Join Herald-Tribune Book Editor Susan Rife and bestselling Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor for a discussion of their mother-daughter memoir...more »

TICKETS: $15 per ticket, available online or at Living Walls at 1311 Main Street in downtown Sarasota. Books available at Living Walls or at the event.

Join us Thursday and Friday 9:00am to 2:00pm for a business sale on a wide selection of furniture, fixtures, and equipment: tables, chairs, bookshelves, cafe commercial cafe equipment, supplies, and our famous SNB Chesterfield sofa. Also load up on books, gifts, coffee, and tea at rock bottom prices...more »

TICKETS: Free Thursday and Friday, 9:00am - 2:00pm

Join us to show your support for our local merchants during this difficult economic downturn. Hear from our elected leaders about ways in which we can all support our local businesses, and sign up for the Project 3/50 pledge. Also, hear about an exciting new initiative called I BELIEVE IN DOWNTOWN. We hope to see you there!..more »

TICKETS: NO TICKETS NEEDED! FREE EVENT! BRING YOUR OWN HAND MADE SIGNS!

Bestselling author Lisa Unger takes us on a nightmarish journey from bustling, glamorous New York City to the murky, twisted streets of Prague, seeking the answer to one bone-chilling question: What if the man you love, the one sleeping beside you, is a stranger? Lisa Unger is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of literary thrillers including Beautiful Lies and Sliver of Truth. She lives in Tampa..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book

Join longtime resident and historian Jeff LaHurd as he chronicles the fascinating, forgotten stories that made Sarasota the exceptional city it is today. Sarasota, a one-horse farming town turned thriving winter residence of the Ringling circus and flocks of snowbirds, has experienced more than its share of quirky characters and peculiar events. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his books

Her granddaughter's wedding should be a time of happiness for Marina Buriakov. But the Russian emigre's descent into Alzheimer's has her and her family experiencing more anxiety than joy. As the details of her present-day life slip mysteriously away, Marina's recollections of her early years as a docent at the State Hermitage Museum become increasingly vivid. Debra Dean eloquently describes the works of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Raphael, but she is at her best illuminating aging Marina's precarious state of mind...more »

TICKETS: $10. The novel will be available for purchase at event for a booksigning reception following the program.

In Street Gang, author Michael Davis tells the unforgettable story Sesame Street, the landmark show that taught millions of children not only their numbers, but also cooperation and fair play. Tracing the evolution of the show through ups and downs, this books pays tribute to the five decades of social and cultural change and the miraculous efforts of whose who created one of the most influential programs in television history...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his book.

Fiasco, Thomas E. Ricks's #1 New York Times bestseller, transformed the political dialogue on the war in Iraq. The Gamble is the next news-breaking installment. Using hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with top officers in Iraq and extraordinary on-the-ground reportage to document the inside story of the Iraq War since late 2005, Ricks examines the events that took place as the military was forced to reckon with itself, the surge was launched, and a very different war began...more »

TICKETS: FORUM MEMBERS: $25.00 for single ticket w/book, $40.00 for couples ticket w/book, NON-MEMBERS: $30.00 for single ticket w/book, $45.00 for couples ticket w/book. Available online at www.forumtruth.org, Sarasota News & Books or by calling (941) 349-8350.

Join SCOPE for a convesation with Nancy Schlossberg about her new book, which gives unique guidance on how to create a happy, fulfilling retirement. Nancy K. Schlossberg, a counseling psychologist and author of Retire Smart, Retire Happy, encourages readers to reshape their identity, relationships, and purpose. She discusses several coping skills that help retirees continue to feel that they are vital members of their community...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will be in conversation with SCOPE Executive Director Tim Dutton

Join Sarasota author Wayne Barcomb for the debut of THE HUNTED, the first thriller in his Detective Frank Russo series. THE HUNTED begins with a little girl witnessing a horrible crime. Due to the child’s testimony, the murderer is convicted. Eighteen years later the killer is released on parole, and his mission is to track down the now grown woman he feels betrayed him. Barcomb is the author of two acclaimed novels set in Sarasota, BLOOD TIDE and UNDERCURRENT...more »

TICKETS: Free. Author will discuss and sign copies of his books

Standing Up to the Madness not only is a timely, inspiring, and even revolutionary look at who wields the greatest power in America--everyday people who take a chance and stand up for what they believe in--but also offers advice on what you can do to help. The award-winning sister-brother team of Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, and investigative journalist David Goodman traveled the country to detail the ways in which grassroots activists have taken politics out of the hands of politicians. Standing Up to the Madness tells the stories of everyday citizens who have challenged the government and prevailed. ..more »

TICKETS: $10 for General Public. Free for New College Students and Faculty. Sponsored by WSLR 96.5 LPFM

Hal Ashby set the standard for subsequent independent filmmakers by crafting unique, thoughtful, and challenging films that continue to influence new generations of directors. In Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel, the first full-length biography of the maverick filmmaker, author Nick Dawson masterfully tells the turbulent story of Ashby's life and career. Nick Dawson is editor at FilmInFocus.com and writes a weekly interview column, The Director Interviews, for Filmmaker magazine. Originally from the UK, he has written on film for Empire, Uncut, the London Times, and the Scotsman. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his books

Turn off all the lights in your house and join us by candlelight at Sarasota News & Books for our second annual Earth Hour Celebration. City Commissioner Kelly Kirschner will be on-hand to discuss ways the City is combating climate change, and Environmental Coordinator Michele Mician will discuss ways in which you can get involved...more »

TICKETS: Free! No RSVP is necessary. We encourage you to bring candles and ask your friends and family to participate in Earth Hour.

Readers of The New York Times know David Sanger as one of the most trusted correspondents in Washington. Now, Sanger delivers an urgent intelligence briefing on the world America faces. At once a secret history of our foreign policy misadventures and a lucid explanation of the opportunities they create, The Inheritance is vital reading for anyone trying to understand the extraordinary challenges that lie ahead...more »

TICKETS: FORUM MEMBERS: $25.00 for single ticket w/book, $40.00 for couples ticket w/book, NON-MEMBERS: $30.00 for single ticket w/book, $45.00 for couples ticket w/book. Available online at www.forumtruth.org, Sarasota News & Books or by calling (941) 349-8350.

