a leading expert on sexual health and an assistant professor at Northwestern University Medical School, discusses her book, Real Sex for Real Women, showing who it is possible to combine the reality of everyday life with a healthy sexual life.

Eli Brown discusses and signs The Great Days. This event is free and all are welcome.

ROBIN MILLER, M.D., speaks about The Smart Woman's Guide to Midlife and Beyond, her book showing women how to work with their bodies to stay healthy and happy through menopause and beyond.

ABBE SMITH, criminal lawyer and law professor at Georgetown Law School, speaks about Case of a Lifetime: A Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Story, describing the moral and ethical dilemmas of representing the guilty and the weighty burden of fighting for the innocent.

12 noon, Luncheon at a downtown club
NEIL HARRIS, Professor of History and Art History Emeritus at the University of Chicago, speaks about The Chicagoan.

KIMBERLY DOZIER, the CBS News correspondent critically injured in a Baghdad bombing, speaks about Breathing the Fire, a memoir of her long road to recovery. Free; reservations requested: 312 587-0234.

ALICE SCHROEDER talks about and signs her New York Times #1 bestseller, The Snowflake: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life, his authorized biography of the Oracle of Omaha. Ms. Schroeder is a noted insurance industry analyst and managing director of Morgan Stanley.

KIMBERLY DOZIER, the CBS News correspondent who was critically injured in a Baghdad bombing that killed four others in 2006, speaks about her book, Breathing the Fire, a memoir of her long road to recovery.

Phone The Book Stall for reservations: 847-446-8880

JOHN MANDERINO signs Crying at Movies, his memoir describing how pivotal points of his life have been enmeshed with movie moments.

From 4–6 p.m.CHARLIE TROTTER signs Home Cooking with Charlie Trotter, designed for casual home cooks. Also new is Lessons in Wine Service from Charlie Trotter, about creating outstanding wine pairings.

Join us from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m. for a Tea Party when SHERRILL BODINE, Chicago writer, signs Talk of the Town, her novel about a Chicago newspaper gossip columnist demoted to the home and food section of the Chicago Daily Mail.

HELEN PUCKETT DeFRANCE, Mississippi-based cooking instructor, signs At Home Café: Gatherings for Family and Friends, drawn from her years spent teaching Southern favorites. Come for wine and cheese.

Quincy will be on hand just in time with the perfect stocking stuffer for your finicky reader. "Hidden History of New Hampshire" is packed with behind-the-scenes stories like the "American Inferno" ski race held on Mt. Washington, or the Shaker Meetinghouse -built in a single day in complete silence! ... (more)Ms. Whitney's collection is a colorful look at our Granite State, it's people and events.

SELDEN EDWARDS signs his critically acclaimed novel The Little Book, a time-warp story that spans generations, ranging from fin de sičcle Vienna through pivotal events of the 20th century. A favorite of the Book Stall staff.

ROBIN BOWMAN, a photojournalist, signs It’s Complicated: The American Teenager, her series of 419 “collaborative portraits” of a generation now coming of age in America.

SCOTT SIGLER signs his terrifying new novel, Contagious, about a mysterious pathogen that turns ordinary people into raging killers.

BRENDAN SHORT, writer residing in Oak Park, reads from and signs his debut novel, Dream City, set in Depression-era Chicago featuring a colorful cast of heroes, villains, and damsels in distress.

LISA HOLTON speaks about her book, For Members Only, a fascinating history and guide to Chicago's oldest private clubs. For reservations, call 847 446-8880.

Join us as The Pritzker Military Library hosts acclaimed historian and biographer H.W. BRANDS for a talk on THURSDAY, JAN. 22, at 6 p.m., about his new book Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, shedding new light on FDR's formative years and his ... (more)willingness to champion the concerns of the poor and disenfranchised. No charge.
Reservations requested: 312-587-0234. To order an autographed book, call THE BOOK STALL AT CHESTNUT COURT at 446-8880.

FLORINE MARK speaks about Talk to the Mirror: Feel Great About Yourself Each and Every Day, the story of how she turned a lackluster life into the one she always dreamed of—and how others can do it too.

KEVIN O’BRIEN, Seattle writer and North Shore native, signs Final Breath, his new thriller with a Chicago angle.

JULIA ALVAREZ, author of a number of acclaimed adult novels, including In the Time of Butterflies and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, signs her wonderful new book for younger readers, Return to Sender, a story of a farm family in Vermont who hire Mexican migrant workers to help save the farm ... (more)from foreclosure.

For All Ages
Come on in for a little youthful yoga! We'll be reading Babar's Yoga For Elephants and striking a few poses. This will be fun for the whole family!

