Category Archives: Book.ed News

Informational news

Horsing Around

The appeal of horses dates back to the earliest days of mankind, as evidenced by cave drawings. Humans began to domesticate horses some 6000 years ago and indications are that domestication was widespread by 3000 BC. They have been used in warfare for most of recorded history but they have filled many other roles over the millenia. Unlike other large animals that were tamed for work, horses also became popular for leisure activities and as beloved pets. Admiration for them took on mythic proportions.

Some stats: There are more than 58,000,000 horses in the world; more than 350 breeds. A 2004 “poll” of more than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries of cable TV show “Animal Planet” placed the horse as the world’s 4th favorite animal. The U.S. far outpaces other countries with a horse population of more than 10,000,000.

No wonder that horses have populated some of our favorite books over time. Fiction and non-fiction, from our first children’s picture books to adult novels. We love horses and we love great books about horses. One of the most popular BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ of last season featured author Mitchell Bornstein and his debut non-fiction book, Last Chance Mustang, an Elle magazine’s Reader’s Choice winner.

I couldn’t be more excited to announce that the first of this summer’s special BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events will welcome the New York Times #1 best-selling author of The Eighty Dollar Champion, Elizabeth Letts and her newest blockbuster, The Perfect Horse. It’s the remarkable true story of the heroic rescue of priceless Lippizan horses in the closing days of World War II, a compelling account for animal lovers and World War II buffs alike.

Elizabeth Letts fans will want to make their reservations for this rare Chicagoland appearance on Monday, July 24th, at the Book Bin in Northbrook. We’ll be uncorking some fabulous wines (and a tasty non-alcoholic beverage) while socializing with the author and other guests, engaging in a group conversation, having books personally signed and participating in a raffle for some goodies. The event takes place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling (847)498-9999.

You can check out this event and keep up with future event announcements at the Book.ed website.

Please Please Me

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All sorts of things popping as I prepare to leave for an 8-day vacation (means no business, no emails, no social media) in New York City. When I return to Chicago, I’ll be dropped into the middle of preparations for a couple of very special BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES events for July and August (stay tuned for news in future blogs).

Meanwhile, I want to encourage all you writers – published and aspiring – when you feel like no agent or publisher has the wisdom to recognize the brilliance of your manuscript. Keep plugging away. To inspire you, check out “The rejection letters: how publishers snubbed 11 great authors”. Feeling rejected? You’ll be in great company while you laugh out loud!

Mark your calendar for November 13th and 14th when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month with two very special events. More details to come! You can stay on top of the latest news by checking the Book●ed website and clicking on BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ or LIKE the Book●ed Facebook page.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will celebrate the national book launch of Boy, 9, Missing from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, September 25th at Sunset Foods in downtown Northbrook, IL. The debut novel from Chicago author Nic Joseph, published by Sourcebooks Landmark, has been compared to classic thrillers Defending Jacob or Drowning Ruth. The event, hosted by Book●ed, includes a free wine tasting, conversation with the author, book signings and more. Books will be available on site from the Book Bin, wine and the ever popular Bonus Buy packages (mementos, merchant discounts, professional photos with the author and more) will also be available for purchase.

The 13th Annual Best Book Awards entry deadline is September 30th. The i310 Media Group, organizer of the competition, says it is “specifically designed to not only garner media coverage and book sales for the winners and finalists but to promote awarded books to the publishing and entertainment industries.” Open to all books with an ISBN and published in 2016 (galley copies welcome). 2015 and 2014 titles are also eligible.

“Book Readings That Sell Your Book” is a workshop offered by Off Campus Writers Workshop on Thursday, October 13th from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Winnetka Community House in Winnetka, IL. Part of publishing a book today is performing readings and doing signings at bookstores, libraries… and, if you’re really lucky, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Actress, comedienne, and novelist Jennifer Rupp will shares practical tips for giving author readings that entertain, intrigue and help sell books. Jennifer invites attendees to bring three pages of something you’ve written for practice in a safe, supportive environment.

NORTHBROOK WRITES: Character Development with Eric Charles May, part of a series of free workshops for writers, will be offered by the Northbrook Public Library on Saturday, October 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. May, who was a BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ featured author in 2015, is an author, associate professor in Fiction Writing at Columbia College Chicago, and former reporter for The Washington Post. His workshop will address how to develop rich and engaging characters.