Widely credited with introducing proper Italian food to the rest of the world, Marcella Hazan is the legendary author of six classic cookbooks. In her memoir, Amarcord, Marcella looks back on the adventures of a life lived for pleasure and a love of teaching. Throughout, she entertains the reader with stories of the humorous, sometimes bizarre twists and turns that brought her love, fame, and a chance to change the way we eat forever...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes reception one copy of the author's book). This author conversation is presented by Sarasota News & Books for the benefit of the Friends of the Ringling Museum Library

Considered the first comprehensive social history of Florida, Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams brilliantly explains the explosive growth of our state and the firestorm of change that erupted into modern Florida by examining the great social, cultural, and economic forces driving its transformation. Beneath the iconography of popular culture, Mormino reveales a complex and complicated social framework that reflects the passage from New Spain to Old South, New South to Sunbelt...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his book.

Join the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice for the launch of the "green revolution", as local and state leaders and residents of the Gulf Coast region make their commitment to energy and economic independence. Thomas Friedman is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the New York Times and the author of several best-selling books, including "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century." In his new book, "Hot, Flat, and Crowded," he proposes a national strategy to tackle the issues of climate change and energy competition and renew America in the process...more »

TICKETS: SOLD OUT! If you would like to order a signed copy of any of Thomas Friedman’s books, please call Sarasota News & Books at (941) 365-6332.

On the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, a small group of women in Atlanta’s white community played a radical role in bringing peaceful desegregation to the Georgia school system. Author Rebecca Dartt tells the story of HOPE (Help Our Public Education), beginning with a small neighborhood coffee chat then growing through mail and meeting campaigns across the state. Based on factual material found in library special collections, books, newspapers, transcripts, symposiums, and several interviews, this book honors and tells the story of a small group of courageous, hard-working women credited with creating a public climate in which peaceful desegregation was possible. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her books

Totally updated for Spring Training 2009, The Complete Guide to Spring Training, 2nd Edition is baseball’s definitive guide for the ultimate Spring Training experience. Combining complete coverage of Florida, this guide is for both the hardcore fan seeking out the next spring phenom and the casual fan who cares more about lying in the sun and sipping a cold one. Written by Kevin Reichard, the editor of Spring Training Online and Ballpark Digest, The Complete Guide to Spring Training, 2nd Edition is the only resource you’ll need to get the most out of your Spring Training experience...more »

TICKETS: Free! Talk baseball over lunch.

T. Greenwood’s new novel is a powerful, haunting tale of enduring love, destructive secrets, and opportunities that arrive in disguise. Since the death of his wife, Harper Montgomery has narrowed his world to working at the local railroad and raising his daughter, Shelly, the best way he knows how. Still wracked with sorrow over the loss of his life-long love and plagued by his role in a brutal, long-ago crime, he wants only to make amends for his past mistakes. Then one fall day, a train derails in Two Rivers, and amid the wreckage Harper finds an unexpected chance at atonement. T. Greenwood is the author of Breathing Water, Nearer Than the Sky, and Undressing the Moon...more »

TICKETS: Free! Two Rivers is available at Sarasota News & Books at a 15 percent discount

Ghost Stories of Sarasota combines history and legends with haunting experiences related to the author about people and places in Sarasota, including John and Mable Ringling of circus fame, all the major theaters in the city and other public and private places. It is the second in a series of books about the haunted West Coast of Florida by Kim Cool, author of Ghost Stories of Venice...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her books

In The Breakthrough, veteran journalist Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama’s stunning presidential victory and introducing the emerging young African American politicians forging a bold new path to political power...more »

TICKETS: FORUM MEMBERS: $25.00 for single ticket w/book, $40.00 for couples ticket w/book, NON-MEMBERS: $30.00 for single ticket w/book, $45.00 for couples ticket w/book. Available online at www.forumtruth.org, Sarasota News & Books or by calling (941) 349-8350.

Journey with Gina Greenlee and other women travelers as they share 118 "postcards" filled with life lessons learned while traveling on their own. Whether they drove to New Jersey, hopped a freighter to Bora Bora, or biked across Alaska, women from age 20 to 72 discover the joy of honoring their own rhythms, the confidence of knowing they can take care of themselves and the reward of making lasting life changes. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book

Join founding editor of Slate Magazine and former co-host of CNN's Cross Fire for a conversation about Creative Capitalism, a movement inspired by Bill Gates remarks at the 2008 World Economic Forum challenging corporations to integrate doing good into how they do business. Kerry Kerschner, President of the Argus Foundation, will moderate the interview...more »

TICKETS: FORUM MEMBERS: $25.00 for single ticket w/book, $40.00 for couples ticket w/book, NON-MEMBERS: $30.00 for single ticket w/book, $45.00 for couples ticket w/book. Available online at www.forumtruth.org, Sarasota News & Books or by calling (941) 349-8350.

Have you ever thought, 'Maybe I've got a book here;' 'So-and-so says I should share my knowledge with others;' 'Maybe my story could help other people;' or 'I think I've got a great idea for a novel’? Five-time author Lucy Hedrick of Sarasota and Greenwich, Connecticut, will offer insights for “Breaking In: How to Get Published in the 21st Century”..more »

TICKETS: Free! Books on Publishing recommended by the author will be available for purchase at a 15 percent discount.

