Tampa Book Buzz

devil wears prada author lauren weisberger at united way dinner may 8

The United Way of Tampa Bay’s 4th Annual Women’s Leadership Art of Giving dinner and auction will be May 8.

Fashion meets charity as part of the 4th annual Art of Giving dinner. The event will feature our guest speaker, The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger, who will sign books after the program. Also, our exclusive Power of the Purse Auction will be a major highlight of the program. The live handbag auction will feature some of the most fashionable handbags around. A cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, silent auction, and more are included.

Cost: $100 per ticket

Visit www.unitedwaytampabay.com/artofgiving for more info or to register.

author and coach c. vivian stringer at inkwood books april 8

Received via email from Inkwood Books:

Meet C. Vivian Stringer, head coach of the outstanding Rutgers University women’s basketball team, the Scarlet Knights, as she signs her acclaimed book Standing Tall:A Memoir of Tragedy and Triuumph at Inkwood Books on Tuesday, April 8, at 4 p.m. Because of late scheduling, reserving books is strongly encouraged!

With grace and courage, she has triumphed over adversity in her personal life - from racial intolerance, her child’s meningitis, her husband’s untimely death, and her own breast cancer - and passed these values on to her players. Praised by Maya Angelou, Tony Dungy, Magic Johnson, and many more, Standing Tall is an inspiring story from an esteemed role model and true champion, on and off the court and would make a great graduation gift!

Visit www.inkwoodbooks.com for more info.

local author k.l. nappier on tv show studio 10 tomorrow

Tomorrow (March 28) at 10 a.m., local author K.L. Nappier will appear live on Studio 10, the daytime show of CBS Tampa Bay area affiliate WTSP Channel 10. Nappier told me that she’s been invited on the show “to discuss the state of publishing today and talk about Full Wolf Moon, which was just launched February as a paperback by Aisling Press. For those who miss the live broadcast, they can catch the show later via video stream at www.studio10.tv.”

You can watch the new video trailer for Full Wolf Moon on YouTube, MySpace and DailyMotion.

upcoming book signing for walt disney world guide authors julie and mike neal

Julie and Mike Neal, authors of The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008, will be signing their new book this Friday, March 7, from 7:30-9 p.m. at Reading Trout Books in Celebration, 110 Front Street, just to the left of the AMC movie theater.

In addition to signing books, the Neals will discuss “what it was like to visit Walt Disney World over 700 times in the five years it took to write this guidebook, focusing in particular on what it was like to work with Disney cast members.” Julie said that “Talking with employees at the parks, resorts and restaurants gave us much of the depth and detail we used in the book.”

The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 is an updated and expanded version of last year’s first edition, which became one of the top-selling Disney guidebooks in the country. The new book is fully updated with all the latest Disney changes and additions, and features new chapters on restaurants and accommodations.

Visit www.coconutpress.com for more info.

florida published author tour group at usa flea market march 8 and 9

Received via email:

Local author Tiva Wallon presents The Florida Published Author Tour Group.

Books make great gifts too!

Wallon’s website is www.tivawallon.com.

tampa bay association of black journalists hosting panel discussion on multimedia reporting on march 8

Received via Facebook:

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists is presenting its second annual session focused on multimedia reporting on March 8, featuring members who have done extensive work translating their newspaper or TV work into online platforms.

As we all work to try and understand these new media platforms, sometimes the most fun comes from getting together and swapping ideas on what it all means. And fellow bloggers, feel free to post this on your blog somewheres…

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists’ website is www.tbabj.com. Please remember, however, that you’re welcome even if you’re not a journalist. Or from the Tampa Bay area. Or black.

Hope to see you there.

