Peter Spiegelman is a new and local
author. Hailing from Ridgefield, CT, Spiegelman has used
the rich data around Fairfield County to write a spot-on,
engaging mystery/thriller about the world of wall street
and it's seamy underbelly of corruption, graft and blackmail.
The characters in Black Maps (Knopf; $22.95) could
be the guy next door … just about any financial executive
making a sprint to the top of the ladder of corporate finance.
John March, born into wealth and a surefire finance career,
leaves the world of high jinx for a perfect marriage and
a job on a small local police force. He makes a deep impression
when he solves a serial murder case but is emotionally broken
when he pays the price of his wife. Come meet Peter at 11:30
AM, Sunday, September 14 at Just Books, Too and
get a signed copy.
Former anchor of CNN's Southeast Asia desk, Anita Pratap,
will join us for what can only be a riveting Just Books
Coffeehouse to talk about her book Island of Blood: Frontline
Reports from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Other South Asian
Flashpoints (Penguin; $14). There's too much going on
in this part of the world to miss hearing Ms. Pratap tell
her stories. One of the only reporters ever to establish
a relationship with the Tamil leader Pirabhakaran, Pratap
vividly recalls her experiences in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh
and Afghanistan. Worth an evening out to bring some background
to an area of the world that we will only be hearing more
about. Join us at the Arcadia Coffee Co. at 7:00 PM,
Thursday, September 18 for what is sure to be an interesting
evening.
Net
proeeds for this event to benefit the Rwanda Project (click
here for more details).
The day that Scott Berg released Kate Remembered
(Putnam; $25.95), we submitted a request to have Scott come
tell us about Ms. Hepburn in person. Our wish was granted
and we are happy to host Scott Berg at a breakfast on Friday,
September 19 at the Stamford Marriott Hotel. Berg worked
with Katherine Hepburn for the past 20 years to publish
what can only be a special biography of the much loved Katherine
Hepburn. Berg reveals all that Katherine was willing to
share - her views on Hollywood, her longtime affair with
Spencer Tracy and the intimate details of her otherwise
public life. We'll be at the Stamford Marriott at
8:45 AM, Friday,
September 19 to hear the very gifted speaker
A. Scott Berg tell us about the venture that became Kate
Remembered.
Much loved children's book author Todd Parr will
join us for story hour at Just Books, Too at 10:00 AM,
Tuesday , September 23 to read his latest brightly
illustrated story The Family Book (Little Brown;
$15.95). In this new release, Parr celebrates the diversity
and similarity in different families. Parr's signature is
the dog Otto, who appears in all of his books. Other Parr
books will be available for signing - feel free to bring
your well-worn Parr library for embellishment!
James Howe's Bunnicula books have a near-cult following
in the world of early chapter books and we can't wait to
welcome him to Just Books, Too for an after-school
visit at 3:30 PM, Thursday September 25th. Howe will
be signing copies of his latest Bunnicula book, The Odorous
Adventures of Stinky Dog (Atheneum; $9.95). While older
kids may want to bring their dog-eared copies of the earlier
Bunnicula series (written by the uncle of the "author"
of the Tales From the House of Bunnicula series), we'll
be sure to have all Howe classics on-hand!
Just Books and Elm Street Books are honored to host Henry
Kissinger at 8:45 AM, Friday, September 26 at
the Stamford Marriott on his very limited, 5 city,
author tour for his latest book Crisis: The Anatomy of
two Foreign Policy Crises (Simon and Schuster; $35).
In a time where foreign policy is becoming increasingly
more important and the impact of both good and bad foreign
policy is amplified, Kissinger couldn't be more timely.
Whether you agree or disagree with Kissinger's politics,
if you are a person who is interested in the inner workings
of high-stakes diplomacy, this is an event to attend. Crisis
details, through previously unreleased transcripts of Kissingers's
phone conversations, the inner workings of diplomacy through
during both the Yom Kippur war and the final days of the
Vietnam War.
Local author Anne Rockwell will join us at The
Sound Beach Fire Station at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 4
to sign copies of her latest book At The Firehouse
(HarperCollins; $15.99). Anne relied on the Sound Beach
Fire Department for research on her most recent children's
book and to honor our local firefighters, we've invited
them to join us with a truck and some local heroes!
Jenny had the honor to attend a presentation at the Cos
Cob School last year by John Bemelmans Marciano.
