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Author Tim Kiska discusses his book From Soupy to Nuts:A History of Detroit Television
Go back to local TV's golden years when Tim discusses the history of this television genre. As the medium grew, thousands of Detroiters visited Channel 4 to see Milky the Clown or bombastic anchorman Bill Bonds. With the evaporation of local television, a piece of Detroit's character disappeared. Come re-capture this era. A booksigning will follow with books available for purchase.'From Soupy to Nuts: A History of Detroit Television' is a snapshot of Detroit TV history - from Sonny Eliot, Bozo the Clown, Bill Kennedy, Lou Gordon and Gil Maddox to Al Ackerman, Sir Graves Ghastly, Dick the Bruiser and Mr. Belvedere. To write his book, Kiska spent hundreds of hours at the Detroit Public Library, as well as the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News libraries and others. He also interviewed countless people in person and by phone, including Duane X. Riley, Sonny Eliot and Bill Bonds. The result is this extremely entertaining book.
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Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Lecture: On Becoming Chinese American with Frances Kai-Hwa Wang
Growing up the child of immigrants, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang was both part of and slightly outside of Chinese culture and mainstream American culture. What does it mean to be Chinese American? Ms. Wang's discussion will touch on issues raised by this year's theme, China and America: Bridging Two Worlds, and the selected book, The Eighth Promise: An American Son's Tribute To His Toisanese Mother, by William Poy Lee. As acting editor of IMDiversity.com Asian American Village, Ms. Wang has written extensively on issues of identity and culture as process rather than simply one moment in time. She will share the stories of the different ways she has wrestled with identity and culture through her life, including during childhood, as a young adult, and as a parent.
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Author and Adventurer Jon Waterman Discusses His Arctic Travels and His Book
Since 1983, Jon Waterman has taken eighteen trips into the Arctic, trekking and paddling thousands of miles and encountering wolves, Inupiat hunters, and the oil-ravaged Prince William Sound. At this event, co-sponsored by the Alaska Coalition, he will blend historical narrative with vivid tales of his journeys, creating tension between past and present, science and politics, reflection and investigation. A book signing will follow and books will be available for purchase at the event, courtesy of Nicola's Books.Jon will also explore how oil exploration has choked Alaska's pristine wilderness and will trace the lives of Olaus and Mardie Murie, legendary conservationists who were devoted to the protection of America's Arctic. Jon is the author of eight books, published in several languages, and the only author whose books have twice won the Banff International Book Festival "Best Adventure Travel" award. He has been presented with a National Park Service Special Achievement Award for his rescue work on McKinley, the American Alpine Club's Literary Award, and is an honorary member for life of Phi Kappa Phi. Jon's television documentary films (The Logan Challenge, Surviving Denali, Odyssey Among the Inuit) have aired on PBS, ESPN, and the Outdoor Life Network. For more information, call 327-4560.
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Detroit Tiger Legend Denny McLain and TV Personality Eli Zaret Discuss Their New Book
Denny McLain's biography allows the former All-Star pitcher to share his cautionary tale with generations of baseball fans: older ones who witnessed his downfall and younger ones who can learn from McLain's multitude of mistakes. From being the only 30-game winner in more than 70 years, to touring the country as a popular musician playing on national TV, to spending nine years in jail -- Denny McLain has lived a bizarre and remarkable life. Co-authors McLain and Zaret will make this special Library appearance to discuss McLain's career. A book signing will follow the discussion, with books available for sale at the event. This event is scheduled to be broadcast live on Community Television Network, channel 18.In 1968, McLain set the baseball world on fire by being the first pitcher to win at least 30 games since Dizzy Dean 34 years earlier. But two years later he was banned from the game for half a season, traded away to the laughing-stock Washington Senators where he entered into a never-ending battle with baseball icon Ted Williams. By 1972, he was a retired star, hustling games of golf - and his troubles were just beginning. Emmy-winning sportscaster Eli Zaret published his first book, "84 - The Last of the Great Tigers, Untold Stories from an Amazing Season" in 2003. He followed that in 2004 with "Blue Collar Blueprint - How the Pistons Constructed their Championship Formula."
