Stillwater Gazette October 25, 2006 November becomes month of books: Thriller, Guthrie, Madeline, Sid November will be a big month for booklovers living in the St. Croix Valley. That’s the news from The Valley Bookseller’s Sara Golden, who recently announced a series of book-signing parties sponsored by the store.
The first is scheduled for 4:30-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Dock Cafe, located at 425 Nelson St. in downtown Stillwater. The event is another in a series of the Bookseller’s Criminally Cocktail Hours.
It features Roger Stelljes, author of the thriller titled “The Saint Paul Conspiracy.” Cost is $10 per person and includes a buffet of appetizers, an author presentation and book signing.
While the setting for “The St. Paul Conspiracy” is St. Paul, some of the action occurs in Stillwater (for you homies out there who like to read about stuff in this area.)
Says the blurb accompanying Golden’s publicity release: “The morning after Halloween, the city of St. Paul awakens to find that a serial killer terrorizing the blue-collar women of University Avenue has struck for the fifth time. The citizens of St. Paul are on edge.”
The hero of Stelljes’ novel is “a 32- year-old, fourth-generation St. Paul Homicide Detective, Michael J. ‘Mac’ McRyan.”
The victim in this thriller does not fit the mold of blue-collar women — she’s a local TV celeb, a prominent political and investigative reporter.
The book’s publisher is North Star Press of St. Paul. It costs $24.95. Stelljes practices law in Minneapolis and is at work on his second “Mac” McRyan novel.
A week later, on Wednesday Nov. 8, there will be “A Taste for Books Luncheon” and signing for Jay Gilbertson’s “Moon Over Madeline Island” and newly released “Back to Madeline Island” at Savories Bistro, located at 108 N. Main St. in downtown Stillwater. Lunch is $27 per person and includes an entree, non-alcoholic beverage and dessert.
Says Golden in a brief synopsis: “...heroines Eve and Ruby ... embark on further adventures on Madeline Island. Business is booming and life is full of love and laughter. But one thing still troubles Eve: thoughts of the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was just 17.
“Professor Helen Williams isn’t sure what to make of the letter from her biological mother, or whether she should accept the invitation to visit. But curiosity wins out, and soon she’s careening through the middle of Eve and Ruby’s marvelous, madcap world, and learning the secret to living life to its fullest.”
The book’s publisher is Kensington Books. It costs $14. About the author: “Jay Gilbertson owns a hairdressing salon in the Twin Cities, farms 40 organic acres in Prairie Farm, Wis., and loves to watch the fruit ripen, put up pickles, and listen to the blues.”
At 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, The Valley Bookseller will present wellknown sports columnist and commentator Sid Hartman at Boutwells Landing, located at 5600 Norwich Pkwy. in Oak Park Heights. Hartman will sign and talk about his new book “Sid Hartman’s Great Minnesota Sports Memories,” published by Voyageur’s Press. The book costs $29.95
Hartman “draws on six decades of writing to give readers a vivid picture of a variety of legends in his new book, ‘Sid Hartman’s Great Minnesota Sports Memories,’” writes Golden, quoting the book publicity. “From George Mikan’s Minneapolis Lakers to the perennial stadium debates, from legendary local sports icons such as Bernie Bierman, Harmon Killebrew and Fran Tarkenton to latter-day celebrities like Kevin Garnett and Randy Moss, Sid reports the stories and people that have defined Minnesota sports with insight, acumen and wit delighting and enlightening — and occasionally outraging — Minnesota’s legions of sports fans year in and year out.”
There is no charge, reservations are required, and light refreshments will be served. Hartman writes a column for the Star Tribune and is a sports commentator for WCCO radio.
Peg Guilfoyle will visit The Valley Bookseller at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 to sign and talk about her new book, “The Guthrie Theater: Images, History, and Inside Stories.”
Guthrie veteran Guilfoyle reveals “what is it really like inside America’s great regional theater,” giving readers “an inside look at the Guthrie Theater’s long and extraordinary run, from its founding in 1963 to its recent move to a spectacular new home on the Mississippi River,” Golden reports.
The author, a Guthrie stage manager and production manager for nearly a decade, has assembled anecdotes and stories from hundreds of the actors, directors, stagehands and designers.
The book’s publisher is Nodin Press. It costs $37.95. For further information on the events, to make reservations and to place book orders call The Valley Bookseller at 651-430-3385.
• • • • Ken Wisneski often writes about books for the Stillwater Gazette and the Gazette’s Valleylife section.
Reviews and comments can be submitted to Author@RogerStelljes.com |
