South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Authors talk politics, journalism
Albom, Hiaasen, Barry, Woodward to speak at events
Politics and journalism — and, of course, books — take center stage this month.
Journalists, humorists and authors Dave Barry
and Carl Hiaasen will join for what should be a rollicking — and insightful — evening at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Bailey Hall, 3501 SW Davie Road, Davie, Building 4.
“Derision 2018: An Evening with Carl Hiaasen & Dave Barry” will deliver a humorous, yet serious, look at the political landscape and its impact on Florida. The event will be introduced by Sun Sentinel Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara and moderated by WLRN’s Tom Hudson. General admission begins at $51; VIP tickets start at $126 and include admission to a reception with Barry and Hiaasen beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the First Amendment Foundation. Visit floridafaf.org for more information and tickets.
Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, associate editor of The Washington Post and author, discusses his latest book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. Woodward’s presentation will be moderated by NPR/WLRN host Tom Hudson, who anchors “The Florida Roundup.” Tickets start at $39.50; call the box office at 954-344-5990 or visit TheCenterCS.com.
Environmental attorney, author and activist Robert
F. Kennedy Jr. discusses his latest book “American Values: Lessons I Learned from My Family,” and, no doubt, current issues, during a lecture and book signing at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Florida Atlantic University, in the University Theatre, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Tickets are $35; visit fauevents.com or call
561-297-6124. A meet-andgreet reception with Kennedy begins at 5 p.m. Tickets for the reception, lecture and a signed copy of “American Values: Lessons I Learned from My Family” are $100; call 561-297-2584. Proceeds from the event will benefit student scholarships in FAU’s Department of Political Science. Kennedy’s appearance is sponsored by FAU and the Palm Beach Book Festival, scheduled for March 14-16,
2019; visit palmbeachbookfestival.com.
Book With Brunch returns
The Broward County Library Foundation’s Books With Brunch kicks off its new season with a discussion by Caren Neile on “Florida Lore: The Barefoot Mailman, Cowboy Bone Mizell, the Tallahassee Witch and Other Tale” at
10:30 a.m. Oct. 11 at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Neile co-hosts “The Public Storyteller,” a weekly segment on public radio WLRN 91.3 FM. Her newest book shows how Florida boasts mysterious tales that stretch back more than
12,000 years.
Book with Brunch is a membership benefit for those at the $50 level and above. Cost is $25 for nonmembers. Call Sarah McKenney at 954-357-7382 or email smckenney@bplfoundation.org.
Scaring up good reading
Costumes are optional at the Annual Day Before Halloween Party beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at Murder on the Beach, 273 Pineapple Grove Way, Delray Beach, 561-279-7790. Scary snacks and drinks will be served at the free party. Special guest will be Boston-based author Hank Phillippi Ryan,
whose latest novel is “Trust Me.” Other authors expected to attend are Charles Todd, Tara L. Ames, Joan Cochran, Wendy Dingwall, MCV Egan, Barbara Fox, Cheryl Hollon, Sharon Menear, DJ Niko, Lee Ravine, Deborah Shlian, Diane Stuckart, Robert Watson and Carol White.
Meeting Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom, author of “Tuesdays with Morrie,” discusses his work beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Renaissance Hotel,
2000 NW
19th St., Boca Raton. Cost is $35 for general admission and includes a copy of Albom’s latest “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven;” and $60 for premium with preferred seating and a signed copy of “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven.” For more information and tickets, visit unscriptedseries.com.
Aliens invasion South Florida journalist Brian Bandell returns to a mix of science fiction and mystery with “Silence the Living,” the third in his series about police officer Monique “Moni” Williams whose investigation evolved into an alien assault that devastated the Florida coast. While Moni was able to stop the attack, she carries the alien infection within her body. Moni has to figure out how to protect the world from becoming a habitat suited for alien life.
Bandell discusses “Silence the Living,” and his inspiration at 6:30 p.m. Oct.
9 at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables,
305-442-4408; at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Murder on the Beach, 273 Pineapple Grove Way, Delray Beach,
561-279-7790, murderonthebeach.com; at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 24 at the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; $25 for nonmembers; contact jayea@artserve.org or
954-462-8190. Bandell also will be among the authors at the Miami Book Fair International on Nov. 18; details to come at miamibookfair.com.
Writing for the young set
Bestselling author Alex
Finn discusses strategies for writing and publishing children’s and young adult fiction at 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at FIU, Room AC2-210, 3000 NE 151st St., North Miami, 305-919-5964, ngarnett@fiu.edu. The free event is designed for writers and those who teach writing. Finn’s debut “Breathing Underwater” was an instant bestseller and earned its spot on several best-of lists. Her next novel “Girls of July” will be published during 2018.
Vote for favorite read
The Great American
Read, a chance for readers to vote on their favorite novel from a list of 100, wraps on Oct. 23. The books are diverse — from Dickens to “50 Shades” to “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” (my favorite) chosen during a survey earlier this year. Visit pbs.org/thegreat-american-read/vote to have your vote counted. Meanwhile, area libraries have scheduled panels, workshops and film screenings such as “The Joy Luck Club” and “Gulliver’s Travels.” The finale will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-357-7443. For more information visit broward.org/library, or the Mandel Public Library, 411 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, wpbcitylibrary.org or call 561-868-7701.
The road to audiobooks
It’s not the ice cream truck, but the idea is the same and it’s better for your mind. The Digital Bookmobile National Tour will be making a stop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Pembroke Pines Branch/Walter C. Young Resource Center, 955 NW 129th Ave, Pembroke Pines. The bookmobile promotes reading through ebooks and audiobooks at local libraries and schools. Tours are free and interactive showing readers of all ages ebooks and audiobooks. A high-tech update to the traditional bookmobile, visitors can learn how to borrow digital books for free and speak talk with eReading experts, and more. Readers with a valid library card can borrow books anytime by visiting broward.overdrive.com or download Over- Drive's Libby app at meet.libbyapp.com.
Mystery of psychology, romantic cruising Christopher Hawke,
author of the surreal psychological thriller “Unnatural Truth,” discusses “Psychology and the Art of Writing” beginning at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 20 as part of Mystery Writers of America,
Florida Chapter meeting at the Embassy Suites, 661 NW 53rd St., Boca Raton. Cost $25 for members, $30 for non-members; for information visit mwaflorida.org or email harriet@ottenheimer.com. Hawke will discuss how to improve story crafting skills by applying the principles of psychology. The Florida Romance
Writers have a different approach to a writers’ retreat — the Fun in the Sun Cruise Conference Feb. 28-March 4 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, sailing out of Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. Stops will include Cozumel, Mexico. Keynote speaker will be
Jennifer Ashley, the author of more than 100 novels in the historical, paranormal, urban fantasy and contemporary romance genres. She also writes under the names of Ashley Gardner and Allyson James. The cruise also will feature Miami author Heather Graham, several editors and agents, among others. For details, visit frwriters.org or email at FRWFunintheSun@yahoo.com.