MICHAEL BURLINGAME, a leading Lincoln scholar, speaks about his critically acclaimed two-volume boxed set of Abraham Lincoln: A Life, described as one of the best Lincoln books in a generation, by an author “who probably knows more about Abraham Lincoln and his world than anyone else alive” (Publishers ... (more)Weekly, starred review).

Author Xinran Xue speaks about her book: China Witness Voices From a Silent Generation.

We are pleased to have a musical Irish celebration. Sharon Bossard will be at The Book Stall to talk about and sign her new book, "Finding Your Chicago Irish." With her will be Aislinn Gagliardi on the harp, Meghan Anztec, flautist, and Therese Shine on fiddle.

The first luncheon of the year in our WOMEN WRITERS SERIES. JACQUELINE WINSPEAR speaks about her latest Masie Dobbs mystery, "Among the Mad". Set in 1930s England, this heart-stopping story has Masie in a race against time to catch a madman before he commits murder on an unimaginable scale. Cost: $26. ... (more)Special Price for the 4 Book Stall Events: $100 for four. Phone for reservations 847-446-8880.

MICHAEL BURLINGAME, a leading Lincoln scholar, speaks about his critically acclaimed two-volume boxed set of Abraham Lincoln: A Life, described as one of the best Lincoln books in a generation, by an author “who probably knows more about Abraham Lincoln and his world than anyone else alive” (Publishers ... (more)Weekly, starred review).

FRANK DELANEY, acclaimed author of Ireland and Tipperary, returns again to Ireland for his new novel, ShannonB/I>, the story of a young American World War I hero thrust headlong into the maelstrom of Irish politics.

KAREN COBURN, senior consultant in residence at Washington University in St. Louis, speaks about the all-new 5th edition of her bestseller “Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years”, with valuable insights for parents about the emotional and social changes during their children's ... (more)college years—from the senior year in high school through college graduation. Free and open to the public.

Authors Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure will be signing their bestselling book The Soprano State.

JIM PROEBSTLE, Deer Park resident, signs his novel, “In the Absence of Honor”, a thriller that whisks readers through a tale of conspiracy, fraud, deception, and betrayal reverberating from a small northern Minnesota community and Indian reservation to powerful forces in Washington, D.C.

MARY PAT KELLY talks about her new novel, "Galway Bay", based on Irish Emigration to America - and the story of an emigrant family who transform Chicago from a frontier town to the City of the Century.
Cost: $26. Special Price for the 4 Book Stall Events: $100 for four. Call for reservations: 847-446-8880

From 9:30 to 11 a.m. our Winter Book Club discusses The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. Led by Suzanne Hales.
$5 charge in exchange for a coupon fully redeemable for merchandise in the store

SUSAN SCHIEFELBEIN, co-author with JACQUES COUSTEAU of “The Human, the Orchid, and the Octopus”, speaks about her collaboration with Cousteau on this volume, in which the beloved explorer describes his deeply informed philosophy about protecting our world for future generations. The book, Cousteau’s ... (more)last, is now available for the first time in the U.S. Call for reservations: 847-446-8880.

March 1st marks the 15th anniversary of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning open gays from the military. New attention has focused on this explosive culture war issue, as Democrats renew promises to lift the ban, perhaps as soon as this year.
 
With UNFRIENDLY FIRE: How the Gay Ban Undermines ... (more)the Military and Weakens America, Dr. Nathaniel Frank, the mostly widely-recognized expert on gays in the military and the writer who broke the story of the firing of gay Arabic linguists, has written the definitive story of “don’t ask, don’t tell” at a pivotal moment in the debate on gay service.  Dr. Frank, an historian and Senior Research Fellow at the Palm Center, has spent ten years explaining the ins and outs of this policy on television, radio, blogs and in print, and now more than ever, his expertise is in demand to help the nation understand this complex, fast-moving issue.
 
Based on hundreds of exclusive interviews, this much-anticipated book reveals behind-the-scenes discussions by the top players responsible for the current policy, and shows how a campaign of misinformation by military officials and the religious right conspired to steamroll the gay ban into place. UNFRIENDLY FIRE also answers pressing questions people are now asking about what lies ahead: How is the current policy really working? How do gay and straight troops currently get along? What happened when other nations lifted their gay bans? What will happen if the U.S. follows suit?  And more.
The new book shows that:
·         Military officials admit they misrepresented the threat posed by gays to unit cohesion, while minimizing the true source of resistance to gay service: religious and cultural opposition to homosexuality.
·         Evidence was repeatedly concealed or suppressed by the military when research concluded there was no rationale for the gay ban.
·         The team of military generals that created “don’t ask, don’t tell” did not even understand what “sexual orientation” meant when they were tasked with formulating the policy. The general who headed that team now opposes the policy and admits in the book that the group “didn’t have any empirical data” about gay service and its position was based on fear, politics and prejudice.
·         The former Navy Judge Advocate General reversed his support for a gay ban and now calls the policy a “moral passing of the buck.”
·         Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff circulated an inflammatory anti-gay video produced by the religious right, and used it to argue that openly gay service would undermine the military.
 
