Friday, August 29, 2008

The 2008 Decatur Book Festival

The greatest book festival in the World begins today in downtown Decatur, Georgia. Seriously, at just three years of age, the Decatur Book Festival is officially FAMOUS. Two hundred and fifty plus authors will be in attendance (many from Georgia--many from Decatur). Some 50,000 to 75,000 people are expected to attend. So much to see, do, eat, read. See the Festival link at right for the entire phenomenal schedule...if you are not already there in Decatur.

As an avid promoter of the Georgia book world--and former Decaturite--it's hard not to gush. Having been in the book business for so long, I recall a time when Atlanta was spoken of as just, "not a book town".

See you there.

Suggested reading:

See full schedule of Decatur Book Festival authors for suggestions.

RMR

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Natasha Tretheway & Karin Slaughter on the Same Bill

The Georgia Perimeter College Writer's Institute, in conjunction with the Atlanta Writer's Club, will present 2007 Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Natasha Tretheway and internationally acclaimed crime novelist Karin Slaughter (both Georgia authors) together at 1 pm, in Room C110 on the GPC Dunwoody Campus on Saturday, August 16th.

For more information about the Georgia Perimeter College Writer's Institute and its events, see the link on the right. For more information about the Atlanta Writer's Club, visit their site at www.atlantawritersclub.org.

Counting the days until the Decatur Book Festival.

Suggested reads:

Anything by Ms. Tretheway or Ms. Slaughter

RMR

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The First Day of Kindergarten


Well, there she goes.


Yesterday was the first day of kindergarten for my house.


Didn't she just get here? Didn't she just learn to walk and wasn't she just in diapers? Now she says that she wants to dress up like one of the B-52s for Halloween.


I am looking at a book that was inscribed to her by author Terry Kay (To Whom the Angels Spoke) when she was barely a month old. She has books that were autographed for her by authors before she was even born. Now she is reading books.


She's reading.


Today was Day 2 of kindergarten and she marched right in to the school building like she owned the place.


Recommended Reads:


Nothing. Absolutely nothing helps.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Upcoming Author & Book Events in Georgia Updated August 5th, 2008

Upcoming Author & Book Events in Georgia

Thursday, August 7th

Sandy Jones
Great Expectations: Baby Gear
7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Texas Governor Rick Perry
On My Honor
Borders Books in Buckhead (Atlanta)
404.237.0707 for information.

Mark Baurlein
The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future
7:15 at the Decatur Public Library
Sponsors: Georgia Center for the Book & Wordsmiths Books

Friday, August 8th

Margaret Hoffman signing
7 pm at Barnes & Noble Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Laurinda Brown
The Highest Price for Passion
8 pm at Charis Books & More in Atlanta
404.524.0304

Friday, August 8th-Sunday, August 10

The 2008 Dahlonega Literary Festival
Authors and illustrators attending include Karen Abbott, Steve Berry, Patti Callahan Henry, Nathalie Dupree, Joshilyn Jackson, Mark Braught, Laura Knorr-Braught, Jackie Cooper, Jack Bass, Mitchell Graham. Lots of kid’s events.
For more information, visit www.literaryfestival.org.

Saturday, August 9th

Hodge Steve Children’s Author & CPR Demonstration
11 am at Barnes & Noble in Columbus
706.653.0947 for information.

Charles Martin
Where the River Ends
2 pm at Books A Million in Savannah

Meesha Mink
Shameless Hoodwives
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Nancy Nichols
Secrets of the Ultimate Husband Hunter
2 pm at Barnes & Noble in Marietta
770.422.2261 for information.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chasing Life
2 pm at the Decatur Public Library
Sponsors: Georgia Center for the Book & Wordsmiths Books

Karin Slaughter
Fractured
3 pm at Borders in Marietta
770.565.0947 for information.

Sunday, August 10th

August is Romance Awareness Month
Authors Michele Sinclair, Missy Tippens, Gilian Summers, Michelle Roper, Berta Platas and more.
1 pm at Barnes & Noble in Marietta
770.422.2261 for information.

Joe Harris
The Stars That Never Shine
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Tuesday, August 12th

James Kautz
Footprints Across the South: Bartram’s Trail Revisited
7 pm at the Northeast Georgia History Museum in Gainesville
678.797.2214 for information.