Footnotes

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BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, hosted by Book●ed, are monthly events connecting authors and their books with booklovers who also enjoy great wine. Check out the Book●ed website and click on BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ for details of the upcoming events.

Footnotes

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You can automatically get a link to the weekly Book●ed Blog and upcoming BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events by going to the Book●ed Facebook page and clicking “Like”.

Note to Authors: Don’t Overlook the Midwest

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Authors would be wise to go behind the numbers of this year’s BookCon to see why Chicago should be part of any book tour.

Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of BookCon as well as BookExpo America (which ran in Chicago May 11–13), reported that consumer attendance was 7,200 for the 1-day BookCon on May 14. The 2-day BookCon in New York in 2015 drew 18,000 attendees, and the first BookCon in 2014 attracted 10,000 readers over one day. However, attendees this year were more interested in the books, rather than just looking for celebrity authors, as was often the case at the past two NYC shows. Moreover, the audience in Chicago skewed slightly older and was more inclined to buy books.

Publishers reported that they ran out of their most popular free items – books, tote bags and T-shirts — quickly. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group said its signed copies of John Grisham’s The Litigators were gone in less than five minutes, and the same held true for the 10th-anniversary edition of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Galleys that went quickly included those of Carl Hiassen’s forthcoming novel Razor Girl and Nathan Hill’s The Nix. Abrams Books said its children’s titles sold “like hot cakes,” and that some adult titles also “sold briskly”. W.W. Norton & Company called the Chicago event “great”.

The biggest complaint from consumers, many of whom came from different parts of the country, was that BookCon wasn’t long enough.

What all of this should suggest to authors and publishers is that there is a hungry, healthy market of readers in the Midwest. Properly chosen venues and well-crafted publicity can pay back in strong book sales while building reader loyalty for authors who head to Chicago.

Because of the strong Midwest market, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will expand to a second venue next month. Authors and publishers are invited to check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events in the greater Chicago area at the Book●ed website.

There are just a few days left until the highly anticipated Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). You can read an excerpt from the book at Criminal Element.com. The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.

And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rory speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.

Just two weeks to go until the Season 2 launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. Appearing April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago, our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered.

And mark your calendars for May 16th, when BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ welcomes model/photographer/author Rory Flynn to Chicago to talk about and sign copies of her handsome photographic memoir about her father, movie idol Errol Flynn, The Baron of Mulholland. Check out Rori speaking about her father’s life and films on TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar.

You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.

Hearing Through the Eyes

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I first wrote about the importance of “hearing” what we read in my July 28, 2013 post, Test-Driving Books—On the Road. Since July 2015, my BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events have been taking booklovers on some of those test drives. It’s a great way to decide which literary rides to hop on. Here’s why:

We tend to think of creative writing as something to read, to ingest through the eyes. But most of us hear voices in our head when we read. Our brains translate what our eyes see into words we hear internally.

Writing that is meant to be spoken (think of speeches) is approached a bit differently from writing that is expected to be read with the eyes. Speeches that sound good also read well. But what seems good in print doesn’t always sound good when spoken. You can test this yourself by picking up a handful of novels and randomly reading passages aloud. See if the writing holds up when you speak it.

The best writing, in my opinion, satisfies when read and spoken. This is why writers are advised to read their work aloud, either to others or in solitude. That exercise often turns up awkward, unrealistic dialogue, repetitive verbiage or other weaknesses that need improvement.

One way for readers to test the satisfaction quotient of a book before committing to it is to attend a reading by the author. Increasingly, authors are arranging readings from their latest book as a way to market their work. These events are usually free and open to the public — at the public library or neighborhood bookstores. Sometimes venues require a reservation and a fee – a secluded room in a restaurant, a literary conference or an arts retreat. BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ was created to provide a very accessible, convivial way for readers to meet authors and hear about their books as well to enjoy sample readings.