Clearly and lucidly argued, UNFRIENDLY FIRE is a lively and compelling narrative that is sure to play an important role in the debate over this policy.  As a new presidential administration takes office, and our country’s military commitments around the globe continue to expand, the issue of gays serving in the military is certain to be a key topic of debate. Join Dr. Frank at Lambda Rising in DC as he answers your questions and discusses his insightful work on this vital issue. NATHANIEL FRANK is a senior research fellow at the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and teaches history on the adjunct faculty at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.  His publications on gays in the military and other topics have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, Slate, the Los Angles Times, The Huffington Post, and other publications.  His research and opinions have been cited on the Congressional floor and in syndicated columns, the blogosphere, the New York Post, The National Review Online, the AP, and other venues.

BRYAN GRULEY, Chicago bureau chief of “The Wall Street Journal”, signs his critically acclaimed debut novel, “Starvation Lake”, a crime novel about a mystery surrounding the five-year-old death of a legendary Michigan high school hockey coach — a book compared to Dennis Lehane’s “Mystic ... (more)River”.

SCHMULEY BOTEACH, internationally bestselling author and one of the country’s most influential rabbis, speaks about his new book, “Kosher Sutra: Eight Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life”, providing the tools necessary to restore fire, power, and energy back into ... (more)the bedroom and everyday life. Call for reservations: 847-446-8880.

STEVE AMICK, Ann Arbor resident and writer, speaks about his new novel, “Nothing but a Smile”, the love story of a man and woman who choose an unconventional way to redefine themselves during and after World War II.

DAVID BELLAVIA speaks about "House to
House: An Epic Memoir of War."
Reservations (free) are requested: 312 587-
0234.

LIZ FLOCK signs her novel, “Sleepwalking in Daylight”, the story of a dysfunctional, wealthy Chicago family.

ANNE EASTER SMITH speaks about “The King’s Grace”, a novel about an illegitimate daughter of King Edward IV on a quest for the truth about the murder of two boys and a man who claims to be king.

SARA BARRON, New York writer and comedian described by “The New Yorker” as a “tour-de-force performer,” signs her hilarious new book, “People Are Unappealing: Even Me”, a coming-of-age yarn compared to “Sex and the City on steroids.”

MATTHEW PEARL, bestselling author of “The Dante Club” and “The Poe Shadow”, speaks about “The Last Dickens”, his new novel reopening one of literary history’s greatest mysteries — the quest to find the novel left unfinished at the moment of Charles Dickens’ untimely death in 1870.

HARLAN COBEN, mega-bestselling author, teams up with Australian superstar singer-songwriter MISSY HIGGINS to discuss the creative process. Coben will read from his brand new novel, “Long Lost”, a new Myron Bolitar mystery, and Higgins will perform songs from her hit CD, “On a Clear Night”. In ... (more)his recent #1 NY Times bestseller, “Hold Tight”, Coben wrote about listening to Higgins’ heartbreaking hit, “Where I Stood.”

(Cost: $32 includes a $6 donation. Phone for reservations: 847-446-8880) JANE HAMILTON, Wisconsin writer and award-wining author of the bestsellers "A Map of the World" and "The Book of Ruth" both Oprah Book club picks), speaks about her new novel, "Laura Rider's Masterpiece", a poignant and hilarious ... (more)story of a couple who run a successful nursery business and share a zeal for storytelling.

MELISSA ISAACSON, popular “Chicago Tribune” sports beat reporter and columnist (and Northbrook resident), talks about “Sweet Lou: Lou Piniella — A Life in Baseball”, her story of one of the most intriguing managers in the game of baseball.

Join us for Kate Jacobs signing "Comfort Food". The event is co-sponsored by The Woolery and yummerific comfort food prodived by The Black Forest. Let the power of a good book and good food draw you in.

CAROL ZELAYA, children’s author, signs her illustrated book, Emily the Chickadee.

CHRIS BRADFORD signs his debut young adult novel, Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior, a fast-paced adventure set in medieval Japan.