Noah Andre Trudeau
Southern Storm: Sherman’s March to the Sea
7:15 at the Decatur Public Library
Sponsors: Georgia Center for the Book & Wordsmiths Books

Lauren Fix
Lauren Fix’s Guide to Loving Your Car
7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble in Buckhead (Atlanta)
404.261.7747 for information.

Thursday, August 14th

Jay Hakes
A Declaration of Energy Independence
Reception at 6 pm & Program begins at 7 pm.
Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta

Jack Pendarvis
Awesome
8 pm Ballroom Book Bash at the Highland Inn (Atlanta)
Sponsors: A Capella Books & The Chattahoochee Review
404.681.5128 for more info.

Friday, August 15th

Mary R. Butler
Mama Peavy Says….
6:30 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Jack Pendarvis
Awesome
7:30 at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur

Saturday, August 16th

Whit Gibbons
Turtles of the Southeast
Reed Park in Augusta
www.ugapress.edu for information.

Glenda Krueger
Surviving the Tracks
2 pm at Barnes & Noble in Columbus
706.653.7880 for information.

Trina Stroud
Writing My Face
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Sunday, August 17th

Arnold Fleischmann & Carol Pierannuzi
Politics in Georgia
2 pm at the Atlanta History Center

Reginald Beaty & Tony Owens
Faces of Change
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Tuesday, August 19th

Lesley Kagen
Land of A Hundred Wonders
7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble in Buckhead (Atlanta)
404.261.7747.

Thursday, August 21st

Rev-Run (aka Joseph Simmons)
Take Back Your Family: A Challenge for American Families
7 pm at Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
Sponsors: Georgia Center for the Book & Wordsmiths Books

Patty Brisben
Pure Romance Between the Sheets: Find Your Best Sexual Self and Enhance Your Intimate Relationship
7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble in Buckhead (Atlanta)
404.261.7747 for information.

Saturday, August 23rd

Bill Curry
Ten Men You Meet in the Huddle
2 pm at Books A Million in Lawrenceville

Debbie Zep
Savannah: A Photographic Portrait
2 pm at Barnes & Noble in Savannah
912.353.7757 for information.

Fiona Zedde
Hungry For It
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Sunday, August 24th

Pamela Mueller
Aloha Crossing
1 pm at Barnes & Noble in Savannah
912.353.7757 for information.

Thursday, August 28th

Hollis Gillespie
Trailer Trashed
7:30 pm at Charis Books and More in Atlanta
404.524.0304

Friday, August 29th-Sunday, August 31st

The 3rd Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival
250 authors in attendance, including Rick Bragg, Pearl Cleage, Billy Collins, John Dean, Eric Jerome Dickey, Emily Giffin, Lee Smith, and Karin Slaughter.
For more information, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com

Saturday, August 30th

Patti Pruit
Meeting Paddy O’Rourke
1 pm at Borders Books on Cobb Parkway
770.612.0940 for information.

Patrick McDonnell
South
2 pm at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Dr. M. F.
Nothing’s Wrong
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Victoria Lang
To Liberia: Destiny’s Timing
4 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Patrick McDonnell
South
7 pm at Borders Books in Snellville
770.982.0454 for information.

Sunday, August 31st

Tony Di Terlizzi
Kenny & The Dragon
2 pm at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Wednesday, September 3rd

Haywood Smith
Wedding Belles
7:30 pm at Barnes & Noble in Buckhead (Atlanta)
404.261.7747 for information.

Thursday, September 4th

Hollis Gillespie
Trailer Trashed
7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Athens
706.354.1195 for information.

Charla Muller
365 Nights
7:30 pm at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur

Friday, September 5th

Martha Lucia Espinosa
Quantum Spirituality Symposium & Book Signing
6 pm at Barnes & Noble in Norcross
770.209.4244 for information.


Wednesday, September 10th

Anne Rivers Siddons
Off Season
7 pm at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta

R. A. & Geno Salvatore
The Stowaway
7:30 pm at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur

Kevin Cantwell & Seaborn Jones, Poets
8:15 at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
404.872.5338 for information.