(cross-posted at www.sticksoffire.com and www.tampafilmfan.com)

wordsmitten’s writing workshop march 22

WHAT: WordSmitten’s Writing Workshop, “a fun writing workshop featuring award-winning authors and editors”

WHEN: Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

WHERE: Reeves Theatre, University of Tampa campus, 401 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33606-1490

WHO WILL BE THERE:

• Jane Friedman, editorial director of Writer’s Digest Books. She’ll be teaching her famous (and witty) session titled Publishers Are Evil. This course is filled with tips for both new and experienced writers. We thank Ms. Friedman for donating 50 copies of the 2008 edition of Writer’s Market (retail value $49.95). Register online to be eligible to win a copy of the 2008 edition of Writer’s Market. Only 50 copies are available to be given away. Snail-mail registration is not eligible for this offer. We notify, by e-mail, all winners who have won a copy. Winners must be present at the event to receive a book. Books will not be mailed out. Join the fun, discover great writing tips, and register online at www.wordsmitten.com or call (727) 409-0500 for details.
• Connie May Fowler, award-winning author of five novels, one memoir, and a screenplay produced by Oprah’s Harpo Productions. Her startling novel Before Women Had Wings, an Oprah Book Club selection, became an international bestseller and a television sensation. Write your memoir, then write it as a fictional story, comparing the two for a great writing exercise.
• Attorney Alison Steele of Rahdert and Steele, a law firm that represents the notable Poynter Institute and the St. Petersburg Times. She’ll discuss copyright issues that are important to authors who have concerns about the choppy legal waters surrounding publishing rights and copyright laws.
• Kate Sullivan, radio host of About the Books and editor of www.WordSmitten.com, who will present a hands-on session to extract from your manuscript the key elements needed to write your essential query letter.
• Bob Tarte, author of Enslaved by Ducks, will discuss how writers who produce podcasts reach and engage new audiences. Learn to produce your own podcast show. Bob will give you the guidelines and if you Google “Bob Tarte” on YouTube, he’ll give you a chuckle with his “bird” saga. Reminds us of the film Brewster McCloud except shot on a farm.

Visit www.wordsmitten.com for more info.

fat into the fire booksignings march 15 and 16

Former Tampa resident David P. Morrow returns to the Bay area March 15 and 16 to sign copies of his new book Fat Into The Fire.

Morrow said that Fat Into The Fire, released in January, “is dramatically different than any other diet or fitness book. In the book, I reveal my own personal techniques for achieving maximum fitness levels, which include ridding the body of excess body fat.”

Saturday, March 15, 2-4 p.m. — Waldenbooks in Citrus Park Mall

Sunday, March 16, 1-4 p.m. — Borders in St. Petersburg, Tyrone Square

Morrow’s book signings include “health and fitness Q/A, FREE sign ups for fitness product giveaways, and fitness assessments and information.”

Visit www.fatintothefire.com for more info.

celebrate women’s history month with gloria steinem and friends at eckerd college tomorrow night

I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go:

One of the most influential writers, editors, and activists of our time, Gloria Steinem, along with friends Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Amy Richards and Jennifer Baumgardner, will celebrate Women’s History Month at Eckerd College on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. in McArthur Gymnasium.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are required. General admission is $10. (Note: admission is free to Eckerd students, faculty and staff; and $5 for Eckerd alumni). Eckerd is located at 4200 54th Avenue South in St. Petersburg. Call 727-864-7979 or e-mail events(at)eckerd.edu for more information.

Click here for more info. I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go!

local author tiva wallon looking for authors for march event

Local author Tiva Wallon is looking for authors to participate in her next event:

“I have a huge event planned for March 8 and 9 at the USA Flea Market at 11721 US 19 in Port Richey from 9 AM-ish until 4 PM. The help I need? Well this event is open to ALL authors. I am looking for authors of any genre to join us. There is a table charge of $10.00 per 4 x 8 table which can be split with other authors wanting to share a table. We will be advertised (for free) on their huge electronic billboard. What I am asking is for any and all authors wanting to join us, to contact me ASAP to let me know. This is a chance for authors to meet, to spread the word about our writing and to sell our books and CDs. All authors keep the money from the sales of their books. They will need to bring a chair and a table cloth and their books/CDs.”

Anyone interested should email Wallon at raven355(at)msn.com and put “USA Flea Market event” in the subject line. Her deadline is February 20.