RICHARD WEISSBOURD, a Harvard psychologist, speaks about “The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults Undermine Children's Moral and Emotional Development”, arguing that parents — not peers or television — are the primary shapers of their children’s lives.
Location to be announced.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood is pleased to welcome Kathy Ireland to the store to discuss and sign her new book Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity. This event is free and everyone is encouraged to attend!About the Book:Kathy Ireland communicates with moms every day: online, ... (more)at the grocery store, at church, at speaking engagements, and on her company website. She is grateful that her conversations don't center around beauty tips or requests for autographs or advice on how to dress. Rather, she has the honor of hearing from real women who struggle with balancing the responsibilities of marriage, raising children, managing a household or career or both, and finding any time left to take care of themselves.As the involved mom of three very active children, the supportive wife of an emergency room doctor, and a dynamic businesswoman, Kathy knows of these struggles firsthand. She credits her strong faith in God and her parents' love and support for any success she has today and dedicates her days to finding the solutions that can make life easier for busy moms in all phases of life. As she tackles the tough financial concerns families feel today and many other issues, Kathy offers empathy and encouragement. She shares stories from her own life and wisdom she has gained through her years from teenager with a paper route to successful supermodel to mom to entrepreneur with a dream for big business.About the Author:
Supermodel turned supermom and entrepreneur, Kathy Ireland lives in Santa Barbara where she is a supportive wife to her doctor husband, and mother of three children.

STEPHEN LOVELY, director of the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, signs his debut novel, Irreplaceable, humanizing the sterile world of heart transplants, the faceless victims, and the fortunate receivers of their organs.

VERNON BURTON, Professor of History at the University of Illinois, speaks about “The Age of Lincoln”, exploring the Civil War era in its rich complexity and presenting a fresh vision of its significance in U.S. history. The book won The Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Literary Award for Nonfiction.

James Kennedy, author of the young adult book "Order of Odd-Fish," will be at the Book Stall signing.

CHRISTINE GLEASON, M.D., chief of neonatology and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, speaks about her memoir, Almost Home: Stories of Hope and the Human Spirit in the Neonatology ICU, described by Sherwin Nuland as “an enthralling book.”

MICHAEL THOMPSON, author, consultant, and psychologist specializing in children and parents, speaks about “The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life”.

JAMIE FORD, the son of American and Chinese parents, signs The House on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, his novel set in the ethnic neighborhoods of Seattle and in Japanese American internment camps of the 1940s.

JAY OLSHANSKY, professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, speaks on the subject of “The Future of Human Longevity.” Dr. Olshansky is the lead author of The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging.

MARK SLOAN, M.D., a California-based pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience, speaks about “Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth”, a fresh, sometimes irreverent take on a universally familiar topic.

This is your chance t hear Abraham Verghese, author of "Cutting for Stone." He will be in the store at 6:30 p.m. that evening to read from and sign his new book. We expect a crowd, so arrive early.

Join us from 2 'til 3 p.m. at the store when
GARTH STEIN reads from and signs “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, the adult selection of the annual “One Book, Two Villages” program at the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library. For a complete schedule of the great variety of events, see onebooktwovillages.org.

ELEANOR BLUESTEIN, a California science teacher and textbook and literary journal editor, signs Tea and Other Ayama Nu Tales, set in the fictional Asian country of Ayama Nu, a tiny nation recovering from a violent coup and just developing a global identity.

SUSAN TIBERGHIEN, an American-born writer living in Geneva, Switzerland, speaks about her book, One Year to a Writing Life: Twelve Lessons to Deepen Every Writer's Art and Craft, a treasure-trove of resources in the form of exercises, prompts, and pointed examples, all designed to get writing and thinking ... (more)started.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland is pleased to present local author, Marin resident and 2007 banjo champ John Pedersen, as he discusses and signs his first novel, Scroll and Curl. This event is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!About the Book:
When the old time string band "Sweet Evening ... (more)Breeze" leaves Saratoga Springs, New
York on their two week tour of the east coast, fiddler Dan Munroe thinks that his only
headache will be controlling his band-mates tendencies for excess. That is until he
buys a unique fiddle at a sidewalk sale in New York and hears the story of the previous
owner’s entanglement with the underworld of the 1930's. After he gets the special fiddle
appraised by a reclusive dealer in Pennsylvania, dangerous and mysterious forces suddenly curl
and swirl through his life.About the Author:
As the grandson of a noted Heldeberg Mountain fiddler and a master luthier, John Pedersen portrays the touring string band life based on
hard-won first-hand knowledge about the shifting nature of relationships and the
dynamics of people on the road whose main connection to each other is the music.
Also, running a retail music store, doing repairs and buying and selling rare instruments
have given him insight into the eclectic and occasionally bizarre world of instrument
buyers and collectors and their motivations. The patrons of the store, run by John and his
wife, range from limos full of rock stars to the lowliest of street people and everyone in
between. As a musician John has won many fiddle contests, playing in the “old time”
style, as well as the California State Old Time Banjo championships in 2007.