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Bestselling Suspense Author Ridley Pearson Discusses His New Thriller 'Cut and Run'
AADL continues its celebration of National Library Week (something for everyone @ your library) with one of the bestselling authors of the thriller genre. Ridley Pearson discusses his new novel 'Cut and Run' and answers audience questions at this event. He will also sign copies of his books, which will be on sale at the event courtesy of Nicola's Books.Whether it's writing frighteningly real suspense fiction, playing bass guitar in a literary all-star garage band, or the inherent joys of new fatherhood, Ridley Pearson has mastered the art of keeping a lot of people up all night. With twenty novels under his belt, Pearson has earned a reputation for stories that grip the imagination, emphasize high-tech crime and dazzling forensic detail, and, all too often, imitate life. "Undercurrents," Ridley's classic 1988 novel, helped a prosecuting attorney from Washington state solve a real-life homicide by referring to research methods used in the book. The attorney - who happened to be reading "Undercurrents" at the time - enlisted the aid of an oceanographer mentioned in the book's acknowledgment page. The oceanographer identified a tidal flow and window of time essential to the case and, serving as an expert witness, helped convict the victim's husband of murder. The topic of Pearson's 1995 novel, "Chain of Evidence," which involved the existence of a crime gene, was the focus of a genetics conference later that year that erupted in controversy, making national news. "Beyond Recognition" (1997) tackled the violent mystery of high-tech arson, and at least one death occurred subsequently just as Ridley described it in the book. Ridley has co-produced and written documentaries for television, and is currently working on a dramatic series for Showtime. He is the bestselling author of fourteen novels which have sold over six million copies and have been translated into twenty languages. In 1991, Ridley was the first American to be awarded the Raymond Chandler Fulbright at Oxford University. His new thriller, "Cut And Run," features witness protection agent Roland Larson who has the misfortune of falling in love with Hope, a protected witness, whose testimony had put away prominent members of a crime family. In a series of terrifying encounters, he must match wits with a brutally ingenious henchman who has kidnapped Hope and Larson's daughter in a ruthless quest to destroy Hope.
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Fox 2 Reporter Lee Thomas Discusses His Battle With Vitiligo And His New Book 'Turning White: A Memoir of Change'
In his newly released book, Emmy Award-winning TV broadcaster Lee Thomas shares the physical and mental battle he is currently waging. In 1996, the African-American broadcaster was diagnosed with the skin pigment disorder vitiligo. In "Turning White: A Memoir of Change," Thomas shares his journey to help people understand vitiligo, and to help others cope with the psychological war that comes from this life-changing disease. Hear him discuss his career, his struggle with vitiligo, and his thought-provoking memoir at this special event. A book signing will follow, with books for sale courtesy of Nicola's Books. As someone in the very public eye, vitiligo has transformed not only Thomas' color, but his life. "Even people who have known me for years avoid eye contact when they see my face without makeup for the first time." He is also currently slated to be the keynote speaker for the National Vitiligo Foundation annual meeting/ awards banquet in October 2007. FOX 2 Detroit and PBS Detroit are developing a documentary on Thomas, which is slated to air locally in November and may go into national syndication. More than two million people in the U.S. suffer from vitiligo. This is the only book on the market addressing the personal and emotional struggles one faces with the disease.
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Best-selling Mystery Authors Loren Estleman and C.J. Box Discuss Their Mystery Novels
Meet two of the country's leading writers in the mystery genre. C.J. Box will discuss "Blue Heaven" ("a suspenseful tour-de-force" -- Kirkus Reviews) and Loren Estleman will cover "Gas City" (a "razor-sharp tale of crime and corruption" -- Publisher's Weekly). Both books will be released in January. The authors will sign books and answer audience questions. Books will be for sale at the event, courtesy of Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookshop.
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2008 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Event: Author William Poy Lee Discusses "The Eighth Promise"
Acclaimed author William Poy Lee will make a special appearance as part of Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads. His book, "The Eighth Promise: An American Son's Tribute To His Toisanese Mother," has been chosen as the focus of the 2008 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads program. Mr. Poy will discuss his book and his perspective on the Chinese American experience. A book signing will follow, with books for sale at the event, courtesy of Borders.This appearance is a key event for the 2008 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti reads program, which this year focuses on the theme China and America: Bridging Two Worlds.
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Graphic Novelist Josh Elder, Author of 'Mail Order Ninja' Discusses His Craft
This Chicago-based graphic novelist recently made a splash in the publishing world with his "Mail Order Ninja" graphic novel series and nationally-syndicated comic strip from TokyoPop. He has also written an upcoming issue of "The Batman Strikes" for DC Comics. Find out how Josh got his start and what it's like in the world of graphic novel authors when Josh visits the Library to discuss his craft. The event will include a book signing, with books available for purchase. This event will be taped for future broadcast on Community Television Network, Channel 18.A life-long comic book fan and graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Film, Josh spent several years after graduation on the periphery of the comic book industry, first as a DC Comics intern and later as an associate editor for Wizard Magazine. In April 2005, his short story, "Mail Order Ninja," won the grand prize in TokyoPop's fifth Rising Stars of Manga contest. He scored a six-book deal as a result. Josh is now working on the third volume of "Mail Order Ninja." He also writes graphic novel reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Author Jonathan Lethem Discusses His Novel 'You Don't Love Me Yet'
AADL and Shaman Drum Bookshop are pleased to host a special event featuring award-winning author Jonathan Lethem in a discussion of his latest novel. The author of six novels, including the bestsellers The Fortress of Solitude and Motherless Brooklyn (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award), Lethem is also the author of two short story collections, Men and Cartoons and The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye, and a collection of essays, The Disappointment Artist. A book signing will follow, with books for sale courtesy of Shaman Drum Bookshop.You Don't Love Me Yet is a raucous romantic farce that explores the paradoxes of love and art. It is a funny and affectionate send-up of the alternative band scene, the city of Los Angeles, and the entire genre of romantic comedy.