Join us for a fun fundraiser for the downtown Selby Public Library. Enjoy wine and hor d'oeuvres, wine presentation by Barefoot Wine & Buddly and presentation and booksigning by Jill Conner Browne...more »

TICKETS: $40 for member of The Friends of Selby. $50 for non-members. Call (941) 861-1140 for more information. Register online here

From the author of Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone comes an epic novel that captures the tumultuous period in our nation after the end of WWI and the pivotal events which culminated into the Boston Police Strike of 1919. Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters more richly drawn than any Lehane has ever created, The Given Day tells the story of two families swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, all engaged in a battle for survival and power...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes reception one copy of the author's book). This author conversation is presented by Sarasota News & Books for the benefit of the Friends of the Ringling Museum Library

Join Stuart Kaminsky, Edgar Award-Winning writer and the official voice of Sarasota, for a launch party for his latest Lew Fonesca mystery, BRIGHT FUTURES. Lovable everyman Lew Fonesca, the Man Who Makes Things Work in Sarasota, is once again faced with cases that try his patience and test his sanity...more »

TICKETS: Free: Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or coffee with your purchase of BRIGHT FUTURES.

Compiled by the most famous tennis journalist and historian in the world, this book is the ultimate compilation of historical tennis information, including year-by-year recaps of every tennis season, biographical sketches of every major tennis personality, as well as stats, records, and championship rolls for all the major events. The author’s personal relationships with major tennis stars offer insights into the world of professional tennis found nowhere else...more »

TICKETS: Free! Bud will happily sign copies of his new book

Join Robert Mansell for a very special First Friday Art Walk as he presents the newly published audio book from his musical play 'Willm-S'. Don't miss the fun!..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will perform and sign copies of his audio book.

Join us for an evening with Martin Tucker, Editor-in-chief of Confrontation, the award-winning literary journal, and Sarasota writer Elisabeth Goss Stevens. Dr. Tucker will be reading from PLENTY OF EXITS, his recently published collection of poetry, and Ms. Stevens will be reading from LONG TRAIL WINDING, a collection of new and updated stories...more »

TICKETS: Free! Authors will sign and discuss their books

Recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, John Dear, SJ, has faced many dangers for his fervent believe in peace. Dear’s unflappable persistence in speaking and acting on behalf of peace stems from his life-changing decision to live out the Beatitudes of the nonviolent Jesus in every dimension of his life. From his conversion to Christianity, to his calling to become a Jesuit, to the extreme dangers and delights of a life dedicated to truly living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus, Dear’s incredible story will touch anyone who believes in the power of peace. ..more »

TICKETS: $5.00 donation to WSLR. Author will discuss and sign copies of his book. Sponsored by the Peace Education and Action Center

With this intelligent and expansive book, Los Angeles Times political correspondent and columnist Ronald Brownstein dissects the hyperpartisanship that he believes has unnecessarily inflamed our differences and impeded progress against our most pressing challenges. Brownstein has been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of both the 1996 and 2004 presidential elections...more »

TICKETS: FORUM Members $20.00, Non-Members $25.00, available at www.forumtruth.org

Celebrity is a rough game. From having Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones watch in amazement as Jesse's band, the Young Executives, covered the hit song "Satisfaction," to helping arrange and then perform in Stephen Schwartz's hit Broadway show Godspell with the #1 single "Day by Day," to recording an album with Academy Award winner Joe Renzetti (The Buddy Holly Story), Jesse had it all. But temptations, seduction and leveraged buyouts of major entertainment conglomerates left him out in the cold. Join us and hear Jesse retell his rise and fall from fame...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his book.

On the heels of Stewart O'Nan’s critically acclaimed Last Night at the Lobster, Songs for the Missing is an entralling portrait of one family in the aftermath of a daughter's disappearance. With a soulful empathy for these ordinary heroes, he draws us into the world of this small American town and allows us to feel like a part of this family. O'Nan is author of eleven novels, including Snow Angels, which was made into a film in 2007...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes reception one copy of the author's book). This author conversation is presented by Sarasota News & Books for the benefit of the Friends of the Ringling Museum Library

Join StoryCorps founder Dave Isay as he reflects on the listening project that has become a national movement. Isay will also share some of the most remarkable oral histories to come from the StoryCorps booths across the country. Each attendee will receive a signed copy of his book, LISTENING IS AN ACT OF LOVE, and be invited to attend a catered book signing following the program...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes one copy of the author's book). Voices of Public Radio is presented by WUSF Public Broadcasting and Sarasota News & Books for the benefit of the Friends of Ringling Museum Library

The Herald-Tribune Book Club hosts David Leavitt for a conversation about his spell-binding novel based on the true story of the British mathematician who discovered the unschooled genius from India that would forever change mathematics. A finalist for the 2008 Pen/Faulkner Award, David Leavitt is Co-Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Florida and a regular contributor to the New York Times Book Review...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes reception and one copy of the author's book). Sponsored by the Herald-Tribune Media Group for the benefit of the Friends of the Ringling Museum Library

She can be funny and sharp-tongued, warm and blunt, empathic and demanding. Who is the woman Barack Obama calls "the boss"? In Michelle, Washington Post writer Liza Mundy paints a revealing and intimate portrait, taking us inside the marriage of the most dynamic couple in politics today. In this carefully reported biography, drawing upon interviews with more than one hundred people, including one with Michelle herself, Mundy captures the complexity of this remarkable woman and the remarkable life she has lived...more »

TICKETS: FORUM MEMBERS: $25.00 for single ticket w/book, $40.00 for couples ticket w/book, NON-MEMBERS: $30.00 for single ticket w/book, $45.00 for couples ticket w/book. Available online at www.forumtruth.org, Sarasota News & Books or by calling (941) 349-8350.