Happy Earth Day!
JANE SMITH, Northwestern University professor and award-winning science and technology writer, talks about “The Garden of Invention: Luther Burbank and the Business of Breeding Plants”, her wide-ranging and delightful narrative history of the celebrated plant breeder Luther Burbank ... (more)and the business of farm and garden in early twentieth-century America. Garden clubs—and all garden and plant lovers — join us for coffee and an Earth Day celebration!

(Cost: $26. Special Price for the 4 Book Stall Events: $100 for four. Call for reservations: 847-446-8880) ELIZABETH BERG speaks about her new novel "Home Safe", the story about a recently widowed woman, her daughter, and a surprising change in their lives.

KATHERINE HANNIGAN, author of the national bestseller for children, Ida B, reads from and signs her delightful new book, Emmaline and the Bunny.

LEE WOODRUFF, wife of ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, who sustained a traumatic brain injury in Iraq, and herself a contributor to ABC’s “Good Morning America”, speaks about her new book, “Perfectly Imperfect”, chronicling her life as wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH, the bestselling author of the universally beloved "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" novels, speaks about his 10th in the series, “Tea Time for the Traditionally Built”, in which Precious Ramotswe finds herself in personal need of her own formidable detection talents.

REZA ASLAN, award-winning author and scholar of religions, speaks about How to Win a Cosmic War, his book arguing that conflicts in the world--including America's War on Terror--should be stripped of their religious connotations.

NADIA SUSTACHE, an Evanston writer, signs My Mom Is My Hero: Tributes to the Women Who Give Us Life, Love, and Clean Laundry, a collection of 50 essays about mothers, edited by Susan Reynolds. Ms. Sustache is one of the contributors.

JULIANNE MOORE, the four-time Academy Award-nominated actress, reads from her first book, Freckleface Strawberry, the story of a little girl who’s different…just like everyone else.

This is an interactive workshop. Bring a journal and come prepared to write.Co-sponsored with Body Mind and Soul and Spectrum Center.Here's all you will learn in this workshop:Learn how Writing Down Your Soul the practice and the book came to be (Janet’s story)What is writing down your soul? ... (more)Is it journaling? Meditation? Prayer?
What happens when you write down your soul: exit conscious mind; get in touch with your authentic story and self; connect with and activate your inner resource of truth, guidance, and creativityBrief overview of the science that explains what happens when you write this way How to enter the theta brain wave state while writing How to maximize the theta brain wave state while sleeping 10 minute experience of deep soul writing Share our experiences, ask questions Overview of the four steps in Writing Down Your Soul Next steps: How to use the Thirty Day Guide to Writing Down Your Soul, how to maintain your daily deep soul writing practice, and additional resources $35.00 per person;$30.00 per person if you attend with a friend workshop time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Please register for this workshop with Body Mind and Soul #713-993-0550. On Sunday, the workshop will be held at Spectrum Center.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland is excited to present another installment of the always enjoyable Poetry Flash series, featuring Carol Moldaw, Julia B. Levine and Ruth L. Schwartz. Join us for a wonderful afternoon!About the Poets:Carol Moldaw's new book, The Widening, calls itself a "lyric novel" and ... (more)is written throughout in numbered, prose poem-size sections. Rikki Ducornet says of it, "In this irresistible evocation of an erotic life, Carol Moldaw's juvenile lead - impetuous, unbridled, unexpectedly funny and self-deceiving - is always wildly interesting. I dearly love this book." Carol Moldaw has published four books of poetry, including The Lightning Field, which won the 2002 FIELD Poetry Prize. Among her honors are a Lannan Foundation Marfa Writer's Residency, a Pushcart Prize, and an NEA Fellowship.
Julia B. Levine's new book is Ditch-tender. Dennis Schmitz calls it "a book of longings and healings. Julia Levine doesn't conjure as much as coax the magic to happen by itself. The poems lift and move us in currents-shifts, insinuations and splendid runs, delicate textures, depths." Among her other honors are a Discovery/The Nation Award for Emerging New Writers and the Pablo Neruda Prize. Her previous books include Practicing for Heaven, winner of the 1998 Anhinga Prize for Poetry, and Ask, winner of the 2002 Tampa Review Prize for Poetry.Ruth L. Schwartz has published three books of poetry: Edgewater, selected by Jane Hirshfield for the National Poetry Series 2001; Singular Bodies, winner of the 2000 Anhinga Prize for Poetry; Accordion Breathing and Dancing, winner of the 1994 Associated Writing Programs Award. She's also published a book of memoir, Death in Reverse: A Love Story. She has won over a dozen national literary prizes, including two Nimrod/Pablo Neruda Awards, New Letters Prize in Poetry, and two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Jane Hirshfield says of Edgewater, "Ruth L. Schwartz writes with consummate passion, precision, and honesty of the raw hungers that give rise to the world she grapples with her twofold, central question: How can we love fully, open-eyed and open-hearted amid all the flaws and beauty, each other and the world? How could we not?

