St. Louis Public Library

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS THOUGHT-PROVOKING AUTHORS IN MARCH

The St. Louis Public Library is proud to present thought-provoking authors for adults and teens in March including: Peggielene Bartels, Dr. Jeannette Batz Cooperman, William A. Donius, Joanne Fluke, G. Neri, Dr. John Oldani, and Ashley Ream & Susan McBride, plus the Library's 5^th Annual Author Shout-Out!.All programs are FREE and open to the public.

 

• Peggielene Bartels discusses and signs her new book, King Peggy. The event takes place at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 7 at 7 p.m.

 King Peggy is the charming real-life fairy tale of an American secretary who discovers she has been chosen king of Otuam, an impoverished fishing village on the west coast of Africa.

 Bartels was born in Ghana and moved to Washington, D.C., in her early twenties to work at her home country's embassy. She became an American citizen in 1997 and was chosen King of Otuam in 2008.

 Co-sponsored by Left Bank Books.

Books available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

 

• Dr. Jeannette Batz Cooperman discusses and signs her new book,The St. Louis Women's Exchange: 130 Years of the Gentle Art of Survival. The event takes place at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 8 at 7 p.m.

 The Women's Exchange of St. Louis is seen simply as an exquisite gift shop with an adjacent tearoom, a beloved institution that is always packed with light and feminine chatter. But the volunteers who run it have had the grit to keep it going through a Great Depression, two World Wars, multiple recessions, and more. The "decayed gentlewomen" they set out to help in 1883 are now refugees from Afghanistan, battered wives, and mothers of sons paralyzed in Iraq.

 Books available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

 

• The 5^th Annual Author Shout-Out! takes place at Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 10 at 2 p.m. Local authors "pitch and sell" their books to readers who appreciate hometown talent, vision, and voice. The guest speaker is St. Louisan and Essence bestselling author Keisha Ervin.

 All authors' books available for purchase.

 

• G. Neri is the Spring 2012 Read It Forward author. He discusses and signs his graphic novel, Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. This is the first time that a graphic novel has been chosen as a Read It Forward selection. The event takes place at the Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., on March 14 at 6 p.m.

 Based on an incident that made headlines in 1994, Yummy could just as easily have happened in St. Louis. The graphic novel format works well to tell this shocking, yet all too familiar story.

 Neri's earlier book, Ghetto Cowboy,was also based on real events—the Philadelphia tradition of inner-city horse training and riding. Other books by Neri include Chess Rumble (a 2009 Read It Forward title) and Surf Mules.

 Books available for purchase courtesy of Pudd'nhead Books.

 

• New York Times bestselling author Joanne Fluke discusses and signs her new book, Cinnamon Roll Murder. The event takes place at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 14 at 7 p.m.

 When Hannah Swensen hears that the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band will be playing at a festival in Lake Eden, Minnesota, she bakes up a supply of their namesake confections to welcome them. But tragedy strikes when their tour bus overturns on its way into town.

 Fluke is the author of the Hannah Swensen mysteries, which include Apple Turnover Murder, Cream Puff Murder, Carrot Cake Murder, and the book that started it all, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. Visit MurderSheBaked.com for more information.

 Books available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

 

• Ashley Ream discusses and signs her book, Losing Clementine, AND Susan McBride discusses and signs her book Little Black Dress. The authors appear together at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 15 at 7 p.m.

 About Ashley Ream's Losing Clementine: Although Clementine has the wit and sharp tongue of Dorothy Parker, the talent of Picasso and an ex-husband who still wants her, it isn't enough. In thirty days she's going to turn out the lights for good.

 Ream got her first job at a newspaper when she was 16. After working in newsrooms across Missouri, Florida, and Texas, she gave up the deadlines to pursue fiction. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she works at a nonprofit and is finishing her next novel.

 About Susan McBride's Little Black Dress: By shedding light on the past, Antonia learns the most unexpected things about love, magic, and a little black dress with the power to break hearts… and mend them.

 McBride is the author of The Cougar Club, selected by Target Stores as a Bookmarked Breakout Title and named a Midwest Connections Pick by the Midwest Booksellers Association. Additionally, she has written five award-winning Debutante Dropout Mysteries and several young adult series books. She lives in Brentwood, Missouri, with her husband.

 Books available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

 

• Dr. John Oldani discusses and signs his book, Passing It On. The event takes place at the Machacek Branch, 6424 Scanlan Ave., on March 19 at 10 a.m.

 In honor of Women's History Month, Oldani's interactive discussion, "Always Wear Clean Underwear: The Folk History of the American Woman in Momism, Corsets, Quilts and Mary Jane Jokes," provides a lively new perspective on folk feminism. You'll never play with matches again or wear white after Labor Day! Interactive handouts are included in the presentation.

 Oldani has collected and documented American folklore for years. He wrote the Johnny Cash American Folklore radio program and was guest/host on national radio outlets on American Folklore for twenty-five years. He is the author of Sweetness Preserved: The Story of the Crown Candy Kitchen; and You Did What in the Ditch?: Folklore of the American Quilter. He resides in St. Louis.

 Books available for purchase courtesy of the author.

 

• William A. Donius discusses and signs his book, Thought Revolution: How to Unlock Your Inner Genius. The event takes place at the Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., on March 21 at 7 p.m.

 With 30 years' experience in public relations, healthcare, television production, and banking, the former Pulaski Bank CEO offers a proven methodology for finding one's own creativity by tapping into the right brain in order to make better personal and professional decisions.

 Immediately prior to the book discussion and signing, the FRIENDS of the St. Louis Public Library will host a meet-and-greet with the author. The event begins at 6 p.m. To make reservations or to learn how to become a FRIEND, call Liz at 314-340-2403.

 For more information, call 314-206-6779.

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