The American Book Center

The first Amsterdam Night of Books (Amsterdam Wereld Boekenstad Boekennacht) will take place on Friday March 20. Amsterdam’s major bookstores, the book market, cafes and the organization of Amsterdam World Book Capital are inviting all book lovers to come join in the fun till 23.00 hrs. There will ... (more)be presentations by renowned authors, musical literary acts and DJs, on and around the Spui, including sigining sessions and readings. The night will finish off in grand style with a big party! The American Book Center Amsterdam has put together a fun and varied program in English. All events are free and no reservations are required. On the Ground Floor Eric Staller Artist Wonka-esque artist Eric Staller has been sharing his magical art with the people of Amsterdam since moving here in 1994. Many people recognize his mobile public artworks, which he calls ‘urban UFOs’. Staller will be bringing some of his inventions and artworks to the Spui, and he’ll also read from his book Out Of My Mind. Time: 19.00-19.30 Joseph O’ Neil Author of Netherland Author Joseph O’Neill, winner of this year’s PEN/Faulkner Prize, will read from and talk about his work, and answer your questions. Joseph O’Neill was born in Ireland, raised in the Netherlands, educated in England, and lives in New York. His award-winning novel, Netherland, reflects his background, as well as his passion for cricket. Please note that we expect this event to be very popular No reservation is needed, but please come early as space is limited. We may have to close our doors once capacity is reached for safety reasons, so we’ll have a first-come-first-served policy on the door. Time: 20.00-21.00 On the 1st floor Animated Readings Work from our favorite funny authors will be brought to life by actors Donna DuCarme and friends. Bill Bryson: 21.00-21.20 Mark Twain: 21.30-21.50 Dorothy Parker: 22.00-22.20 David Sedaris: 22.30-22.50 At the ABC Treehouse Free Writing Clinic & Mini-Workshop Free Writing Clinic Can’t get started? No structure? No plot in mind? Writing problems abound but help is at hand! Visit the Amsterdam Writing Workshops free writing clinic on Book Night 2009. Bring us your writing questions and worries; you’ll get sound advice, plus a prescription for meaningful writing books. Whether you’re writing newsletters, poetry, or the Great American Novel, you’ll leave uplifted and with solutions in hand. ( The Treehouse is at Voetboogstraat 11, just a 3 minute walk from the store.) Time: 18:00-20:00 Mini Writing Workshop: Finding Time to Write Friday March 20th, 20:00-21:00 What stops most people from writing? Not enough time. This one-hour workshop can be your kick-start to writing. We’ll practice getting the words on the page; schedule writing time; and discuss other obstacles. To Reserve Write to info@amsterdamwriting.com Visit our website at www.amsterdamwriting.com Call 062 502 0817

Today we live in a world where nature seems to be getting ever more violent, ever more unpredictable. Some people believes that the world will end in 2012. Others believe we will make a spiritual transmission.... We constantly get reports of thousands of people losing their lives and homes to drought, ... (more)deluge, earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. Also are the personal crisis of financial problems and other changes daily on the news. It always seems that things go wrong in our life; that we are constantly faced with problems and misfortune. But have you ever considered that what is apparently going wrong may be life opening new doors of possibility for you? Have you ever considered the metaphysical cause behind apparent physical blocks and emotional stress? Have you ever noticed how resistant you are to Change? How much you cling to everything being and remaining the same? To grow you need to constantly embrace change, but we stumble over a simple, yet profound truth: You cannot change and remain the same. Nothing in nature remains static. How does all this change affect humanity? It compels us to also change and grow. It shatters our attachment to ‘sameness.’ But we resist. We do not like change unless it is on our terms. We like to modify, not change; we like to dominate, not participate. We need to be open to change, open enough to accept and embrace it. We need to learn to live beyond the boundaries of fear. This is the meaning behind change. It is sad that we only seem to find the Power of Love in times of crisis and change. We need to change that!” Michael J. Roads Let Michael Roads inspire you in this talk and give you a new view of Live and insights how to deal with 'Changes'. Biography Michael J. Roads: As a child Michael was continually attracted by the vast mysteries of nature while growing up in Cambridgeshire, England. After immigrating to Australia in 1966 he became a farmer, as well as a pioneer in the Organic Farming movement. His books, A Guide to Organic Gardening (1976) and A Guide to Organic Living (1977), were Australian best sellers. As he became increasingly attuned to the land, nature became his on-going teacher. During this time he also became increasingly dedicated to his spiritual growth. Insight prompted him to listen to and 'feel' the communications that nature so freely offered. At first this new ability was quite threatening to him, but, in time, realizing how much it enhanced his day to day learning on the farm, as well as his spiritual growth, he began to trust the practical applications that were being taught. This relationship continued on for several years, ever increasing. In 1986, after months of suffering from debilitating physical pain with no recovery in sight, he experienced in a moment of grace a profound transformation of consciousness. His chronic disabilities were completely healed within twenty minutes, as a door to greater clarity, knowing and understanding of Life opened into his awareness. This enlightening experience became the basis for Michael's books and teachings on deeper connections with nature and the art of living. Now he is author of 15 books in 13 languages including the best selling, Talking with Nature and Journey into Nature. Additional titles include More Than Money - True Prosperity, Conscious Gardening and his latest release, Through the Eyes of Love. His international speaking tours have included Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Norway, West Indies, U.S.A., Canada and Japan. Michael is an extraordinarily gifted communicator, richly enjoyed by audiences worldwide. He allows participants to experience the deep Love that is their reality. It is Love that connects all life on Earth . . . and beyond. Details: time: 19:30 cost: €15 email: info@michaelroads.nl www: www.michaelroads.com www: www.michaelroads.nl telephone: 0317415006