SANDY WISENBERG, co-director of Northwestern University's MA/MFA in creative writing, speaks about The Adventures of Cancer Bitch, the story of her life with cancer.

DAVID KESSLER, M.D., a pediatrician who served as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, speaks about “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite”, his book explaining how we lost control of the way ... (more)we eat and how we can get it back. Call for more information: 847-446-8880

From 3:30 until 4:30 p.m., TIM MAGNER reads from his children’s book, Earl the Earthworm Digs for His Life, an informative story packed with colorful illustrations of bees, ants, grasses and trees.

DAVID KESSLER, M.D., a pediatrician who served as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, speaks about “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite”, his book explaining how we lost control of the way ... (more)we eat and how we can get it back.

SUZY WELCH, wife of former GE chairman Jack Welch, speaks about her new book, 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea, based on making decisions by weighing the consequences and outcomes of the options in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.

MARGARET McMULLAN, author of How I Found the Strong and When I Crossed No-Bob, speaks about her latest young adult novel, Cashay, a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old living in a Chicago housing project.

Reception and Talk at the Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago. TORI McCLURE, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, speaks about her memoir, A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean.
Reservations required: 847 446-8880.
Dress code enforced

MARCIA CLEVELAND, a resident of Chicago and world-renowned open water long-distance swimmer, signs Dover Solo: Swimming the English Channel.

Benefit for Literature For All of Us
ANNIE BARROWS, author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, speaks about the bestselling novel, which she co-wrote with her aunt, the late Mary Ann Shaffer. Call the Book Stall at 847 446-8880 for information about reservations.

Benefit for Literature For All of Us
ANNIE BARROWS, author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, speaks about the bestselling novel, which she co-wrote with her aunt, the late Mary Ann Shaffer. This event takes place at the DoubleTree Hotel, 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Call the Book Stall ... (more)at 847 446-8880 for information about reservations.

BRENDA FERBER, children’s author, signs her new book, Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire.

TERRI LEE RYAN, a Chicago marketing consultant and career coach, signs her new book, Life Is One Big To-Do List: A Woman's Life After 40, urging women to start living for themselves, not others.

PAMELA KIHM, author of books in the PainFreeChoices series, talks about her new book, Walking: Nature’s Perfect Exercise.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood is delighted to present Columbia University Press author and local resident Siddharth Kara to discuss and sign his new book, Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery. This event is free and all are welcome!About the Book:
Every year, millions of women and ... (more)children are abducted, deceived, seduced, or sold into forced prostitution, made to service hundreds if not thousands of men before being discarded. Generating huge profits for their exploiters, sex slaves form the backbone of one of the world's most profitable illicit enterprises, for unlike narcotics, which must be grown, harvested, refined, and packaged, the female body requires no such "processing" and can be repeatedly consumed. In this first-of-its-kind journey, Siddharth Kara investigates the mechanics of the global sex trafficking business across four continents and takes stock of its devastating human toll. Drawing on his background in finance and economics, Kara provides a rare business analysis of sex trafficking, focusing on the local drivers and global macroeconomic trends that gave rise to the industry after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Kara supplements his analysis with a riveting account of this unconscionable industry, sharing the moving stories of victims and revealing the shocking conditions of their exploitation. The author will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to the organization Free the Slaves.About the Author:Siddharth Kara is a former investment banker and business executive with an MBA from Columbia University. He set aside his corporate career to pursue anti-slavery research, advocacy, and writing, and, more recently, a law degree. He currently serves on the board of directors of Free the Slaves, an organization dedicated to abolishing slavery worldwide. In 2005 he was invited to testify on contemporary slavery to the United States Congressional Human Rights Committee.

THURSDAY, MAY 14
12 p.m.
TONY HORWITZ, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Confederates in the Attic, speaks about his book, A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventures in Early America, about what happened in America between its discovery by Columbus ... (more)in 1492 and the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620. New in paperback. Location: University Club, Chicago

Time to be confirmed) TONY HORWITZ, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Confederates in the Attic, speaks about his book, A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventures in Early America, about what happened in America between its discovery by Columbus ... (more)in 1492 and the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620. New in paperback.

