s el es pr ic $ Where Writers and Readers Buy Books Page and Palette Bookstore presents “An Evening To Remember Full of Humor, Encouragement, & Down-Right FUN!” PAULA DEEN Food Network Star, Award-winning Restaurateur and Best-selling Author Your Local Independent Bookstore Since 1968 Join Paula on PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS Tuesday, May 1st Shopping locally just makes “Cents!” Studies have shown that a typical big box store spends 14.1% of its revenue within the local and state economy, mostly, in the form of payroll. The rest leaves the state, shifting to out of state suppliers or back to corporate headquarters. Locally owned and operated businesses contribute substantially more. So, Think Fairhope First; it pays off for everyone. 6-8 p.m. at the Mobile Convention Center as she shares her amazing personal life story from her latest best-selling memoir, “It Ain’t All About the Cookin” Sponsored by: ! for details 1 3 e g a p See Open 7 Days A Week Mon - Wed 8-6 Thur - Fri 8-8 Sat 9-6 Sun 12-5 Latte Da opens at 7:30 weekdays Benefiting: FREQUENT BUYER PROGRAM: For every $100 you spend, you receive a coupon for $5 to use anywhere in the store. No cards to carry around...just savings! 32 South Section Street Downtown Fairhope (251) 928-5295 GAYDEN METCALFE April 16th CHARLES SHIELDS April 24th MELINDA LONG June 16th Visit our website at: www.pageandpalette.com and find out why we get over 500,000 hits a month. The Lyons Share Gallery - Featured Artists Fairhope First Friday Artwalk • 6-8pm April 6 330 De La Mare Avenue - Fairhope 251.928.2507 Stephen Strickland creates landscape paintings with oil or acrylic paint. His interest lies in capturing the landscape in different atmospheric conditions, times of day, and seasons. Stephen looks for different types of lighting in a landscape, and wholeness in his design. Most of the paintings for the show are from local farmland. AMOS KENNEDY KENNEDY PRINTS Artist Statement: Stephen Strickland I was born. I print. I will die. I am a printer; not an artist. I am a Negro; not an african american. k May 4 April/May Weekly “American Idol” Viewing Party - Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Beginning in May - Announcing the American Idol Contest for party attendees! “Who’s Going Home? Who’s Going to Chicago? Every Tuesday,receive one ballot for every $20 spent at Lulu’s. Each ballot allows you to cast one vote for the contestant that will be voted OFF that night. Each successful ballot makes you eligible for the Grand Prize Drawing - Trip for Two to see Jimmy Buffett in concert on July 21st in Chicago. Mayer, Coral Reefer Band k Jim - a.k.a. “Uncle Jim” May 20th • 12-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. A favorite with kids & adults alike! Annual Lulu’s Palooza k 3rd Will Kimbrough returns to Lulu’s for one night k Saturday, May 26th Friday,June 1st • 6-10 p.m. Native of son of Mobile and a favorite all across the Gulf Coast – don’t miss your chance to catch Will Kimbrough on the banks of the ICW at LuLu’s. 251.928.5295 2 www.pageandpalette.com Clear Talk i Q Listen up, sun lovers! May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Heather Haley of Haley Dermatology Group and Clear MedSpa clears the air concerning skin damage caused by the sun. So before you dive headfirst into swim-suit season, take a few moments to get sun-savvy. You just might save your skin! Myth #1 Myth #4: I should go to the tanning bed to get a “base” tan before summer. Achieving a nice golden tan doesn’t hurt my skin. Only sunburns damage my skin. No way! This encourages more sun damage by giving the false belief that you can stay out longer in the sun because you aren’t getting burned. Tanning beds damage the skin just as much as the sun. And once you get outside in the sun, the UVB rays cause burn, while the UVA rays cause premature aging, wrinkles and contribute to the formation of skin cancer. Be smart: no tanning beds at all, and sunscreen of SPF 30+ outside. Anytime your skin is exposed to the sun without sunscreen, damage is done. Over time, tanning shows up on the skin as freckles, sun spots and (here’s the worst part!) wrinkles. You should apply a sunscreen daily that protects against both UVA and UVB with a SPF 30. Truth: Truth: Myth #5 If I wear a shirt or ball cap, I don’t need sunscreen. Myth #2 I look better when I’m tan – it helps cover up the freckles and sun spots I already have. Truth: You can’t cover up sun damage with more sun damage! This only makes it worse. Over time, your skin’s cells lose their ability to tan, instead developing spots in response to time spent in the sun. Your skin cells only produce a certain amount of pigment/color in their lifetime. As you age and those cells have reached their limit, they start producing spots and freckles. It’s only a matter of time before your skin ceases tanning and begins developing the dreaded sun-spots. It costs much less to prevent them than it does to remove them down the road. Myth #3: If I use a self-tanning cream or bronzer, I don’t need to be as vigilant about using sunscreen. Truth: Truth: Surprise! A