Patrick Rothfuss, author of the brilliant fantasy novel The Name of the Wind will be reading and signing his book at the ABC Amsterdam store on Thursday May 14th from 18:30 till 20:00 hrs. The Name of the Wind is the riveting first-person narrative of a young man who grows up to be the most notorious ... (more)magician his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard. It is a high-action novel written with a poet’s hand, a powerful coming-of-age story of a magically gifted young man, told through his eyes: to read this book is to be the hero. Patrick Rothfuss had the good fortune to be born in Wisconsin where long winters and lack of cable television brought about a love of reading and writing. According to him, “The real story began when my mother gave me my first real book to read. When she gave me that book, it shaped my mind. My life. It was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Pat’s love of reading eventually become a love for writing. He began college in 1991 at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Pat walked away from his college experience with a B.A. in English; minors in philosophy, psychology, history, and writing; a teaching assistantship at Washington State University; and a fantasy trilogy called The Song of Flame and Thunder. Pat continues to live in central Wisconsin. He still lacks cable television, and the long winters force him to stay inside and write. He still teaches at the college he grew to love as a student, and acts as advisor for the College Feminists and the local Fencing Club. When not reading and writing, Pat wastes his time playing video games, holds symposia at his house, and dabbles with alchemy in his basement. “The debut novel from Patrick Rothfuss — the first installment of an epic fantasy trilogy entitled the ‘Kingkiller Chronicle’ — not only lives up to its extraordinary pre-press hype (publisher DAW president Elizabeth Wollheim called it “the most brilliant first fantasy novel I have read in over 30 years as an editor”), it surpasses it. When fantasy fans begin reading THE NAME OF THE WIND, they should be fully prepared to lose all contact with the outside world while immersed in this highly original and mesmerizing tale of magic, love, and adventure.” -Strange Horizons

Author of "Disappearance of the Universe" in the ABC Treehouse May 22, 2009 make a reservation On Friday May 22nd, best-selling author and teacher of "A Course in Miracles" Gary Renard will be our special guest. Gary will give a short lecture based on his teachings, followed by a Q & A-session. In addition, ... (more)Gary's translator and good friend Rogier Fentener van Vlissingen will present his own work "Closing the Circle", which is based on Gary's second book "Your Immortal Reality". The evening will close with a book signing session by both authors, so come and join us! About Gary Renard Gary Renard, the best-selling author of The Disappearance of the Universe and Your Immortal Reality, was born on the historic North Shore of Massachusetts. He became a successful professional guitar player, but during the harmonic convergence of 1987, he heard a Calling and began to take his life in a different direction. At the beginning of the 1990's, he moved to Maine, where he underwent a powerful spiritual awakening. As instructed, he slowly and carefully wrote Disappearance over a period of nine years. In the fall of 2003, after much encouragement from other speakers and students, Gary began to present talks and workshops in public. His speaking career took off remarkably fast, and today he lectures internationally. Combining a disarming sense of humor with radical, cutting-edge metaphysical information and experiential exercises, Gary has been described as one of the most interesting and courageous spiritual speakers in the world. Over the past five years, he has spoken in 41 states, 16 countries, and was the keynote speaker at the International A Course in Miracles Conferences in Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Gary is also the most recent recipient of the Infinity Foundation Spirit Award. The award is given to a person who has made a meaningful contribution to personal and spiritual growth. Past recipients include Dan Millman, Ram Dass, Gary Zukav, James Redfield and Neale Donald Walsch. Details: time: 20:00 to 21:00 cost: free entrance host: Femke Wijdekop email: femke@abc.nl