In this largely autobiographical sequel to Ad Hudler’s best-selling HOUSEHUSBAND, we find Linc Menner thriving as a stay-at-home dad. His gourmet cooking is sublime, his cleaning unrivaled, and his devotion to his daughter, Violet, unparalleled. But when the Menners relocate from upstate New York to the steamy beaches of Naples, Florida, life takes an unexpected turn...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his books

Join Dan Gediman for an intimate conversation about This I Believe, the NPR series he produces that engages people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives. Each attendee will receive a copy of THIS I BELIEVE II, a published collection of popular essays, and will be invited to attend a catered book signing following the program...more »

TICKETS: $35 per ticket (includes one copy of the author's book). Voices of Public Radio is presented by WUSF Public Broadcasting and Sarasota News & Books for the benefit of the Friends of the Ringling Museum Library

Matt Rothschild is the man David Sedaris could have been if he’d grown up in an esteemed family on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In his debut novel, DUMBFOUNDED: Big Money. Big Hair. Big Problems. Or Why Having It All Isn't for Sissies, Rothschild tells the story of his childhood with humor, honesty, and unlikely compassion for his eccentric relatives, including his mother, in this bitingly entertaining and unexpectedly tender memoir of family dysfunction. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Join us for a complimentary glass of wine

Join Herald-Tribune Books Editor Susan Rife for a discussion with Lisa Unger about her latest novel, BLACKOUT. Unger is the New York Times bestselling author of BEAUTIFUL LIES and SLIVER OF TRUTH. Her novels have been published in more than twenty-five countries. She lives in Florida with her husband and daughter and is working on her next novel...more »

TICKETS: Free; Copies of BLACKOUT are available at Sarasota News & Books at a 15 percent discount.

Prepare to be held hostage by this year's most suspenseful novel, TAKEOVER is a stunning thriller by a writer who possesses the lethal combination of talent and real-life forensic experience. Author Lisa Black is a forensic specialist for the Cape Coral Police Department where she analyzes and is responsible for fingerprinting and photography of crime scenes, processing of items of evidence for latent prints, latent print comparisons and and blood spatter patterns...more »

TICKETS: Free; author will discuss and sign copies of her book

The Southwest Coalition for Peace & Justice invites to a discussion with Samar Dahmash-Jarrah, a Palestinian-American journalists whose book, ARAB VOICES SPEAK TO AMERICAN HEARTS attempts to create a bridge of communication between the Arab world and the Western world. ..more »

TICKETS: Free; Sponsored by the Southwest Coalition for Peace & Justice

In this tense, well-paced novel about belief, Kristy Kiernan, author of CATCHING GENIUS, explores what happens when faith and love test the limits of family fealty and the well-meaning traps parents fall into when encouraging open-ended exploration of faith without context. The thoughtful themes, interesting characters and page-turning drama of this novel will likely make it a book club favorite. ..more »

TICKETS: FREE; Copies of MATTERS OF FAITH are available at Sarasota News & Books at a 15 percent discount.

SIDEWAYS IN SARASOTA is a sexy, humorous, and sometimes sobering romp through the heart and mind of M.C. Coolidge – better known as “Reality Chick” -- one of Sarasota’s most popular and provocative newspaper columnists. A native Floridian and longtime Bostonian, Coolidge pens stories and perspectives from both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. Her writing offers poignant glimpses of human kindness, memories of Beantown, and a deep affection for the natural beauty and serendipitous joys of Sarasota living. M.C. Coolidge lives and works in Sarasota where the essays collected in SIDEWAYS IN SARASOTA first appeared in the Pelican Press newspaper. Her opinion pieces have also appeared in the Tampa Tribune and Venice Gondolier Sun. She is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book

THE STEEL WAVE is the second volume in New York Times-bestselling author Jeff Shaara's acclaimed World War II trilogy, about the most famous chapter in WWII--D Day. Jeff Shaara plunges his readers into the minds of the commanders who gave the orders, and the soldiers who carried them out with the rifle and bayonet. From GI to general, this centerpiece of Jeff Shaara's saga on the Second World War carries the reader through the events of the most crucial weeks of the Second World War-- events that altered the flow of the war, and ultimately, changed history. ..more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets. Luncheon and hardcover book included. For additional information, call Christa Southgate at (941) 329-2604.

Darby Vaughn, a Sarasota girl turned dating guru, has finally landed the life she’s always dreamed of: A handsome, charming husband she’s crazy about, a fabulous home in an exclusive neighborhood, a bestselling dating book, and tax-deductible pedicures. Thousands of women have followed her man-snagging advice, in hopes that their lives will turn out just like hers. But when she finds out her husband is cheating, her publicity-perfect world spins out of control...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book

In this ambitious debut novel, fact and fiction blend together brilliantly. While scholars have largely relegated Mamah to a footnote in the life of Frank Lloyd Wright, author Nancy Horan gives full weight to their dramatic love story and illuminates Cheney’s profound influence on America's greatest architect. A booksigning reception follows the program in the delectable new Treviso Restaurant...more »

TICKETS: $40 for one ticket; $70 for two tickets. Hardcover book and author reception included. For more information, call Christa Southgate at (941) 329-2604.

Don't harass her about parasailing or taking Italian language courses. Forget about suggesting she join a gym. Marie Sharp may be a little creaky in the bones as she heads towards the big 6–0, but she's fine with it. She's already led an exciting life: she came of age in the 1960s, after all. Now, with a new grandchild on the horizon, all she wants to do is enjoy what she considers the most interesting stage of her life. No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club is an unexpected delight of a novel about letting go of youth and embracing your inner curmudgeon!..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book

From the author of the Florida noir classic White Shadow, former Tampa Tribune reporter Ace Atkins draws from the worlds of pulp and Faulkner in Wicked City, using characters from the town’s true history to tell a story of the best and worst of morality, and the ambiguity in between. In 1955, Look magazine called Phenix City, Alabama, "The Wickedest City in America," a stew of organized crime and corruption, run by a machine that dealt with complaints forcefully and with dispatch. A small group of men meet and decide that they have had enough, but where it will take them is something they could not have foreseen...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his books

Focusing the environmental debate on the principle of common commitment, eminent conservationist Terry L. Maple and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich declare a need for bipartisan environmentalism—a new era of environmental stewardship with principles that they believe most Americans will share. Maple and Gingrich believe that most people—regardless of how they categorize themselves politically—are weary of the legal and political conflicts that prevent individuals and communities from realizing the benefits of environmental conservation. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his book.