typical white shirt has an SPF of only 6! And a colored shirt provides an SPF of just 8. SO, you still need sunscreen. You can also consider clothing and caps that have sunscreen woven into the fabric. Myth #6 All sunscreens are created equally. Truth: To ensure your sunscreen provides UVA and UVB ray protection, check the ingredients label. Make sure your sunscreen has one of the following UVA blockers: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone (parsol 1789) or a new one recently FDA-approved: Mexoryl. If you have sensitive skin or are applying the sunscreen to infants/children, stick with either the Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide, because they are physical blockers with no irritating chemicals. At Haley Dermatology Group, we recommend a sunscreen called Elta MD that is great for sensitive skin. You can purchase Elta MD from our practice or MedSpa. Self-tanning creams and bronzers are wonderful for giving your skin a luminous glow. However, you must, must, must continue to use sunscreen! Don’t think that your skin is safe from sun damage just because the bronzer has given you a golden tan. You still need to protect your skin from the sun with a sunscreen of SPF 30+. Be sure to apply sunscreen 30 minutes BEFORE you go outside, and re-apply every 2 hours. Myth #7 No one in my family has a history of skin cancer, so I don’t need a skin screening. Truth: Everyone should have an annual skin screening performed by a dermatologist beginning around age 35. If you have a considerable amount of sun damage (freckles, sun spots, hyper pigmentation) or a propensity toward moles, you should begin having annual screenings sooner, around age 30. It’s Not too Late! When it comes to sun damage to the skin, prevention is the key. There is simply no substitute for protecting your skin, not only from the appearance of sun damage, but also the more serious formation of skin cancer. But if you have been less-than-vigilant about sunscreen in the past, it’s never too late to start. And, if you’re dissatisfied with the appearance of sun damage on your skin, new medical technologies have made it possible to minimize the damage. At Clear MedSpa, we have several different treatments utilizing state-of-the-art lasers to reverse the signs of photo-aging. IPL photo rejuvenation produces excellent results for removing sun spots, freckles, hyper pigmentation; reducing fine lines/wrinkles; and improving the skin’s tone and texture. IPL can be done just about anywhere on your body, including your face, chest, shoulders, back, hands and legs. Join Dr. Heather Haley and Dr. Jenny Sobera for a FREE Skin Cancer Screening Saturday, May 12 928-2310 Opening Soon in Rock Creek - Fairhope 251.928.5295 3 10 am to 12 noon At Clear MedSpa 202 Rock Creek Pkwy • Fairhope No Reservation Required www.pageandpalette.com Living Room P a g e a n d P a l e t t e B o o k s t o r e Christopher Cunningham Grad Gifts unt o c is D % 5 1 Rings are priced from $10 - $25 to offered Groups y d u t S e Bibl Material y d u t S on Author Offers Inspiration for Sales Professionals “The Salesman’s Little Blue Book” with Christopher Cunningham, Author Saturday, April 7th at 2-4 p.m. W here does a sales person turn when the sales order doesn’t come through; when the special event doesn’t go as planned; when the forecast was too high; when the customer says “no”? Christopher Cunningham, author of The Salesman’s Little Blue Book of Daily Inspiration, has created 21 daily exercises to encourage you when sales are down and tensions are high. Cunningham will be signing his book, Saturday, April 7, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Page & Palette Bookstore in Fairhope. Everyone is in the field of sales in some way. The Salesman’s Little Blue Book of Daily Inspiration offers people a daily guide to find motivation and a greater faith in themselves. Cunningham takes readers on a 21-day journey to discover a better way to sell, and indeed, a better way to live. Each daily exercise consists of reading, meditation, prayer, and deep reflection to help develop the talent to sell. Christopher Cunningham is a salesman, trainer, and motivational speaker. He has worked with a variety of clients from professional sports teams to clothing manufacturers and can attest to the demands of a sales career. Cunningham is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Communications. He lives with his family in Fairhope, AL. The Salesman’s Little Blue Book of Daily Inspiration is his first book. The Ultimate Gift By Jim Stovall The Ultimate Gift, written by Jim Stovall, is a story of Red Stevens, an accomplished man, who learned too late that giving material things is more like taking than giving. He learned too late for all except his nephew Jason. The Ultimate Gift takes the reader through Jason’s incredible work to gain his Uncle Red’s inheritance, “the ultimate gift.” “Probably the most valuable present you can give a graduate.” ~Karin Wilson 251.928.5295 4 www.pageandpalette.com Dear Booklover As technology continues to saturate our lives in new and different ways, more and more