Local authors in the holiday spotlight at Kazoo Books

Those who like to buy local will have an opportunity to extend their priorities to their book buying at an upcoming event at Kazoo Books.

 

Local Authors Day takes place at the independent bookseller's 2413 Parkview Ave. store on Saturday, Dec. 14.

 

The event got its beginnings four years ago when an author called Kazoo Books owner Gloria Tiller during the holiday season and said she would be available for a booksigning. Tiller was skeptical that anyone would take time out of Christmas shopping to go to a booksigning, but it turned out to be a big success. So Tiller scheduled a second event the following year and it was an even bigger success. That encouraged her to set up the subsequent annual authors' days.

 

Part of what makes the event successful is that authors come out during the day to support their friends. So shoppers may come to see one author and run into another author whose works they like to read.

 

A festive atmosphere takes over the shop with all kinds of refreshments, and all the Christmas titles in the store are on sale, too. 

 

Artisans will be found throughout the shop, including bead jewelry by mentored youth from Beadventure, Ministry with Community's soaps and candles, Linda Kekic's  fused glass jewelry and woodblock prints by Mary Brodbeck.

 

The signings begin at 11 a.m. with author Ruth McNally Barshaw, creator of the Ellie McDoodle series, an intermediate chapter book. Leslie Helakoski, author and illustrator of Dog Gone Feet and Fair Cow, and author of the Big Chicken series as well as Woolbur also will be available to sign books.  Janet Ruth Heller autor of How the Moon Regained Her Shape, a story about bullying for children of all ages, rounds out the 11 a.m. group.

 

From noon to 1:30 p.m. catch the latest by Grace Tiffany, author of several books set in the time of Shakespeare, My Father Had a Daughter and Will. Her new book is called Paint and takes readers back to Elizabethan court. Joan Donaldson, an organic farmer who has written a book about the life of growing and farming in Michigan, Wedded to the Land; Tom Small‘s, whose Using Native Plants to Restore Community has become a regional handbook for protecting the native landscape. and local poet Hedy Habra, author of Tea in Heliopolis and Flying Carpets all will be available. 

 

New Issues Press is at Western Michigan University has recently produced a gift book of regional poetry and art called Poetry in Michigan and several of the authors represented in the book will be available at 1 p.m. Mary Brodbeck, one of the artists in the book also will be here with some of her  art. Judi Rypma  author of Amber Room and Rapunzel’s Hair also will be at the bookstore at 1 p.m.

 

At 2 p.m. meet Jacqueline Carey, local author of the historical fantasy series, Kushiel’s Legacy, The Sundering epic and the new Agent of Hel contemporary fantasy series, Autumn Bones. Sarah Zettel is author of a vampire chef mystery series, the Isavalta fantasy series, and is now writing for young adults. The latest historical novel from the author from the east side of the state is a mystery called Palace of Spies.

 

Joe Heywood is back from the north country to sign books at 3 p.m. His latest is Killing a Cold One and he can talk about his next book, soon to be out. Also on hand will be: D. E. Johnson with his latest mystery, Detroit Shuffle; Mel Starr who continues his medieval mystery adventures with Rest Not in Peace, just released; and Albert Bell, from Grand Rapids whose latest historical mystery is set in Italy shortly after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

 

For a complete list of authors and other events, visit here.