In THE KONKANS, acclaimed Sarasota writer Tony D'Souza follows up the promise of WHITEMAN with this moving portrait of a Indian-American family. Narrator Francisco D'Sai descends partially from a small group of Konkans, former Hindus converted to Catholicism by the Portuguese in the 16th century. His American mother, Denise, met and married his father, Lawrence, while working as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s. The couple moves to Chicago, where Francisco is born and where Lawrence is obsessed with assimilation and achieving the American dream. Filled with romance, comedy, and masterful storytelling, The Konkans leaves us surprised by what secrets history may hold for us if only we wonder enough to look...more »

TICKETS: Free! Join us for Beer & Books with Tony D'Souza

The Herald-Tribune Book Club presents emerging author Lauren Groff in conversation with Stephen King. Steeped in the rich literary history of Groff’s beloved hometown of Cooperstown, New York, her debut novel offers a strikingly original blend of inventive writing and huge vision. It all adds up to a remarkable meditation on what it means to belong to a place, to a family, and ultimately to yourself...more »

TICKETS: This event is SOLD OUT. Signed copies of MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON and DUMA KEY Available at Sarasota News & Books. Call (941) 365-6332.

The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of Nineteen Minutes presents Change of Heart, a spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and a criminal's last chance at gaining salvation. Once again, Jodi Picoult mesmerizes and enthralls readers with this story of redemption, justice, and love...more »

TICKETS: The luncheon is SOLD OUT! However, Jodi will sign books after the luncheon from 1:30 to 2:00pm at Michael's On East. For more information or to reserve a signed copy of CHANGE OF HEART, please call (941) 365-6332.

In Girl With a Pearl Earring, Tracy Chevalier brings the paintings of Vermeer to magnificent life. Into a medieval tapestry she weaves new threads of intrigue with The Lady and the Unicorn. Now, in her latest novel, Burning Bright, the award-winning novelist finds inspiration in the works of the radical 18th- century poet-painter William Blake. Join us for an in-depth conversation at the Historic Asolo Theatre as we explore the mysteries of inspiration, the rigors of creation, and the intrigues of interpretation with one of the most brilliant novelists of our time. A booksigning reception follows the program in the delectable new Treviso Restaurant...more »

TICKETS: $40 for one ticket; $70 for two tickets. Hardcover book and author reception included. For more information, call Christa Southgate at (941) 329-2604.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Larry J. Sabato is "probably the most quoted college professor in the land," while Fox News Channel has dubbed him "America's favorite political scientist." Join us as Dr. Sabato reveals his "crystal ball" for the 2008 elections and comments on the American elections process at this lecture, book signing, and workshop...more »

TICKETS: Admission: $50 (includes lunch). This event is part of Civility in Democracy: Election 2008, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, The Collins Center, and the USF Institute for Public Policy and Leadership.

Tapped out after Valentine's Day? Take some advice from Jeff Yaeger, the man who was dubbed "The Ultimate Cheapskate" by Matt Lauer on NBC's Today. In his new book, Yaeger teaches us how to find financial freedom, make a positive difference in other people’s lives, help save the planet, and enjoy life more simply by being willing to spend less...more »

TICKETS: As Cheap as it gets, FREE!

In one of the most anticipated books of 2007, Lee Woodruff, along with her husband Bob Woodruff, shares the couple's never-before-told story of romance, resilience, and survival following the tragedy that transformed their lives and gripped a nation. IN AN INSTANT is the frank and compelling account of how Bob and Lee’s lives came together, were blown apart, and then were miraculously put together again—and how they persevered, with grit but also with humor through intense trauma and fear. ..more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets. Lunch and hardcover book included. For additional information, call Christa Southgate at (941) 329-2604.

During the run-up to war in Iraq, Army Colonel (Ret.) and diplomat Ann Wright resigned her State Department post. She was one among dozens of government insiders and active-duty military personnel who leaked documents, spoke out, resigned, or refused to deploy in protest of government actions they felt were illegal. In Dissent: Voices of Conscience, Ann Wright and Susan Dixon tell the stories of these men and women, who risked careers, reputations, and even freedom out of loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law. ..more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book. Co-Sponsored by Southwest Coalition for Peace & Justice and Code PINK!

The Selby Public Library is proud to present Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Origin. Diana is also the author of Crescent, which was awarded the 2004 PEN Center USA Award for Literary Fiction and the Before Columbus Foundation's American Book Award and was named one of the twenty best novels of 2003 by The Christian Science Monitor, and Arabian Jazz, which won the 1994 Oregon Book Award and was nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award. She teaches at Portland State University and divides her time between Portland and Miami...more »

TICKETS: Free. Author will discuss and sign copies of book

Geraldine Brooks is the author of March, the recipient of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She is also the author of Year of Wonders and Nine Parts of Desire. In People of the Book, a young Australian book conservator has been called to handle the job of a lifetime: analysis of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a priceless six-hundred-year-old Jewish prayer book. Intricate, vivid, and utterly engrossing, People of the Book is at once a novel of sweeping historical grandeur, vividly realized characters, and electrifying intrigue...more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets. Hardcover book included. For additional information, call Christa Southgate at (941) 329-2604.

Growing up, Margaret Ahnert listened to her mother’s stories about her own childhood during the Armenian genocide in Turkey. In this riveting book, Margaret Ajemian Ahnert relates her mother Ester’s terrifying experiences as a young woman during this period of hatred and brutality. Ester’s inspiring stories, told lovingly by her daughter, will give you a window into the harrowing struggle of Armenians during a terrible period in human history...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of her book. Complimentary appetizers served.

The National Editor of The Washington Post, Chandrasekaran is the author of best-selling Imperial Life in the Emerald City, a brilliant, firsthand account of the bungled American effort to reconstruct Iraq. It won the Overseas Press Club book award, the Ron Ridenhour Prize, Britain's Samuel Johnson Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award...more »

TICKETS: Members $15 per ticket; Non-members $20; students free (must call for reservation) Book not included with tickets, but will be sold at the event and at Sarasota News & Books.