people ask us whether books and reading will remain relevant. After a considerable amount of reflection, we’re better prepared than ever to address this vital issue. Even though how we read and what we read may change over time, the reasons we read remain the same. Why do you read? Here are just some of our most immediate thoughts … 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 We read to understand because as we grow older, we seem to have more questions than answers. We read to feel connected, especially when technology has us spending so much time in solitude. We read to know that others are like us — as we struggle with making important decisions, learn from our mistakes, and search for meaning. We read to laugh when the world around us feels too heavy. We read to escape when our minds and hearts need rest. We read to learn new skills since change is one of the only constants in our lives. We read to expand our lives because it is a big, wide world. We read so that we can have quiet time, to escape from the incessant noise and chatter in our environment. We also want children to know the joy of reading. So they will learn that reading allows them to engage their imaginations about people and places. They experience what it is like to be quiet, that the world doesn’t always require us to be perpetually busy, racing in all directions. They learn to think critically since not everything in print should be accepted as truth. The more they read and explore, the more they realize that learning can be fun when there’s so much to be curious about. We want them to know the joy of reading and become readers for life. We readers are kindred spirits, regardless of what we read or why we read. If you’re looking for something good to read or need a gift for someone you love, we’ve presented some of the newest books in this issue of Views & News and you’ll find so many more in the store we can recommend. Please come visit us at Page and Palette, where so many good books are waiting. When you arrive, you’ll notice some changes in our store. We feel it’s time to get back to the heart of our business—art supplies and books. Fairhope is a town rich in literature and the arts, so we have decided to expand our art department to accommodate the numerous artists in our area. You will still find beautiful Crane stationery and boxed notes in our stationery department. And we will still have the best greeting card department on the Eastern Shore selling original cards for just over $2. So, stop by for a visit. We look forward to seeing you soon. Karin Wilson 251.928.5295 5 www.pageandpalette.com Calendar of Events April Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 13 14 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 Tony Meyers “I Heard It On the Mountain” 27 28 1 Paula Deen Event 2 3 9 10 8 9 10 11 15 16 Gayden Metcalfe 17 22 Earth Day 23 29 6:30 p.m. 30 Baldwin Pops Sunset Concert on the Bluff in Fairhope May TV Turn Off Week See page 9 Christopher 12 3 Author of Somebody’s Going to Die” See page 9 Saturday 7Cunningham Signing 2 Passover begins Easter Friday 6 Good Friday 4 1 Do a Good Deed Contest Forms Due Thursdday Charles Shields’ Mockingbird Read It and Eat See page 26 Read-a-thon - See page 9 Mobile Convention Center See page 31 5 Carolyn Haines “ Fever Moon” See page 9 First Friday Art Walk Theatre 98 "Fuddy Meers" Opens Music Under the Stars at the Daphne Civic Center Plaza 5 p.m. The Salesman’s Little Blue Book of Daily Inspirations See page 4 4 First Friday 5 11 12 Art Walk The Haven The Haven Maddie's Fund Coalition Maddie's Fund Coalition 6 Archbishop 7 8 13 Mother’s Day 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Last Day of School 25 26 27 28 Memorial Day 30 31 George Carey speaking & signing his books 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Haven - Pet Adoption Cinderella Ballet F’hope Civic Center 3pm 251.928.5295 Archbishop George Carey speaking & signing his books 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Haven Pet Adoption Archbishop George Carey speaking & signing his books 6 Fairhope Music Festival See page 10 Gulf Coast Zydeco Music & Crawfish Festival Cinderella Ballet F’hope Civic Center 7:30 www.pageandpalette.com Learning Success at Huntington B The Center will officially open on May 1 and is located at Jubilee Square in Daphne. skills, confidence and motivation to attain better grades. Whether your child is struggling in school or simply seeking a more enriching academic experience, the individual, personalized programs will make a difference. Huntington’s exam prep instruction for college-bound students offers personalized, private tutoring that gives students test-taking strategies and shows them how to apply their knowledge to questions that involve problem-solving, analytical thinking, reasoning, drawing conclusions, interpreting facts and essay writing. Dotson’s goal is to help every child that walks in Huntington’s doors gain the skills they need, so that they can do better in school. “When children improve in school, it not only helps them, but it helps the whole family,” she comments. She