Large or small, free or with a fee, bare bones or full menu, there are opportunities to hear authors read their work throughout the year. You can find out about these events by checking your community newspaper, your library’s schedule of events, your neighborhood independent bookstore’s newsletter, literary periodicals that carry event news, or simply Google “author readings”. Those in the greater Chicago area can check out BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ by following the weekly Book.ed Blog, checking the Book●ed website (click on the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ tab), or liking Book●ed on Facebook.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ kicks off Season 2 on April 25th, from 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Food and Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago. Our featured author is Susanna Calkins with her hot-off-the-press A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Press). The Book Bin will have books for sale on site and fabulous wines will be poured. Lots of other goodies will be offered. You can read more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ on the Book●ed Blog post of March 13, 2016.

New and Improved. No, Really!

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Lots of excitement building for Season 2 of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, which begins April 25th. We’re returning to TASTE Food and Wine, named the best place for wine tastings in Chicago by Foursquare, moving the events to Monday nights from 6-8 p.m. as part of TASTE’s popular semi-weekly wine tastings. The more the merrier!

The always entertaining Phoebe Snowe, a certified wine expert, will be pouring great wines paired to the themes of the books we’ll be featuring. TASTE is known for its vast selection of excellent wines that you won’t find in big box stores or through discounters. You’ll be surprised and delighted how competitively priced the wines are.

This year, we’re pleased to partner with a great independent book store, The Book Bin to handle our on-site sales. The Book Bin is “Not a Superstore… Just a Super Store!”

We’ll continue to bring in best-selling and award-winning authors representing various genres but we’ll bring them in just as their books are being published or they are making their first book tour in the Midwest.

Back by popular demand are the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ Bonus Buy tickets. While our wine tasting events are free, these optional tickets will offer all sorts of rewards that will vary from event to event.

Lots more surprises in store – including celebrity appearances, fundraisers, raffles and more — so keep following our weekly blog posts on the Book●ed (you can sign up to receive them automatically) and on Facebook (please Follow us).

Invitation to authors: If you have a book coming out this year or are planning a Midwest book tour, I’d love to hear from you to explore a possible BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ appearance. Contact us via our website or a personal message via Facebook.

Am I a Bloddler, a Teegler or a Sengler?

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Depending on how one defines a blog year, starting the fourth year of the Book●ed blog makes me a Toddler, Teen or Senior. I’ve learned a lot about blogging since my first post on January 27th, 2013. For example, choosing “Getting to the Juicy Parts” (about the impact on books from changing habits in reading and writing) resulted in some internet images attached to my name that were (to put it mildly) smarmy, having nothing to do with me or Book●ed. I also received a flurry of unsolicited emails offering me X-rated toys and meds. Oops!

Over the past three years, I’ve become a keen observer of, and participant in, a dramatically changing book industry. I’ve seen many of my predictions about the connections between writers, readers, books and business come true. There have been some good changes, some not so good. It boils down to this: today more than ever, anyone who wants to get published can get published. Whether that statement is good news or not depends on how it affects you. I’ve spent many posts exploring all the angles.

I’ve aimed for a balance in my posts, as reflected in the categories that include: For Authors, For Booklovers, Facts & Statistics and Industry News. Often, I’ve included links to other websites for further information or examples. Covering every stage of conception, writing, design, production, marketing and selling books to promoting authors, books, booksellers, education and libraries, I’ve aimed to keep my posts enjoyable, enlightening and accessible.

The Book●ed blog began as a segment of a larger marketing effort that included video webcast interviews of authors. The posts continued as I shifted from webcasts to editing, publishing and marketing an updated and expanded English language edition of the bestselling Italian memoir, Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power. The posts continued as I developed and launched BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ — events pairing quality wine tastings with book signings.

In year four (as bloddler, teegler or segler), I will continue to report on changes in publishing, connect authors and their books with booklovers and aim to entertain. I invite authors to visit the Book.ed website to read past blog posts (in “Blog Here” click the categories that interest you), view the webcast interviews (in “Archives”) and learn more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™.

Bonus for any authors (and agents, publishers or publicists) who read this post to this point: I invite you to contact me if you have a book about to be published or recently published and will be in the Chicago area. Let’s explore the possibility of featuring you and your latest book at a BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ event!

Congratulations

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Another BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ author from the 2015 season has been recognized for an outstanding literary achievement. Book●ed is proud to share the news that The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins has been short-listed for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Congratulations, Susanna!

