Tampa Book Buzz

in memoriam:stan daniels, elizabeth jolley, kurt vonnegut, june callwood, hans koning, jim thurman, david halberstam, johnny hart

Sadly, several writers have died recently, including:

• Emmy-winning writer Stan Daniels (Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) died April 6 at age 72.
• “Australian Gothic” fiction writer Elizabeth Jolley has died at age 82.
• Best-selling author, playwright, essayist and social critic Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five) died at age 84 from injuries sustained in a fall.
• Canadian author, journalist and activist June Callwood died April 13 at age 82 after a three-year battle with cancer.
• Fiction and non-fiction writer Hans Koning (A Walk With Love and Death) has died.
• Emmy-winning children’s TV writer Jim Thurman (Sesame Street) died April 14 at age 72 after a short illness.
• Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist David Halberstam died in a car crash April 23 at age 73.
• Writer and cartoonist Johnny Hart (B.C., The Wizard of Id) died of a stroke at age 76.

fang land by john marks

I recently received an email about Fang Land, an “ambitious, thrilling and erudite novel by an exciting American writer and former 60 Minutes producer, John Marks. Fang Land explores themes of global politics, the American media and America’s identity crisis in the framework of a fantastical, gripping thriller which has strong parallels with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Fang Land explores:

• American paranoia in the wake of 9/11 and ‘the fear of the outsider’
• How this paranoia is reflected in the American media. The characters work in an American newsroom very similar to CBS’ 60 Minutes where author John Marks was a producer.
• Using the literary device of a modern-day vampire novel to illustrate important global themes – why did John Marks choose this vehicle?
• America’s struggle to empathize with other cultures and ideologies
• The gap between the ‘old world’ and the ‘new’ - evident in the novel by the comparison of the frenetic energy of New York with the isolation of the Transylvanian hinterland”

Learn more about Marks’ book or order it online at Amazon.com here.

books-a-million grand opening this weekend in brandon

The Brandon Mall now has a Books-A-Million store! The grand opening is this weekend.

• 2-4 p.m. today — historical romance author Karen Hawkins will sign her new book How to Abduct a Highland Lord
• 5-7 p.m. today — chick lit author Kimberly Llewellyn will sign copies of her new books Tulle Little, Tulle Late and The Quest for the Holy Veil
• 6-8 p.m. tomorrow — bestselling author Tim Dorsey will sign copies of his new book Hurricane Punch

There will also be story times for kids, music and samples of Ghiradelli chocolate. Visit the Brandon Westfield Mall’s website or call 813-571-2062 for more info.

(Thanks go to local author Kimberly Llewellyn for sending me this info.  It’s my fault that it’s posted so late.)

tcm book giveaway for april

Turner Classic Movies’ book giveaway for April is Bogie:A Celebration of the Life and Films of Humphrey Bogart by noted film critic Richard Schickel.  To read about this new book or to register to win, click here.

nation magazine’s student writing contest

From WMNF’s website:

The Nation magazine is looking for original, thoughtful, provocative student voices to tell What Is The Most Important Issue for Young People in the 2008 Presidential Campaign. Essays should be original, unpublished work that demonstrates clear thinking and superior quality of expression and craftsmanship.

There will be five finalists and one winner, who will receive cash prizes, a Nation subscription and publication in the magazine and on the website. The contest is open to students at U.S. high schools and to undergraduates at U.S. colleges and universities. Entries - only one per student - are accepted through May 31. A winner will be announced by September 4. Please send entries to studentprize(at)thenation.com.

For more information visit http://www.lists.thenation.com/.

sadness for virginia tech and all of us

Life goes on.  This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on one’s circumstances.  Either way, it’s unavoidable.  The past week I’ve found myself, like millions of others, glued to news reports of the tragic murders at Virginia Tech.  In the midst of their mourning, friends and families of the deceased and injured still have to carry on with the details of life.  Children must be fed, phone calls must be made, statements must be given to the media, medicine must be taken, funerals must be planned.  Those of us who would rather continually watch the news must go to work, carpool the kids, pay our bills, cook dinner and do our laundry.  Life goes on.