Hear the extraordinary story of Dr. Kenneth Edelin, the young black doctor who was at center of the first battle to restrict a woman's right to choose in the months following the historic Roe v Wade decision. Today, with bans on a woman’s right-to-choose looming in 25 states, this cautionary tale provides a harrowing glimpse into the strategy of harassing, prosecuting and intimidating doctors in an effort to restrict a woman’s right to choose...more »

TICKETS: Free. Author will discuss and sign copies of BROKEN JUSTICE

Creatively casual cuisine invites you to simply enjoy Sarasota through this incredible collection of recipes. Delightful favorites from local chefs and Sarasota residents are intertwined among brilliant photography in order to provide great ideas for cooking and entertaining. Visit Florida through stories that evoke culture, humor and a little bit of sunshine. Official Cookbook of Sarasota and Her Islands. ..more »

TICKETS: Junior Leaguers will be on-hand with complimentary bites from their award-winning cookbook

Two award-winning journalists present an eye-opening expos'e of A. Q. Khan, a Pakistani scientist who in 1975 stole blueprints for a new nuclear bomb arming device. Their book also brings to light Pakistan's nuclear program and describes how nuclear secrets have been sold to Iran, North Korea, Libya, and others all under the watchful eye of the United States...more »

TICKETS: $20/one book, $35 for two members/one book; Non-Members: $25/one book, $40 for two non-members/one book Students free-no book included (must call for reservation)

The Sarasota Reading Festival celebrates ten years with an amazing line-up of authors including: CNN Anchor Lou Dobbs, actor and novelist Gene Wilder, Life of Pi author Yann Martel, Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, Paula Deen’s brother Earle Bubba Hiers, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and a special performance by the Florida West Coast Symphony! Don’t forget to stop by Sarasota News & Books, where representatives from the major publishers including Random House, Harper Collins, and Penguin will be on-hand giving presentations on must-read novels. Don’t miss it!..more »

TICKETS: Admission to the Festival is Free; Tickets to Lou Dobbs: $25 for individuals, $35 for couples. One copy of INDEPENDENTS DAY included.

At the age of thirty-six, Kathleen Flinn was rapidly climbing the corporate ladder and growing more unhappy with every rung. Upon learning that her job had been eliminated, Kathleen cleaned out her savings and packed her bags for Paris to pursue a lifelong dream: enrolling in the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. What follows is a touching and humorous story of Flinn’s transformation as she makes her way through the school’s arduous curriculum and finds her soulmate along the way. ..more »

TICKETS: Admission is Free

In chronicling the struggles of military life and the dehumanizing effects of war, Aidan Delgado, a 2006 New College graduate, examines the attitudes that make prisoner abuse possible and explores his own developing Buddhist beliefs against a brutal backdrop. It is a tale of physical bravery, moral courage, and the cost of holding on to your identity while everyone around you is losing theirs...more »

TICKETS: This event is FREE and open to the public. WSLR-LP 96.5 and New College of Florida are co-sponsors of this event.

Join the Herald-Tribune Book Club for a discussion and book signing with acclaimed author Donald Antrim. The Afterlife is an elliptical, sometimes tender, sometimes blackly hilarious portrait of a family--faulty, cracked, enraging--and of a man struggling to learn the nature of his origins. "The book is very funny when it wants to be, but in between it is rueful. . . . It's Antrim's best book so far."--Joan Acocella, The New York Review of Books..more »

TICKETS: Admission is Free, Call (941) 361-4000 for more details

Sarasota resident Tony D'Souza's debut novel, WHITEMAN, chronicles the daily struggles of an African village during a time of war, as well as the increasing psychic and cultural isolation of the lone foreign relief worker who lives in it. The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair heralded Whiteman as one of the most anticipated novels of the year, and it has debuted to widespread critical acclaim..more »

TICKETS: Herald-Tribune Book Club, Call 361-4930 FREE

Soon after the 2004 presidential election, veteran reporter Melinda Henneberger set out across the country to listen to women of all ages and occupations express their strong opinions on the major issues of our time. A patient, sensitive, experienced, intelligent listener, Henneberger reports how women feel about the nation's politics and politicians. Her findings will surprise you. Knowing the answers these women give will tell you a great deal about how the next presidential and other elections will be decided. Henneberger is a former New York Times reporter and former contributing editor for Newsweek Magazine...more »

TICKETS: Tickets may be purchased online, by calling 941-349-8350 or at Sarasota News and Books. One Member: $20/One Book, Two Members: $35/One Book One Non-Member: $25/One Book, Two Non-Members: $40/One Book Students: Free (No book included and must call to reserve seat)

As children, the Sykes sisters—Connie and Estella—were unassuming, precocious, and very close, until one sister was discovered to be a math prodigy. Estella, pushed to focus on her gift, fell into her father’s favor, leaving Connie to grow up in her shadow. Connie, the “normal” little sister, became defined by her beauty rather than her intellect. Now years later, at the request of their mother, the sisters are forced to reunite on the Gulf Coast of Florida as they pack up their childhood summer home and ready it for sale. The reunion comes at a time of crisis, in which both Connie and Estella must come to terms with painful revelations and devastating consequences. And once again, her sister’s genius may alter Connie’s life in ways she can not control…..more »

TICKETS: FREE

The End of Iraq, definitive, tough-minded, clear-eyed, describes America's failed strategy and what must be done now. Peter W. Galbraith served as the first US Ambassador to Croatia and has held senior positions in the US Government and the United Nations. ..more »

TICKETS: Members: $20/one book, $35 for two members/one book, Non-Members: $25/one book, $40 for two non-members/one book, Students: Free with no book

Love Jeb Bush or hate him, Dáte writes, but "if you want to see what he would do with the nation, take a good look at what he did here in Florida." Though the Palm Beach Post reporter admits he has a bit of an axe to grind after covering the younger Bush for eight years, he says it's on principle alone, as a critic of Jeb's autocratic ruling style, not his policies. As Dáte portrays it, Jeb Bush for president is less a question of "if" than "when." Yet the book is worth close attention regardless of what Jeb decides...more »

TICKETS: FREE

In an electrifying fiction debut, the fomer editor of The Washington Post gives us a novel of corruption and cover- ups at the highest levels of Washington politics. With rave reviews from Washington insiders such as Lee Woodruff, Carl Bernstein, and Bob Woodward, RULES OF THE GAME is a highly anticipated release. Not to mention that the future VP in the book stops by Sarasota News & Books for coffee and pastries...more »

TICKETS: Free! Author will discuss and sign copies of his book.