Season 2 of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will begin in April. Program information will be available on the Book●ed website by clicking the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. We will also post on the Book●ed blog and Facebook page.

Congratulations

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Kudos to all the authors who participated in the inaugural season of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ – we sure know how to pick ‘em:
• Susanna Calkins (July) – Guest of Honor at this year’s Sisters in Crime Chicagoland Holiday Party.
• Jen Gardner (August) – Special Event Guest of The Travel Boutique at their 2016 Caribbean Island Getaway.
• Eric Charles May (September) – 21st Century Award Winner, honored alongside Stephen Sondheim at this year’s Chicago Library’s Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner.
• Jasinda Wilder (October) – Riding the wave to another bestseller with Book #1 of her news-making Madame X trilogy.
• Joe Meno (December) – Selected by the Chicago Tribune roundup of leading authors talking about the book that inspired them to write.
You could spend a lot of money to be in a huge crowds to see your favorite authors … or you could come to the cozy, close up-and-personal BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ events where the quality wine tastings are free!

In deference to Chicago winters, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will be on hiatus until Spring 2016 but we’re already lining up incredible authors with the books you’ll want to read. Other plans are underway to make the 2016 season even bigger and better. Stay tuned!

December 5th will be your last chance to experience all the fun and deliciousness of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ this year. We’re excited to welcome award-winning bestselling author Joe Meno who will autograph his recently released novel Marvel and a Wonder from 3-5 p.m. at TASTE Food & Wine, 1506 West Jarvis Avenue in Chicago. As always, the selected quality wines will reflect aspects of the book. “Bonus Buy” tickets will once again be available at the event for neat mementos and a 10% discount on wine purchases. The Book Cellar will handle on-site book sales.

About this wonderfully insightful book featuring the evolving relationship between a grandfather and his grandson, the New York Times Book Review said, “Meno, whose previous novel was Office Girl, has a knack for giving small happenings emotional weight… Meno knows how to make you love his characters, want what they want. ” The Wall Street Journal calls Marvel and a Wonder “(A) rugged page turner….” In a starred review, the Library Journal said, “Talented Meno has penned a wise and touching novel of love, loyalty, courage; an extraordinary book not to be missed.”

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is excited to round out its 2015 season by welcoming award-winning bestselling author Joe Meno who will autograph his recently released novel Marvel and a Wonder at its December 5th wine tasting. The free event will run from 3-5 p.m. at TASTE Food & Wine, 1506 West Jarvis Avenue in Chicago. As always, the selected quality wines will reflect aspects of the book. “Bonus Buy” tickets will once again be available at the event for neat mementos and a 10% discount on wine purchases. The Book Cellar will handle on-site book sales.

About this wonderfully insightful book featuring the evolving relationship between a grandfather and his grandson, the New York Times Book Review said, “Meno, whose previous novel was Office Girl, has a knack for giving small happenings emotional weight… Meno knows how to make you love his characters, want what they want. ” The Wall Street Journal calls Marvel and a Wonder “(A) rugged page turner….” In a starred review, the Library Journal said, “Talented Meno has penned a wise and touching novel of love, loyalty, courage; an extraordinary book not to be missed.”

About this wonderfully insightful book featuring the evolving relationship between a grandfather and his grandson, the New York Times Book Review said, “Meno, whose previous novel was Office Girl, has a knack for giving small happenings emotional weight… Meno knows how to make you love his characters, want what they want. ” The Wall Street Journal calls Marvel and a Wonder “(A) rugged page turner….” In a starred review, the Library Journal said, “Talented Meno has penned a wise and touching novel of love, loyalty, courage; an extraordinary book not to be missed.”

And don’t forget the November 21st BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ with acclaimed author Christine Sneed signing her beautifully drawn novel, Paris, He Said, while you enjoy classic Burgundy wines and an opulent French white sparklet. From 3-5 p.m. at TASTE Food & Wine. Find out why the Chicago Tribune book review said, “If you love the City of Light or have always wanted to travel there, Paris, He Said is worth a visit.”