Thursday, September 11th

Ian McNulty
A Season of Night
7:30 pm at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur

Friday, September 12th

New South Reading Series
7:30 pm at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur
Sponsor: New South’s Writing Workshop at Georgia State University

Saturday, September 13th

Angela Benson
Up Pops the Devil
2 pm at Borders Books in Lithonia
678.526.2550 for information.

Mary Monroe
She Had it Coming
Barnes & Noble at Camp Creek, East Point
404.349.0359 for information.

Linda Robertson
What Rhymes with Bastard
7:30 pm at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur


Tuesday, September 16th

Charles Martin
Where the River Ends
7 pm at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta

Friday, September 19th

Michael Scott
The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Tuesday, September 23rd

Stuart Woods
Hot Mahogany
7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta
770.993.8340 for information.

Thursday, September 25th

RM Johnson
The Million Dollar Deception
7 pm at Barnes & Noble at Camp Creek, East Point
404.349.0359 for information.

Friday, October 3rd-Saturday, October 4th

Book Fair on the Square in Marietta
Authors at the event will include Richard Grinker, Rachel Simon, Doug Crandell, Laura Flynn, and Katherine Noel. Kids events.
Sponsor: The Cobb County Community Service Board
Visit www.bookfaironthesquare.org for more info.

Wednesday, October 8th

Karen Head & Collin Kelley
Poetry Reading
8:15 pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
404.872.5338 for information.

Saturday, October 11th

Steve Doocy
Tales From the Dad Side
7 pm at Books A Million, Atlanta

Thursday, October 16th

Paula Deen
Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook
7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Savannah
912.353.7757 for information.

Saturday, October 18th

2nd Annual Gwinnett Reading Festival
Lawrenceville
Sponsor: Gwinnett County Public Library
www.gwinnettreadingfestival.org for information.

Judith Ortiz Cofer
A Love Story Beginning in Spanish
Gwinnett Reading Festival
www.gwinnettreadingfestival.org

Tuesday, October 20th

Judith Ortiz Cofer
A Love Story Beginning in Spanish
6 pm at the University of Georgia
www.ugapress.uga.edu for more information.

Thursday, October 23rd

Judith Ortiz Cofer
A Love Story Beginning in Spanish
Watkinsville Public Library
www.ugapress.uga.edu for information.

Saturday, October 25th

Georgia Literary Festival
8 am to 5 pm on the Campus of Bainbridge College
Including authors Jay Barbee, Michael P. White, Cathy Cox, Jack McDevitt, Claire Matturo, Frye Gaillard, Valerie Boyd, Bobby Dews, Janice Daugharty, James Kimbrell, Wynton C. Hall, Dana Wildsmith, Philip D. Beidler, Sonny Sammons, and Joyce Cauthen giving a one-woman performance as Caroline Miller, author of Lamb in His Bosom and Georgia’s first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1933.
Sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book, the Georgia Humanities Council, the Decatur County-Gilbert H. Gragg Library and Bainbridge College. Call 229.248.2590 for information.

Whit Gibbons
Turtles of the Southeast
Georgia Museum of Natural History
Athens
www.ugapress.uga.edu for information.

Monday, October 27th-Thursday, October 30th

The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia
Featuring Stephen Dunn, Natasha Trethewey, Hank Kalibanoff and Edward Larson.
At the Jekyll Island Club, Jekyll Island, Georgia
Contact the Georgia Review at 800.542.3481 for information.

Friday, November 7th

June Akers Seese
Whose Coffee is it?
7 pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
404.872.5338 for information.

Wednesday, November 12th

Stephen Bluestone
Poetry Reading
8:15 pm at Callanwolde Fine arts Center
404.872.5338.

Saturday, November 15th

5th Annual Savannah Children’s Book Festival
Forsyth Park, Savannah
Visit www.liveoakpl.org

Thursday, December 4th

Harry Potter: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling release.

Saturday, December 13th

Rachel Ray
Big Orange Cookbook
12 noon to 2 pm at Books A Million, Atlanta

Friday, February 6th-Sunday, February 8th, 2009

2nd Annual Savannah Book Festival

NOTE: This list is by no means complete. Events may be added—or cancelled. Events may change. Please contact specific venues or organizations (see links on this website) to confirm event times, dates and details. Happy reading.