author

Author On the Bookcase
Julia Stuart

Both my parents are from England, all my relatives live there, and I visited the Tower twice. So, I really enjoyed The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise and am so excited to welcome Julia Stuart, author of The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise! Julia's novel is about the Tower of London and its inhabitants --human and animal. All the Beefeaters actually live in the Tower and this story is about one Beefeater named Balthazar Jones, his wife, Hebe, and their the 180-year old tortoise.

Author On the Bookcase
Laura Morowitz

I'm thrilled to speak to Laura Morowitz, co-author with Laurie Lico Albanese, of The Miracles of Prato. Art in a book -- love these historical novels centered around real-live artists and their lifes! It helps me learn about past artists and the history and politics that surrounded them.

The Miracles of Prato brings to life glorious Italy in the era of the Medici —as it tells the story of an illicit love affair between the renowned painter Fra Filippo Lippi and his muse, a beautiful convent novitiate named Lucrezia Buti. Lippi, the chaplain for Convent Santa Margherita sees in Lucrezia's flawless face inspiration for countless Madonnas and he brings the her to his studio to serve as his model.

Author On the Bookcase
Mitchell James Kaplan  

History and religion and politics -- oh my!

I'm pleased to welcome Mitchell James Kaplan, author of the debut novel, By Fire, By Water. Mitchell's book tells the heartbreaking story of Luis de Santangel, the courtier who convinced Queen Isabella to sponsor Christopher Columbus’s voyage of discovery in 1492.

Author On the Bookcase
Michelle Hoover

Michelle Hoover, welcome to On the Bookcase! Michelle's book, The Quickening, is the story of two women stuggling to make a living in the upper Midwest in the early 1900s. For one, their hardscrabble life comes easily, while the other longs for the excitement of the city. Though they depend on one another for survival and companionship, their friendship proves as rugged as the land they farm.

Author On the Bookcase
Cathy Lamb

I'm excited to welcome Cathy Lamb, author of Such A Pretty Face. Her book tells the story of Stevie, who two years and 170 pounds ago, was wheeled into an operating room for surgery that most likely saved her life. At thirty-five, Stevie is the one thing she never thought she'd be: thin.

Stevie realizes the most important part of her transformation may not be what she's lost, but the courage and confidence she's gathering, day by day. What fascinating reading-group topics -- identity, family, friendships.

Today, Cathy chats about her writing process. What do toilets, electricity, carpet and a chimmey have to do with her writing?

I'm so excited to welcome Rebecca Wells to On the Bookcase! 

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, Rebecca's new paperbac

June is Audiobook Month! Last chance for your reading group to receive audiobooks for all your members for your June meeting. PLUS an author, narrator, or producer chat!

Audiobooks can enhance your discussion. How well does the narrator "fit" the characters' personas?

Books speak the truth and truth can sometimes be awful, terrifying, violent. We, as readers, come to the "table" willingly to grow and learn in the painful truth of books. When does it get too much?

You love a book, relate to the characters, and the book discussion was lively! You tell your friends, family, and sometimes, strangers in the grocery line -- a word-of-mouth campaign!

There are lots of book challenges hosted by book bloggers. I read for work or I work to read or my work is to read -- whatever. So, I can't participate in very many of them, though I wish I could do all.

But I have to do this one --Typically British Challenge hosted by Book Chick City! Besides my immediate family, all of my relatives live in England -- my parents came across the pond in the 50s.