For those who want to let their imagination take them to a far-away city, you can’t go wrong with Christine Sneed’s latest bestselling novel, Paris, He Said. The Chicago Tribune review of the book noted, “Sneed allows readers to revel in Paris’ celebrated light while walking its wide boulevards and cobblestone streets. If you love the City of Light or have always wanted to travel there, Paris, He Said is worth a visit. You’ll come for the story but stay for Sneed’s painterly homage to the city’s art and culture.”

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is delighted to welcome award-winning author Christine Sneed at its November 21st book signing and wine tasting from 3-5 p.m. at TASTE Food & Wine, 1506 West Jarvis Avenue, Chicago. The featured quality wines, reflecting themes in Paris, He Said, will be classic burgundy in a white and a red, along with an opulent French sparkling white. The wine tasting is free. Optional “Bonus Buy” tickets, which proved very popular at the October BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, will be available again at this month’s event. Ticket holders will get a memento of the event and a discount on any wine purchases. For details, click the pull down tab at the Book●ed website or visit the Events page at Taste Food & Wine.

On Saturday, November 21st, from 3-5 p.m., the fifth BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ event of 2015 is proud to feature award-winning bestselling author Christine Sneed and her latest novel, Paris, He Said. The New York Times Book Review, called this beautiful book, “…an absorbing, original tale about the questions we all end up confronting as we grapple with the interplay between who we are and who we think we want to be.” Along with the book signing, we will be serving a trio of wines for the free wine tasting that reflect themes in the book: classic Burgundy in a red & a white plus an opulent French Sparkler. The “Bonus Buy” tickets that proved so popular at our October BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will be available at the November event. If you’re in the area, come spend the afternoon with us at TASTE Food & Wine, 1506 West Jarvis, Chicago.

There’s still time to pre-order your book and get a Bonus Buy ticket for the October 22nd BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™. This will be a very special event as Amazon #1 and national bestselling author Jasinda Wilder makes her Chicago debut with her hot-off-the-press book Madame X. Meet the author who has been interviewed by major media and learn how she parlayed a seven-figure publishing deal with Penguin Random House after selling millions of self-published eBooks. In honor of the author and book, TASTE Food & Wine feature wines (free tasting!) will be a sparkling white and two scintillating red. Bonus Buy tickets get preferred position on lines, a 10% discount on all wine purchases, and a special author memento. For details about the event, check the Book●ed website. Visit The Book Cellar to pre-order your book and get a Bonus Buy ticket!

There’s still time to pre-order your book and get a Bonus Buy ticket for the October 22nd BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ . This will be a very special event as Amazon #1 and national bestselling author Jasinda Wilder makes her Chicago debut with her hot-off-the-press book Madame X. Meet the author who has been interviewed by major media and learn how she parlayed a seven-figure publishing deal with Penguin Random House after selling millions of self-published eBooks. In honor of the author and book, TASTE Food & Wine will featured wines in the free tasting will be a sparkling white and two scintillating red. Bonus Buy tickets get preferred position on lines, a 10% discount on all wine purchases (the tasting is free), and a special author memento. For details about the event, check the Book●ed website. Visit The Book Cellar to pre-order your book and get a Bonus Buy ticket!

Footnotes

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Many female authors, facing gender bias in the publishing industry, turn to self-publishing. Producing a book is only step one. Knowing how to promote it into success is a very different art. Author Jasinda Wilder is a master of both. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestselling author with millions of sales of self-published eBooks. One of her titles, Falling Into You, reached #1 on Amazon.

On October 6th, Jasinda Wilder’s first book in print as well as digital format will be published by Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Madame X is the first in a planned trilogy that netted a 7-figure deal for this Michigan-based mother of six.

On October 22nd, from 6-8 p.m., BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ will welcome Jasinda Wilder in one of her very first public appearances to sign copies of Madame X as she meets fans during another fabulous wine tasting event at TASTE Food & Wine in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

