January 2020
Joe Ide discusses and signs “Hi Five (An IQ Novel)”
"Hi Five" by Joe Ide is an intriguing mystery that centers on a mob boss's daughter who is the sole witness to her boyfriend's murder. The case is complicated by the fact that she has five multiple personalities and it's up to Isaiah Quintabe to sort out exactly what happened.
Find out more »Eric Nuzum discusses and signs “Make Noise”
"Make Noise" by Eric Nuzum is a guide for audio storytellers to make the most of the medium.
Find out more »February 2020
Candacy Taylor discusses and signs “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America” at Chevalier’s Books
Published from 1936 to 1966, the "Green Book" was hailed as the "black travel guide to America." At that time, it was very dangerous and difficult for African-Americans to travel because black travelers couldn't eat, sleep, or buy gas at most white-owned businesses. The "Green Book" listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses that were safe for black travelers. It was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem. It took courage to be listed in the "Green…
Find out more »Gibby Haynes discusses and signs “Me & Mr. Cigar”
From the wild and wonderful mind of Gibby Haynes—world famous Butthole Surfers front man/lyricist and self-proclaimed eternal Texan adolescent—comes the surreal tale of 17-year-old Oscar Lester and his trusted dog, Mr. Cigar. Oscar and his dog have made a pretty good life for themselves, despite the fact that Oscar’s family has all but vanished—his father is dead; his mother has a new boyfriend. His older sister, Rachel, fled five years ago . . . right after Mr. Cigar bit off…
Find out more »Stephen Tapert discusses and signs “Best Actress: The History of Oscar-Winning Women”
This lavishly illustrated coffee table book offers a vital examination of the first 75 women to have won the Best Actress Oscar over the span of 90 years.
Find out more »Michele Wong McSween discusses and signs “Gordon and Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year”
Gordon and Li Li are cousins. Li Li is from Beijing, China, and speaks Mandarin. Gordon lives in Brooklyn, New York, and speaks English. When Li Li visits Gordon for the first time, the cousins must learn to communicate using simple, everyday words. Children and caregivers can read along with Gordon and Li Li as they learn basic English and Mandarin words and their correct pronunciation. Each spread of this sturdy book spotlights a different theme, including greetings, everyday words,…
Find out more »John August discusses and signs “Arlo Fitch: In the Kingdom of Shadows”
After a harrowing summer camp, Arlo Finch is back in Pine Mountain, Colorado, preparing to face a new school, new threats, and two new Rangers in Blue Patrol. Arlo is about to undertake his most dangerous journey yet: all the way to China to try to bring his father home.
Find out more »A reading with contributors to “Slouching Towards Los Angeles”
In "The White Album," Joan Didion famously wrote that “a place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively…loves it so radically that he remakes it in his image.” Cruising in her Daytona yellow Corvette Stingray, taking it all in behind dark glasses, Joan Didion claimed California for all time. "Slouching Towards Los Angeles" is a multi-faceted portrait of the literary icon who, in turn, belongs to us. This collection of original essays covers the turf that…
Find out more »Ariela Gross signs “Becoming Free, Becoming Black” in conversation with Brenda Stevenson
"Becoming Free, Becoming Black" tells the story of enslaved and free people of color who used the law to claim freedom and citizenship for themselves and their loved ones. Their communities challenged slaveholders' efforts to make blackness synonymous with slavery. Looking closely at three slave societies - Cuba, Virginia, and Louisiana - Alejandro de la Fuente and Ariela J. Gross demonstrate that the law of freedom - not slavery - established the meaning of blackness in law.
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