Mr. Marciano was telling a mesmerized audience of youngsters
about who he is (the grandson of the author of the Madeline
books!) and what he does (writes children's books) and why
(because he loves creating for children). John had the entire
media center mesmerized as he asked questions, coaxed out
answers and told the story of his not-yet-finished story
of Harold's Tail (Viking Children's Books; $15.99).
Harold is a squirrel who lives "the life" in the
Upper West Side of New York City until he is duped out of
his tail by a street smart rat. Come meet this wonderfully
talented young artist at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 11
at Just Books, Too!
R.L. Stine, the prolific author of the recently
re-released Goosebumps series of books (a whole generation
learned to read with these books!) will join us after school
at Just Books, Too at 3:30 PM, Friday, October
17 to sign copies of his latest young adult novel Dangerous
Girls (HarperCollins; $13.99). R.L. Stine is responsible
for many a reluctant reader turned bookworm. Don't miss
meeting this literary giant … so close to Halloween.
Anita Diamant, author of the hugely successful The
Red Tent, will be join Just Books and Elm Street
Books at 8:45 AM, Friday, October 24 at the Delamar
Hotel to tell us about her new book Pitching My Tent:
On Marriage, Motherhood, Friendship and Other Leaps of Faith
(Scribner; $24). Anita is an eloquent speaker and if you
haven't met her before you should sign up now! Pitching
My Tent is a collection her essays collected over the 20-year
span of her career as a journalist. Anita states that this
collection turns out to be "sort of a diary" and
includes a wide range of topics under the tent of marriage
motherhood, friendship and the overall meaning of life.
Barbara Bush, born in Rye, New York (which makes
her "a local" of sorts!) is the much-loved mother
of our current president George W. Bush and wife of former
President George H. Bush will be the guest of Just Books
and Elm Street books at the Stamford Marriott 8:45 AM,
Tuesday, October 28 to talk about her new book Reflections:
Life After the White House (Scribner; $28). Former President
Bush's brother is a Greenwich resident. This is a perfect
opportunity for any budding historian to meet a former first
lady and the mother of a sitting president. This event is
sponsored by Stone Gate at BelleFair, a Sterling Glen Community.
Kathryn Lasky will join us at 10 AM, Saturday,
November 8 to sign copies of her latest Guardians of
Ga'hoole book, Journey (Scholastic; $4.99). Kathryn
is a prolific children's and young adult author and is well
loved by young and old alike. Be sure to stop in at Just
Books, Too to have your summer reading book signed and to
pick up Journey!
Madeleine Albright is the first female secretary
of state and the highest ranking woman ever to serve in
the U.S. government. Just Books and Elm Street books are
proud to host Madeleine Albright at 8:45 AM, Tuesday,
November 11 at the Stamford Marriott to hear
about her autobiography, Madam Secretary (Miramax;
$27.95). Meeting such a high-powered and influential diplomat
is not an everyday event. Since November 11 is Veterans
Day, we're hosting a story hour for children over the age
of 3 at the Stamford Marriott and are encouraging children
in middle- and high-school to attend this unprecedented
event.
In his new book, Traitors: The Worst Acts of Terrorism
in American History (Berkley; $15), award-winning journalist
Richard Sale recounts the stories of those whose
actions betrayed America and put the safety of every citizen
at risk, from Benedict Arnold, whose name has become a synonym
for traitor, to Robert Hanssen, the FBI staffer who sold
secrets to the KGB for 22 years. Included, along with photographs,
are thoughtful explorations on the motives and the mindsets
of Robert Hanssen, John Wilkes Booth, and others, in fascinating,
detailed accounts of the worst acts of treason ever committed
against America. Join us at Just Books, Too at 2:30 PM
on Saturday, November 15 to meet Sale and get your copy
of Traitors!
Chef Daniel Boulud is a beloved New York City chef
and we're pleased to host a booksigning with Chef Daniel
at Just Books at 12:30 PM, Saturday, November 22.
Chef Daniel will be signing copies of his Letters to
a Young Chef (Basic; $22.50) which is a part of the
Art of Mentoring series. No surprises here, Boulud will
tantalize us with the details of his life as one of the
most successful and influential chefs in America. Of course
we'll be sure to have other Chef Daniel titles including
his October release cookbook Daniel's Dish: Entertaining
at Home with a Four-Star Chef (Filipacchi; $34.95).
Don't miss this sumptuous signing!