For this event, BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is offering pre-orders of the book with “Bonus Buy” tickets. Ticketholders will get preferential place in line for books and autographs, 10% discount on all wine purchases and a special author memento. “Bonus Buy” tickets will also be available at the event but I encourage pre-ordering. Book pre-orders and Bonus Buy ticket sales will be handled by The Book Cellar. Event details can be found at the Book●ed website.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is excited that its September 24th event will feature Bedrock Faith, a book exemplifying great literature that comes alive in a neighborhood. Eric May’s debut novel landed on several “Top 10” lists and led to Eric winning the prestigious 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library in partnership with the Chicago Public Library Foundation. In fact our September 24th event will be a prelude celebration before the Library’s award dinner in October. Come meet Eric, get a copy of his book and have him personally autograph it for you while you enjoy some wines with great character between 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Wine & Food in Chicago. No reservations or entry fees! Find details at the Book●ed website or on our Facebook page.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is excited that its September 24th event will feature Bedrock Faith, a book exemplifying great literature that comes alive in a neighborhood. Eric May’s debut novel landed on several “Top 10” lists and led to Eric winning the prestigious 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library in partnership with the Chicago Public Library Foundation. In fact our September 24th event will be a prelude celebration before the Library’s award dinner in October. Come meet Eric, get a copy of his book and have him personally autograph it for you while you enjoy some wines with great character between 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Wine & Food in Chicago. No reservations or entry fees! Find details at the Book●ed website http://www.bookedwebcast.com/index.html# or on our Facebook page.

There Goes the Neighborhood

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Ancient archeology shows that the concept of neighborhoods has been with us for a very long time, for very good reason. Neighborhoods bring people together in common purpose: safety, economy, socialization and care-giving. In other words: survive through hard times and thrive in good ones.

While the basic goal of neighborhoods is universal, the character of neighborhoods is as varied, distinguishable and fascinating as the characters in the neighborhoods. Books set in neighborhoods provide some of our most vibrant and memorable literature. They let us learn from the people and cultures that preceded us. We can travel the world today, meeting people and visiting different neighborhoods just by opening a book. We can be entertained, enlightened and inspired by stories set in or around neighborhoods.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is excited that its September 24th event will feature Bedrock Faith, a book exemplifying great literature that comes alive in a neighborhood. Eric May’s debut novel landed on several “Top 10” lists and led to Eric winning the prestigious 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library in partnership with the Chicago Public Library Foundation. In fact our September 24th event will be a prelude celebration before the Library’s award dinner in October. Come meet Eric, get a copy of his book and have him personally autograph it for you while you enjoy some wines with great character between 6-8 p.m. at TASTE Wine & Food in Chicago. No reservations or entry fees! Find details at the Book●ed or on our Facebook page.

Meanwhile, here’s a sampling of other notable neighborhood novels set around cities known for the diversity and energy of their neighborhoods:

Washington Square – Henry James
The Jungle – Upton Sinclair
Manhattan Transfer – John Dos Passos
The Maltese Falcon – Dashiell Hammett
Call It Sleep – Henry Roth
Native Son – Richard Wright
The Tin Flute (orig. Bonheur d’occasion) – Gabrielle Roy
The Chosen – Chaim Potok
Time and Again – Jack Finney
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
The Alienist – Caleb Carr
Playing for Thrills – Wang Shuo (trans. Howard Goldblatt)
The Sweet Forever – George P. Pelecanos
The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson (2004)
The Great Perhaps – Joe Meno (2009)

You can learn more by clicking the tab BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ at my Book●ed website.

Drinking It All In

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Wine, the most delightful of drinks, whether we owe it to Noah, who planted the vine, or to Bacchus, who pressed juice from the grape, goes back to the childhood of the world. — Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), French lawyer, politician and author of The Physiology of Taste.

With BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ off to a bright start, pairing quality wines with quality books, I find myself reflecting on the place of wine in literature. As far back as antiquity, wine is referenced on clay tablets and papyrus, even before the invention of paper or digital books. Clearly, wine’s potency is not limited to its level of alcohol. Whether part of the action, used as an adjective or offered as a metaphor for something else – success, romantic intoxication, life itself – wine and literature always pair well together. Fortunately for us, a wealth of literature over the centuries was made more interesting and enjoyable for the wine we read about as well as the wine we drink. See how many of these you know:

Frolic Wine — Anacreon
Drinking Alone Beneath the Moon — Li Po
The Soul of Wine — Charles Baudelaire
I Bring an Unaccustomed Wine — Emily Dickinson
Ulysses — James Joyce
A Moveable Feast — Ernest Hemingway
Ode to Wine — Pablo Neruda
Taste — Roald Dahl
A Long Finish – Michael Dibdin
A Debt to Pleasure — John Lanchester

You can learn more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ by clicking the tab at the Book●ed website.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ Blasts Off

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After months of planning the newest venture from Book●ed, I’m delighted to report that the launch of BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ was a blast! The gathering of people at TASTE Food & Wine on July 23rd mixed, mingled and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The pairing of quality books with quality wines was “a stroke of genius” said one of the guests. Oh yes, indeed!