Books are trivial.  While I believe that reading can touch your soul, stir your heart and change your life, I don’t believe that anyone spends their final moments on Earth thinking “I wish I had read this book” or “I’m glad I got to read that book.”  Yet along with the rest of life, the world of books continues.  There are new books being released, articles being written, books signings going on.  I returned overdue books to the library today.

I don’t often write about current events unrelated to books here on my blog.  I write as an escape from the often depressing, sometimes disturbing, always relentless flow of world and local news. For me, this blog is a celebration of reading — any and all books, by any and all authors.  I love to read and talk about books with others who love to read.  If you want to debate religion or argue politics, there are plenty of venues available.  If you want a brief escape from reality to say “I read the best book last night!” then please bookmark this site.

I will continue writing here about books, even though my heart is heavy and my thoughts are with the victims’ families.  Because life goes on.

(Click here to view Virginia Tech’s memorial website.)

back on monday

The local film festival frenzy is almost over. One more film fest this week and then I’ll have time to read more than five pages at a time (and write about it here!).  I’ll be back to my bloggy self on Monday.  Please check back then.

storytelling festival tomorrow

Tomorrow (April 14) is the 27th Annual Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival.  There will be professional storytellers from across Florida, puppet shows, a book fair, a storybook parade and plenty of children’s activities.  It’s FREE and will happen rain or shine.  Location: Middleton High School, 4801 N. 22nd St., Tampa  Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The featured storyteller is David Novak, author, actor and winner of the 2002 Circle of Excellence from the National Storytelling Network.  His background is in theatre arts, including Shakespeare, clowning, creative dramatics, playwriting and directing.  He will lead a series of exercises and games to explore and develop effective performance skills for storytellers.

Tonight from 7-9 p.m. there will be a free Friday Extra Concert Series live music performance — with storytelling by David Novak of course — at the Lowry Park Bandshell.  On Sunday the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa is featuring a free storytelling workshop by David Novak at 1 p.m.

Visit www.tampastory.org for more info.

book launch party for jim cheatham on may 3

Received via email:

You are cordially invited to attend a very special event!  Jim Cheatham will launch his newly released memoir, Just One More, on Thursday, May 3, from 6-8 p.m.  Join us at the University of Tampa, John Sykes School of Business building, main entrance reception hall.

Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Please contact us at 813-748-9523 if you have any questions or need any additional information.  Please feel free to pass this invitation along and invite your friends.  This is also a great networking opportunity as many Tampa Bay professionals will be attending.

Book Price: $19.95 for this first-run special edition.  Due to a high number of reserved copies, the special edition is expected to sell out during the launch.  Contact Marcia Freespirit at mfreespirit(at)jimsaminc.com to reserve your autographed copy now.

Jim Cheatham, as CEO of the Lionshare Group, has been advising and consulting for over 30 years for small to mid-sized companies with planning and structuring their growth. His experience includes President of one of the first and largest Wendy’s franchises; Director of Marketing for Holiday Inns; and currently Founder/CEO of Ragin’ Café of America. He is also on the Advisory Board for the Entrepreneur & Family Business, Sykes School of Business at the University of Tampa and Advisory Council Leader to Investment Banking Firms in New York.

Visit http://www.jimsaminc.com/ for more info.

update from local author scott deitche

Local author Scott Deitche (Cigar City Mafia) wrote to let me know that his new book The Silent Don:The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante, Jr. will be released on April 25.  However, he has some signings beforehand where the book will be available.  Here’s the list:

• April 14 at 7 p.m. - Book Launch party at Barnes and Noble, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa
• April 19 at 7 p.m. — South Tampa Borders, 909 N. Dale Mabry
• April 21 at 6 p.m. — Clearwater Borders, 2683 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
• April 27 at 7 p.m. — St. Pete Borders, 6999 Tyrone Square, St. Pete
• May 5 from 2-4 p.m. — Haslam’s Book Store in St. Pete
• May 12 from 2-4 p.m. — Citrus Park Mall Waldenbooks

Mark your calendars now!