Thursday, July 17, 2008

Autumn is a Great Time for Author Visits

Fall is always an exciting time for new books being published and it seems like we usually have a flurry of author visit inquiries about this time. So we already have some wonderful programs planned. Stephen Bloom and Peter Feldstein will be visiting on September 22 to talk about their joint project and new book on the Oxford Project.


We are very excited to welcome author Richard Russo to Des Moines on October 6. I absolutely loved Empire Falls and Bridge of Sighs and look forward to hearing what he is working on now. Our good friends from Drake University David and Maddy Maxwell have agreed to act as joint moderators for that program so it promises to be fun!

Then Don Lago, a fellow Scandinavian descendant, will share stories from him book called, On the Viking Trail. He wrote the book to capture stories from his dad who had developed Alzheimers. I wish my dad had lived long enough to read the book. Don's descriptions and research should make anyone who has Scandinavian blood proud of their heritage and it may surprise folks to know that so many Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians brought so many talents and ideas to this country. He will be here on October 23.

Then we just booked Iowa author Douglas Bauer for a visit on November 6 to talk about his book called Prairie City, Iowa: Three Seasons at Home. And we still have a couple more folks that we may be bringing in so watch here for further details.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Here it is --almost the Fourth of July and we are already set with several author visits for fall. First up, is a program celebrating the launch of a new book on the Oxford Project. Photographer Peter Feldstein and author Stephen Bloom will be visiting Des Moines to talk about their new book on Monday, September 22 at 7:00 PM at the Central Library.

We have been thrilled to add an AViD Extra! event featuring writer Richard Russo, who will be on book tour for the paperback version of Bridge of Sighs, on Monday, October 6. His program will be held at Hoyt Sherman Place Theater and begins at 7:00 PM.

And anyone with a Scandinavian heritage won't want to miss the upcoming program by author Don Lago who will share his experiences while writing On the Viking Trail. Many of the spots he visits and writes about are located in Iowa and the midwest. It made me proud to know that so many of our fellow "Scandihoovian" ancestors were brave and intelligent folks who brought great ideas and abilities to this country. He wrote the book to capture many of his dad's memories and I kept wishing that my own dad would have had a chance to read it before he, like Don's father, also succumbed to the indignities of Alzheimers.

We are just beginning the process to select AViD authors now so there will be lots more to tell you soon. We already have booked one author, Steven Biel, who will discuss his book, American Gothic. More details soon!