From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Grant Park in Chicago, JILLIAN MICHAELS, celebrity fitness trainer and author of numerous books on diet and fitness, appears at the Self magazine-sponsored Workout in the Park. The Book Stall will be selling Ms. Michaels’ books, which she will also autograph at a time still ... (more)to be designated. For more information on the event, see selfworkoutinthepark.com.

MARY JO REINHART, author, and PAULA NATHAN, illustrator, read and sign their children’s picture book, Grinelda the Mad Hatter,/I>.

Every weekend is worth celebrating when you can relax over a good brunch. Food Network host, cookbook author, celebrated chef, and mother of three, Gale Gand makes brunch a part of her life because it's the easiest way to gather around the table with family and friends. Now, in Gale Gand's Brunch! she ... (more)shares 100 recipes for scrumptious brunch fare, all destined to become favorites. Sunday May 17th
10:00am-12:00 pm
The Bristol
www.thebristolchicago.com Come meet Gale, taste a tempting selection of dishes from her book and relax in Bucktown's new favorite, The Bristol. Chef Chris Pandel worked with Daniel Boulud then Gale & Rick Tramonto at Tru before starting his own venture with pals John Ross and Phillip Walters. Focused on fare showcasing local, sustainable farmers, Pandel has hit a perfect balance of refined comfort. No wonder The Bristol has already won rave reviews and a fiercely loyal clientele. $27.50 AIWF members
$37.50 non-members
Call 773.862.5555 for reservations ABOUT GALE GAND: Gand is a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and executive pastry chef and co-owner of the world-renowned Chicago restaurant Tru. The host of Sweet Dreams, Food Network's first daily show devoted to baking, she is the author of six previous cookbooks, including Gale Gand's Just a Bite and Chocolate and Vanilla.

MARY JO REINHART, author, and PAULA NATHAN, illustrator, read and sign their children’s picture book, Grinelda the Mad Hatter.

D.J. McHALE signs The Soldiers of Halla, the latest in his #1 New York Times bestselling young adult series featuring Bobby Pendragon.

IAIN PEARS, English art historian and author of the bestseller An Instance of the Fingerpost, speaks about his highly anticipated new book, Stone’s Fall, a historical mystery that moves backward from London in 1909 to Venice in 1867.

CAREY CASEY, the chaplain for the Kansas City Chiefs and CEO of the National Center for Fathering, speaks about his book, Championship Fathering, written to help fathers raise healthy, well-adjusted, confident kids.

JAMIE FREVELETTI, Chicago attorney, martial artist and runner, signs her debut novel, Running from the Devil, a thriller that begins with the crash of a hijacked plane on its way from Miami to Bogatá.

JILL JONNES speaks about her new book, Eiffel's Tower—and the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled, and Thomas Edison Became a Count, the story of the world-famous monument and the extraordinary world’s fair that introduced it.

MICHAEL MALONE, award-winning novelist, signs his latest, Four Corners of the Sky, about the mysterious bonds that hold families together.

JEB BRUGMANN, a leading expert in urban development, speaks about his new book, Welcome to the Urban Revolution, a reappraisal of the role of cities and their inhabitants in solving global problems.

PHILIP T. HOFFMAN, Professor of History and Social Science at Cal Tech, speaks about his book, Surviving Large Losses: Financial Crises, the Middle Class, and the Development of Capital Markets .

Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland is pleased to present Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson as they discuss and sign The Scavengers' Manifesto. This event is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!About the Book:
Call it scavenging, freeganism, or just plain affordable living. A movement is afoot, ... (more)one that marries the tenets of affordable living with green living. And with the economic downturn, scavenging is no longer just the province of treasure seekers and do-it-yourselfers. Instead, it has become a fun, creative lifestyle choice for families and individuals looking to do less with more.
Combining tips and strategies with science and philosophy, The Scavengers' Manifesto traces the evolution of scavenging — dissolving ancient prejudices that have long tainted it and reclaiming it as a wise, crucial practice in a nation that discards more than 250 million tons of trash every year.About the Authors:
Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson live the scavenging life. Almost everything in their home has been swapped, thrifted or found — that is, not bought new or full-price. Even their garden blooms with a mix of flowers, vegetables and herbs, all from seeds obtained for free.
Rufus and Lawson are also critically acclaimed authors. Rufus is best known for writing Party of One: A Loner’s Manifesto and, recently, Stuck: Why We Can’t (or Won’t) Move On. She has also written for many publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle and Salon.com. Lawson's award-winning book, Darwin and Evolution for Kids, has been published in five languages.