Her royal highness Jill Conner Browne, Boss Queen of the Sweet Potato Queens, is coming to Sarasota! After writing a series of five hilarious deep-dish, Southern-tinged manuals, including two No. 1 New York Times nonfiction bestsellers, Browne returns to town to discuss and sign copies of her first novel, The Sweet Potato Queens’ First Big-Ass Novel. Don’t miss the Sweet Potato Queen party at Sarasota News & Books, as we feature bites straight from a southern funeral. Sweet Potato Queen attire is strongly encouraged!..more »

TICKETS: FREE with purchase of Big-Ass Novel at Sarasota News & Books. For more information, contact (941) 365-6332.

From the author of the acclaimed debut The Memory of Running, Ron McLarty's Traveler introduces Jono Riley, a fifty-something part-time actor and bartender living in Manhattan and specializing in one-character plays, who receives a letter informing him that a girl from his youth to whom, as Jono asserts, "I have compared all women since," has died. The news propels Jono to travel back in time and revisit the old working-class East Providence neighborhood where he grew up. McLarty brilliantly weaves scenes between past and present, and takes his readers on a rich and heartrending journey through the story of Jono's coming-of-age in the early 1960s with his three best friends to the shocking narrative that unfolds as he returns forty years later to uncover the cause of his first love Marie's death. ..more »

TICKETS: Free

Gulf Coast Community Foundation invites you to a special luncheon entitled, Better Together: The Value of Connections, featuring psychologist and bestselling author Daniel Goleman, PhD. Ten years ago, Dr. Goleman suggested in his first bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, that there is more to success than IQ. In his new book, he qualifies the social intelligence essential in the equation for life success...more »

TICKETS: $35 per person for luncheon

Join author and leading advocate for electric vehicles as she discusses how America is coming together over a new kind of car—the plug-in hybrid that will save drivers money, reduce pollution, and increase US security by reducing dependence on imported oil...more »

TICKETS: FREE

Join author John Kretschmer for the riveting true story of three lone sailors that are swept up in the open ocean by the brutal 155 mph winds of Hurricane Lenny. At the Mercy of the Sea retraces the journeys of these three sailors through life and across oceans. It is a taut, suspenseful re-creation that seeks to make sense of the improbable intersection of three lives at the height of a storm, and a gripping reconstruction of Carl Wake's search for meaning and, ultimately, for his soul...more »

TICKETS: Free

There’s no one who knows how to party quite like Paula Deen. Paula Deen Celebrates!: Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life is a cookbook and entertaining guide featuring Paula’s recipes and tips for creating delicious meals and spectacular down-home celebrations for holidays all year round. Paula Deen Celebrates covers everything from traditional Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays to some of Paula’s personal favorites -- like Elvis’s Birthday, her wedding anniversary, and an any time of the year Movie-Watching Pizza Party in Bed. Written in Paula’s unique voice and down-home sensibility, Paula Deen Celebrates is truly a cookbook for all seasons -- and all occasions. Take it from Paula: “I send you the best dishes and love from my kitchen to yours.”..more »

TICKETS: ADMISSION: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

Always Say Goodbye is the latest in Stuart Kaminsky’s Lew Fonesca series and our sad-sack hero is less sad…and finally determined to face the demons from his past. He’s acquired a small group of friends he reluctantly has feelings for and in spite of claiming that he's not able to muster enough emotion to care about the world, he's done some good. Now, Lew's therapist is calling him on his game and has told him it is time to go back to Chicago to do what he knows he must do..more »

TICKETS: ADMISSION: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

In The Courage of our Convictions, Gary Hart challenges his fellow Democrats to rediscover and embrace the principles that once made the party strong. Hart’s book develops both a platform of core Democratic ideals and concrete plans guided by these ideals. He takes many leading Democrats to task for valuing “centrism” over conviction, and for giving President Bush too wide a berth in pursuing policies that violate the very principles that Democrats should stand for. Hart explores when, where, why, and how the Democratic Party lost its way—and its courage..more »

TICKETS: FORUM Members $20 Individual/$35 Couple; Non-members $25 Individual/$40 Couple (all options include one book). FREE to students, no book. Book signing by the author; books available at Sarasota News & Books.

Sarasota in the 1950s was a small community graced with an alluring natural beauty. What set it apart from so many Florida beachfront towns was the concentration of artists, writers, and architects who gathered there— unique confluence of talented and daring architects coupled with a hip crowd willing to take risks. Many of the homes built in that era have been preserved and restored to their mid-century states, outshining the new developments in the area that threaten to disturb Sarasota’s historic character. Sarasota Modern offers the reader a rare ..more »

TICKETS: ADMISSION: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

New York Times correspondent Frank Rich examines the trail of fictions manufactured by the Bush administration from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina, exposing the most brilliant spin campaign ever waged. As only he can, acclaimed New York Times columnist Frank Rich delivers a step-by-step chronicle of how skillfully the White House built its house of cards and how the institutions that should have exposed these fictions, the mainstream news media, were too often left powerless by the administration's relentless attack machine, their own post-9/11 timidity, and an unending parade of self-inflicted scandals. Join us!!..more »

TICKETS: FORUM Members $20 Individual/$35 Couple; Non-members $25 Individual/$40 Couple (all options include one book). FREE to students, no book. Book signing by the author; books available at Sarasota News & Books.