Author Susanna Calkins captivated us with her description of the fascinating period in history, “the world turned upside down” in 17th century England, where her acclaimed Lucy Campion mystery series takes place. The Masque of a Murderer, the third book in the series, was available for sale, along with copies of the previous two books, which Susanna personalized and autographed for new and returning fans.

Wine maven Phoebe Snowe poured the featured wines that were paired with references in the book to Rhenish wine and claret. Rhenish means from the Rhine Valley in Germany; for that, we were treated to a crisp, German reisling. Claret, explained Phoebe, was the name given by the British to wines from the Bordeaux region of France; the Bordeaux we tasted was luxurious. Both selections were big hits with the guests.

Thanks to Nili Yellin, representing The Book Cellar, for expediting book sales; and to Sara Fenwick of F-Stop Photos for capturing images of the evening.

Many of the guests who attended our launch plan to return for the August 20th BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ event when we host NY Times bestselling author Jennifer Lancaster. With her latest book, The Best of Enemies, we move from the mysterious past to the hilarious present. Wait till you see what featured wines TASTE will pair with that book! We hope to see you there.

To learn more about our events, visit the Book.ed website where you can read my weekly blog or click on the BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ tab for upcoming event details and our entertaining little promo video.

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™

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Good books and good wines are a natural pairing. I love both. As my friend Phoebe Snowe described her popular Chicago wine shop — TASTE Food & Wine — and the twice-weekly wine tastings that draw a loyal following, my brain cells started sparking. I’d been to book signings at book stores where run-of-the-mill wine was offered. Why not elevate the wine to be as good as the books — especially in a convivial setting? What better venue would there be to hold book signings than at a really neat wine shop?

Phoebe jumped at the idea of combining forces with me. The result is BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™, making its Chicago debut July 23rd from 5-8 pm at TASTE Food & Wine, 1506 West Jarvis Avenue. I recruited my dear friend, Nili Yellin (aka Chicago’s much-in-demand “Storybook Mom”), to help with onsite book sales.

Next step was finding the books people want to read and the authors they want to meet. I struck gold right off the bat. The summer lineup will be The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins on July 23rd and The Best of Enemies by Jen Lancaster on August 20th. And wait till you learn who our future authors will be (yes, you will have to wait but I promise news-making events are lining up).

The Masque of the Murderer is the third book in the acclaimed Lucy Campion series. Set in 17th century England, the book combines finely wrought characters, a richly detailed historical atmosphere, and a tightly-plotted mystery into a compelling read. Booklist says historian Susanna Calkins’ writes with “tantalizing clues and rich historical details,” that “draw readers into the seventeenth century, led by the piquant and elusive Lucy….”

The Best of Enemies is the newest uproarious book (launching in August) from New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster and early previews indicate fans will not be disappointed! USA TODAY said, “If laughter is a great tonic for the spirit, then Jen Lancaster… is a double dose.” PEOPLE magazine said, “She’s like that friend who always says what you’re thinking-just 1000 times funnier.”

BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ is a natural expansion of Book●ed‘s: mission to connect authors and their books with booklovers. The rapid response from major publishing houses, authors and publicists proves there is a thirst (pun intended) for such opportunities to bring authors together with their audiences. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones at BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™!

Happy to report there are still copies of the Collector’s Quality Limited First Edition of Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power available to Book●ed fans at a special discount. This candid and intimate story of the last great movie idol from Hollywood’s Golden Age, written by his daughter, Romina Power, is a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day (women and men swooned over Tyrone Power… and still do) or St. Patrick’s Day (the impressive Power family has fascinating ties to Ireland). Send an email for more details about ordering Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power. Mention Book●ed to get special discount information.

Book.ed Blog

Book.ed, a webcast series, interviews authors and reviews selected newly released books.

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