MARY PAT KELLY signs her novel, Galway Bay, based on the Irish Emigration to America — a story of an emigrant family who transforms Chicago from a frontier town to the City of the Century.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland is pleased to present local author Susan Kuchinskas as she discusses and signs her book, The Chemistry of Connection. This event is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.About the Author:
Susan Kuchinskas was fascinated when she first read about oxytocin, because ... (more)it offered an explanation for her own difficult path to love and connection. As a journalist covering technology, science and culture, her work has appeared in a wide variety of publications from Art & Antiques to Time to Oakland Magazine and the East Bay Express. She writes the Mind Matters column for WebMD Magazine. She lives in Berkeley with her mate of 13 years, a rescue dog and a frog. She's an organic gardener and beekeeper, and loves getting her hands dirty. She blogs about oxytocin here.About the Book:When you make love, cuddle with a partner, or have coffee with close friends, a powerful brain chemical called oxytocin floods your body with feelings of contentment and trust. This natural "love drug," produced by the hypothalamus, is responsible for human bonding in both platonic and intimate relationships, and is the key to many of the psychological differences between men and women. In The Chemistry of Connection, you'll learn easy ways to increase your natural supply of oxytocin to establish deeper connections with family, friends, and romantic partners. You'll discover: The power of the "cuddle hormone" in relationships How sex and love are deeply entwined for both women and men The chemical differences between lust, romance, and love How to raise children who trust and love in a healthy way.

ELIZABETH BRACKETT, award-winning TV journalist on WTTW and PBS’s News Hour with Jim Lehrer, speaks about her new book, Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow, with new details behind the story of the impeachment of the Illinois governor.

Exclusive Chicago-area appearance The one and only LARRY KING, host of “Larry King Live” on CNN, appears at the store to sign his autobiography, My Remarkable Journey, the definitive autobiography of the man celebrated as “the most remarkable talk-show host on TV ever.” Watch for more details!

MARY PAT KELLY signs her novel, Galway Bay, based on the Irish Emigration to America — a story of an emigrant family who transforms Chicago from a frontier town to the City of the Century.

ELIZABETH BRACKETT, award-winning TV journalist on WTTW and PBS's News Hour with Jim Lehrer, signs her new book, Pay to Play: How Rod Blagojevich Turned Political Corruption Into a National Sideshow.

Join us for Cocktails at the store with ANDIE RYAN, a New York-based risk oversight executive, talks about her debut novel, Shakedown, a thriller about corporate treachery.

WALTER BREGMAN signs Seven Friends – Sixty Years Later, a collection of autobiographies written by seven friends who attended New Trier High School together from 1947 – 1951 and have met every five years since.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland is excited to present another installment of the always excellent Poetry Flash series. The book, Lyric Postmodernisms is an important anthology of experimental poetry edited by the late Reginald Shepherd and contributing poets Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Gillian Conoley, Martha ... (more)Ronk, Aaron Shurin, and Carol Snow will be on hand reading their work!

Diesel, A Bookstore in Brentwood is pleased to present Gregg Hurwitz as he discusses and signs his new novel, Trust No One. This event is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!About the Author:Gregg Hurwitz is the critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling author of The Tower, Minutes ... (more)to Burn, Do No Harm, The Kill Clause, The Program, Troubleshooter, Last Shot, and most recently, The Crime Writer, an instant international bestseller that was shortlisted for best novel of the year by International Thriller Writers and nominated for the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. His novels have been feature selections for all four major literary book clubs, chosen as Book Sense Picks, and translated into fifteen languages. He has written screenplays for Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Paramount Studios, MGM, and ESPN, developed TV series for Warner Studios, written Wolverine, Punisher, and Foolkiller for Marvel, and published numerous academic articles on Shakespeare. He has taught fiction writing in the USC English Department, and guest lectured for UCLA, and for Harvard in the United States and Europe. In the course of researching his thrillers, he has sneaked onto demolition ranges with Navy SEALs, swam with sharks in the Galápagos, and gone undercover into mind-control cults.Hurwitz grew up in the Bay Area. While completing a BA from Harvard and a master's from Trinity College, Oxford in Shakespearean tragedy, he wrote his first novel. He was the undergraduate scholar-athlete of the year at Harvard for his pole-vaulting exploits, and played college soccer in England, where he was a Knox fellow. He now lives in L.A. where he continues to play soccer, frequently injuring himself.

Diesel, A Bookstore in Malibu is excited to welcome Norman Ollestad to the shop to discuss and sign his book, Crazy fo the Storm: A Memoir of Survival. This event is free and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!