Sarasota News & Books is delighted to welcome back longtime resident of Sarasota, Jeff LaHurd for his ninth published work, Sarasota: A History. This is LaHurd’s most comprehensive account of Sarasota’s history to date. In this precise exploration of the county’s history, LaHurd masterfully chronicles the fluctuating growth of Sarasota. Sarasota was not always the thriving urban community that residents know today. From the 1920’s to the 1960’s, the Gulf Coast town was described as “a community where no one was a stranger.” This popular tourist destination on the Gulf Coast began its course of modern development with the Homestead Act of 1862 and a promise to the inhabitants of Scotland that the land awaiting them in Florida was one of “milk and honey where gold grew on trees.” Little did the first settlers know ..more »

TICKETS: ADMISSION: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

Amy Goodman, the superstar host of Pacifica’s acclaimed Democracy Now! returns to Sarasota to discuss her new book, Static. In their most recent book, siblings Amy and David Goodman tackle issues that they assert are underplayed and ignored by mainstream media. The book follows the huge success of Exception to the Rulers, and supports radio interviews and commentary with secondary sources to illuminate news stories that they feel are suppressed by the Bush administration and largely diminished by America’s corporate funded media. Topics range from ..more »

TICKETS: Tickets are $25, $35 for couples; both include one copy of Amy's new book, Static. Tickets are available at Sarasota News & Books, Fogartyville Cafe, or online at www.wslr.org. Call 941-365-6332 for details.

The Herald-Tribune Book Club is back with a fabulous selection! When Dr. David Henry’s wife goes into labor in the middle of a snowstorm, he is must perform the delivery himself. He finds that his daughter is born with a disability, and he makes a decision that will impact his entire family for the rest of their lives. David’s powerful secret looms ..more »

TICKETS: FREE; book signing by the author, discussion; book available at Sarasota News & Books

We are thrilled to welcome Sara Gruen, whose book has generated buzz with independent booksellers all over the country! Water for Elephants, an atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, tells the tale of Jacob, a veterinary school drop-out, his love Marlena, a circus star who is caught in an abusive marriage, and Rosie, the incorrigible elephant who only responds to Polish commands. Gruen, who researched the world of the circus with the assistance of the Ringling Museum, returns to Sarasota for her signing – an event not to be missed!! ..more »

TICKETS: ADMISSION: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

Join internationally acclaimed scientist Tim Flannery under the baynon trees at Selby Gardens for a presentation of his latest book, which is being hailed as the definitive work on climate change and a powerful call to action you won't want to miss...more »

TICKETS: $30 for one ticket; $50 for two tickets, hardcover book included; wine and light refreshments served; Available at Selby Botanical Gardens or Sarasota News & Books, Call (941) 365-6332.

Richard A. Clarke, who provided national security advice to four U.S. presidents, will join us for a signing of his novel, Scorpion’s Gate. His critique of the Bush administration’s counter terrorism efforts is well-known – now check out the novel born from that critique!..more »

TICKETS: FREE; book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

How does distinguished biologist and New College of Florida professor Meg Lowman weave tropical rain forest exploration, conservation, and science education into the challenges of raising two sons? The answer is family vacations into the wilderness of the Amazon! Candid, humorous, and adventurous, Meg’s presentation will appeal to to naturalists, travel enthusiasts, armchair adventurers, or students seeking advice about science or balancing career and family...more »

TICKETS: FREE!! Book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books

In his latest book, author Eugene Linden, a longtime environmental journalist for Time Magazine, places climate change, global warming, and the recent devastating hurricanes in historical context and sounds an urgent warning for the future. Linden's thought provoking presentation of scientists' theories on historical climate change will provoke Efest attendees concerned about the implications of global warming for modern civilization...more »

TICKETS: FREE!! Book signing by the author; book available at Sarasota News & Books.

In his latest book, Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Global Attitudes Project, discussing how the world views the United States, according to the unsettling results of an opinion survey he oversaw of 91,000 respondents in fifty nations...more »

TICKETS:

An Ordinary Man explores what the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda could not: the inner life of the man who became one of the most prominent public faces of that terrible conflict. ..more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets. Hardcover book included. Call (941) 329-2604

From America's premier political analyst, an explosive examination of the axis of religion, politics, and borrowed money that threatens to destroy the nation...more »

TICKETS: $15 for one member; $25 for non-members, hardcover book included; call (941) 349-8350

"An astonishing beautiful, deeply intelligent record of an extraordinary life. Required reading lest we forget what is possible in a race-based society." --Toni Morrison, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature..more »

TICKETS: $15 for one member; $25 for non-members, hardcover book included; call (941) 349-8350 or visit www.forumtruth.org

We are delighted to have with us Raymond Arsenault, whose latest book, Freedom Riders, recounts one of the most compelling chapters in the history of civil rights...more »

TICKETS: FREE; book signing and discussion by author; book available at Sarasota News & Books. call (941) 365-6332

Join us under the baynan trees at Selby Botanical Gardens as Washington Post reporter and author Michael Grunwald takes us through the political history of the Florida Everglades, from being drained by pro-growth politicians in the first half of the twentieth century to becoming the single largest ecological restoration project in American history...more »

TICKETS: Tickets no longer available.

At Canaan's Edge concludes America in the King Years, a three-volume history that will endure as a masterpiece of storytelling on American race, violence, and democracy...more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets, call (941) 329-2604; hardcover book included

In this highly anticipated book, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer recounts the year he served as Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority...more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets. call (941) 329-2604
Hardcover book included

In this brilliant new book, the award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman demystifies the brave new world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering global scene unfolding before their eyes...more »

TICKETS: Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice Annual Luncheon

In an extraordinary debut novel, based on a remarkable true story, Robert Hicks draws an unforgettable, panoramic portrait of a woman who, through love and loss, found a cause. Known throughout the country as "the Widow of the South," Carrie McGavock gave her heart first to a stranger, then to a tract of hallowed ground-and became a symbol of a nation's soul. ..more »

TICKETS: $75 for one ticket; $130 for two tickets, hardcover book included; call (941) 329-2604;