How Losing a Printer Connection Can Crazy Up Your Life--and What's Going on This Week at Boswell.

Between Jason and Stacie's work at trying to get our previously working connection to the good printer fixed after we upgraded the computer in our break room/marketing/programming/sign making office, we've wound up getting behind in doing some of our event signage. I wound up making a lot of signs yesterday. You would think I would now know how to describe our events like the back of my hand, but it turns out that aside from the popping out veins, I can't do that good a job with my hand.  So I'm using the crutch of repurposed marketing materials.  Forgive me!

Monday, September 19, Franklin Public Library, 5:30 pm:
Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of Torn.

Haddix is the author of many much-beloved works for middle graders through teens.  She's appearing for Torn, the fourth installment of The Missing series. The Franklin Public Library is not too far off Highway 100. The fastest way is likely to be the Loomis exit of 894.

Here's the premise: "One night a plane appears out of nowhere, the only passengers aboard: 36 babies. As soon as they are taken off the plane, they vanish. Now, 13 years later, two of those children are receiving sinister messages, and they begin to investigate their past."

It turns out that each child is a famous historical figure that went missing from history.  Book four involves John Hudson, the child of explorer Henry Hudson.

Regarding the Franklin Public Library, if I were looking for a place to eat around there, I'd probably eat at Ann's Italian Restaurant. It's not just Milwaukee's best pizza anymore, or so I've heard!

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Also on September 19, 7 pm, at Boswell:
Sophie Hannah, author of The Cradle in the Grave and other novels of psychological suspense.

Being that I will be in Franklin, Stacie will be taking the honors on that one, but I would like to get back before the whole thing ends, as I read the new book and have written several blog posts about it.

Fliss Benson, a TV producer, is slated to take the reins on a documentary about crib-death mothers wrongly accused of murder. The work done so far has exonerated three of the women, and the doctor who did her best to send them to prison for life, child protection zealot Dr Judith Duffy, is under investigation for misconduct. But, when one of the mothers is found dead and additional mysterious clues arise, the cases begin to hit a little too close to home.

“This book’s triumph is that it is not just a perfectly executed psychological thriller, but a pertinent meditation on society itself.” says The Guardian, and the Daily Express raves “When it comes to ingenious plots that twist and turn like a fairground rollercoaster few writers can match Sophie Hannah. This complex and beautifully written tale kept me guessing right till the very last page.”

As I mentioned in the blog, Hannah is also a noted poet in Great Britain.  We've gotten in a few copies of her poetry collections and I've asked her to open and close the evening with her work.  She was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize for her most previous collection.

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Wednesday, September 21, 7 pm, at Boswell:
It's another poetry event, with local favorites Suzanne Rosenblatt, Bill Murtaugh, and Lucille Rosenberg, which Suzanne has titled "Glimpses: Past--Present--Future." Each poet has at least one collection or chapbook for sale at Boswell. 

Want a copy of one of their books?  It's available on our Read Local page.

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Thursday, September 22, 4 pm, West Allis Public Library:
Lisa McMann, appearing for The Unwanteds.

McMann, known for The Wake trilogy and Cryer's Cross, has written a new series that will expand her audience to middle graders, but should interest her existing young adult readers. Hence, what I think has been the jacket change from the early advance copy.  It definitely skewed a little young.  Apparently McMann will show both, and you'll get to vote on which you like better.  Here's the setup for the new book:

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime. In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

If you were taking the freeway, the library is about equidistant from the 60th Street exit of 94 or the Greenfield exit of 894.  It just depends on where you're coming from.

I'm attending a formal dinner afterwards, but McMann and I agreed that if we were able to eat wherever we wanted afterwards, we'd head due east down National and head to La Merenda for delicous international tapas.

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(Meanwhile, back at the ranch)
Thursday, September 22,  7 pm, at Boswell:
It's our first of the 2011-2012 UWM student/faculty reading.  Our featured readers are:
Melissa Olson
Jennifer Kontny
Brittany Cavallaro

In addition, Maurice Kilwein-Guevara will read some fiction by Lupe Solis, a UWM alum who passed away last month of pancreatic cancer at age 50.

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Saturday, September 24, 2 pm, at Boswell:
Gioia Diliberto, author of Paris Without End: The True Story of Hemingway's First Wife.

With the success of The Paris Wife, novelist Paula McClain’s fictional account of Hadley Richardson, Hemingway’s first wife, as well as the runaway Woody Allen film, "Midnight in Paris", it seems 1920’s literary Paris is back en vogue. Always part of the hottest literary trends, Boswell is proud to present the author of a new biography about Hadley, a fascinating woman who ran Paris’ literary circles with her husband as he wrote some of his seminal works of classic literature.

Gioia Diliberto’s impeccable research skills breathe new life into this haunting account of the young Hemingways. From their passionate courtship and their thrilling, adventurous relationship, to family life in Paris with baby Bumby, to its tragic end, Paris Without End is a riveting story of literary love. Compelling, illuminating, poignant, and deeply insightful, Diliberto provides readers a rare, intimate glimpse of the writer who so fully captured the American imagination and the remarkable woman who inspired his passion and his art—the only woman Hemingway never stopped loving.

Yes, we're keeping pretty busy. Hope to see you at one of these events!