Categories
Updates

A Chat with Mary Norris

If staying at home is getting you down, how does an armchair trip to explore the sights and sounds of Greece with an author sound? Today, May 18, 2020, would have been our scheduled Spring Book & Author Luncheon. Alas, the Coronavirus pandemic means that we can’t get together in person right now, but we’re still finding new ways to connect with our authors and their books! Book & Author Society Board member Raya Samet (University of Michigan-Dearborn) sat down for a virtual interview with Mary Norris, author of Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen, which is now available in paperback! Tune in to hear the full chat about Norris’ travel memoir that weaves in her early career at The New Yorker, her (mostly solo) travels to Greece, and her odes to the Greek language and Greek mythology.

Want to get a hold of a copy? 

  • Don’t forget to check your public library–many are offering eBooks or may provide curbside pickup services.
  • Want to purchase a copy while supporting BOTH the Metro-Detroit Book & Author Society and your local independent bookstore? Use this link to make your purchase on Bookshop and have it shipped directly to your door!
  • Prefer to order using Amazon? Please go to smile.amazon.com and set Metro-Detroit Book and Author Society as your charity so that your purchase helps to send us a donation. Participating in the Amazon Smile program does NOT increase the cost of items you buy.

Categories
In the News

Fall 2019 Author James Poniewozik in the News

The Detroit Free Press posted a great article about James Poniewozik’s new book. James is one of the four authors we have joining us for the Fall 2019 luncheon in October. If you’d like to see him speak and get a copy of his book signed, please get your tickets here.

Categories
Updates

Authors for Fall Luncheon Announced

Tickets go on sale September 3rd!

The Luncheon will be held at Burton Manor
27777 Schoolcraft, Livonia, MI 48150

Deborah Blum is the director of the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of two best-selling books, “The Poisoner’s Handbook” and her newest, “The Poison Squad: One Chemist’s Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.” The latter is the dramatic true story of food safety in the United States and the heroes who fought for change at the end of the 19th century, when food was often dangerous to eat and even lethal. Deborah has also been a columnist for The New York Times and a blogger for Wired.

Bridgett Davis is the author of “The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers,” an unusual memoir of how low-stakes gambling helped fuel – and fund – racial justice in Detroit. While it tells how her mother ran a successful illegal numbers operation when Bridgett was young, it is also about the African American strivers of Detroit, the evolution of her family, a tale of female empowerment, and a love letter to her mother. Born and raised in Detroit, Bridgett is also the author of two novels, “Into the Go-Slow” and “Shifting Through Neutral.”

Susan Isaacs is the best-selling author of 14 novels, including “Compromising Positions” and “Shining Through.” Her new novel, “Takes One to Know One,” is a twisty mystery thriller featuring a retired FBI agent turned Long Island housewife who taps into her investigative past when she begins to suspect that her neighbor is harboring criminal secrets. Susan is a former editor of Seventeen, a freelance political speechwriter, chairman of the board of Poets & Writers, and a past president of Mystery Writers of America.

James Poniewozik is the chief television critic for the New York Times. His new book is “Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America.” This fascinating, eye-opening book traces the history of TV and mass media from simpler times in the 1980’s to its powerful worldwide presence today. He also tells the almost unbelievable story of how a billionaire merged with the medium to become our 45th president. Originally from Monroe, James attended the University of Michigan. He went on to write about television for Time magazine for sixteen years, and has contributed to publications like Fortune, Salon and Rolling Stone.

Categories
Events Luncheons

Fall 2019 Luncheon

Thanks to all for making the Fall 2019 luncheon a great success! Our authors included:

Deborah Blum (www.deborahblum.com) is the director of the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of two best-selling books, “The Poisoner’s Handbook” and her newest, “The Poison Squad: One Chemist’s Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.” The latter is the dramatic true story of food safety in the United States and the heroes who fought for change at the end of the 19th century, when food was often dangerous to eat and even lethal. Deborah has also been a columnist for The New York Times and a blogger for Wired.

Bridgett Davis (bridgettdavis.com) is the author of “The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers,” an unusual memoir of how low-stakes gambling helped fuel – and fund – racial justice in Detroit. While it tells how her mother ran a successful illegal numbers operation when Bridgett was young, it is also about the African American strivers of Detroit, the evolution of her family, a tale of female empowerment, and a love letter to her mother. Born and raised in Detroit, Bridgett is also the author of two novels, “Into the Go-Slow” and “Shifting Through Neutral.”

Susan Isaacs (www.susanisaacs.com) is the best-selling author of 14 novels, including “Compromising Positions” and “Shining Through.” Her new novel, “Takes One to Know One,” is a twisty mystery thriller featuring a retired FBI agent turned Long Island housewife who taps into her investigative past when she begins to suspect that her neighbor is harboring criminal secrets. Susan is a former editor of Seventeen, a freelance political speechwriter, chairman of the board of Poets & Writers, and a past president of Mystery Writers of America.

James Poniewozik (www.nytimes.com/james-poniewozik) is the chief television critic for the New York Times. His new book is “Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America.” This fascinating, eye-opening book traces the history of TV and mass media from simpler times in the 1980’s to its powerful worldwide presence today. He also tells the almost unbelievable story of how a billionaire merged with the medium to become our 45th president. Originally from Monroe, James attended the University of Michigan. He went on to write about television for Time magazine for sixteen years, and has contributed to publications like Fortune, Salon and Rolling Stone.

Categories
Updates

Spring 2019 Luncheon

Tickets

Tickets for the Spring 2019 luncheon go on sale April 1st. We’re excited about this line-up and we really look forward to seeing all of you there.

Grants

We also have grant application forms for two of our grants posted to our website under the Grant Information menu just in case you missed our e-mail sent out to library-focused distribution lists in Michigan.

As a reminder, these grants are available to public and academic libraries as well as literacy organizations located in southeast Michigan. We encourage you to apply; applications are due by April 29, 2019.

Share this!

We need your help to grow our audience. The grants we award and the authors we attract to our events depend on ticket and book sales, so sharing this event information only helps things get better! We love books, literacy, and know that you do too. We love giving you the opportunity to get to know your favorite authors better and expose you to other authors and their work.

Soon, you’ll see us on social media as well as some other sites to help connect you with our authors, their work, our grant award winners, and so much more. We’ll be making announcements on our website and this newsletter on how we’re working to connect our organization with new audience members.

Since 1972, this organization has brought readers like you together with authors in a casual, fun, and affordable event. Want to help us grow? Spread the word: Invite a friend. Tell a colleague at work. Share our e-mail newsletter. These simple actions have a big impact.

Thank you so much for your support!