also hopes that Huntington’s SAT/ACT exam prep program will help high school students score well enough to get into college and even win scholarships. eth Dotson has tutored students in math and science since she was in high school. After working as an engineer for 14 years, she could no longer deny that it was time for a change and was confident that education was her calling. Dotson, always passionate about giving back to her community, is pleased to announce the opening of the nationally- recognized, Huntington Learning Center. The Center will officially open on May 1 and is located at Beth Dotson Jubilee Square in Daphne. “Education is critical for success in life, but everyone learns differently. Sometimes children need a little more than what they get in the classroom. It is our goal at Huntington Learning Center to give every child the best education possible,” Dotson states. Huntington Learning Centers help students of all ages build the If you are interested in finding out more about what Huntington Learning Center has to offer call 625-1717. SUMMERTIME ~ THE PERFECT TIME FOR LEARNING S ummertime - the living is easy. Beth Dotson, Owner of Huntington Learning Center in Daphne also thinks it’s an excellent occasion for children to take advantage of the down time and read. She also believes that vacations and family time offer the ideal opportunity for parents to encourage learning. “Let children pick the things they are interested in learning. The casual summer season provides a great time to allow them to dictate the learning,” she comments. How does planning a vacation or baking a cake with your child teach valuable skills necessary for proper learning? Working with your child, performing tasks and doing chores are great opportunities to teach the process of learning. With an objective to meet and a sense of responsibility, most children will find the challenge irresistible. "Parents should find jobs which are fun and encourage family togetherness," says Dr. Raymond J. Huntington, founder and President of Huntington Learning Centers, Inc. He recommends taking advantage of these opportunities to promote learning: 251.928.5295 "Activities such as cooking, baking and setting the ¶ table require following step-by-step directions," explains Huntington. "When complex tasks can be bro- ken down into simple steps, a child's self-confidence is enhanced. Accomplishing something encourages a child to move on to the next challenge." Summer vacation from school offers a unique opportunity for parents to keep their children learning while enjoying close family experiences. Huntington suggests including your child when planning outings and vacations. "Planning the route teaches geography. Figuring the number of miles and when to stop teaches a time/distance relationship," he says. "Holidays give us the time to do the things we enjoy. Parents can read stories with their children, asking questions and encouraging them to think”. Huntington notes that “holidays are more than just days off from school or work. Use these experiences to strengthen a child's attitude toward learning." "Try to make reading rewards for the child," advises the noted education expert. "Remember that magazines and newspapers - even the television schedule - are · ¸ ¹ 7 good reading practice tools. All these activities help your child to improve skills and increase learning potential." Huntington cautions parents to remember that learning is progressive and that all children develop at different levels. "Climbing the ladder step-by-step is the best way to insure success," he says. Completing one thing at a time is crucial for children trying to reach their academic goals. The Huntington Learning Center is a nationally recognized leader in the field of improving a child's basic study skills through remediation and enrichment programs. Students are given individual attention by certified teachers using personalized programs tailored to improve skills in a child's trouble areas. Huntington offers individual testing and tutoring in reading, math, study skills, writing and SAT/ACT preparation to students of all ages. The Huntington Learning Center, located in Jubilee Square in Daphne is ready to help your child learn new and exciting things this summer. For further information on summer programs, call 625-1717. www.pageandpalette.com Here comes Here Comes the sun. the Sun • Apparel • Accents • Accessories What Wine Goes with Gumbo? www.parishoughton.com k Last “First” Friday we decided to do a tasting of various wines with 2 types of Gumbo. Our Chef, Jed Davis, did a classic Mobile style, seafood gumbo and Chef Will Hughes did a fantastic chicken and sausage. We taste 3 whites and 3 reds of various styles. Here are the results. Ladies, get ready to don that sunscreen! (Dr.s Haley and Sobera say so, too!) It’s about to sizzle, not just in the kitchen with Paula Deen, but right here in Fairhope. Here’s how to look hot and stay cool in the latest trends for Spring. #1 by far. Gruet Sparkling Brut, New Mexico $15.95. Always one of my favorite values it really backed up both gumbos well. #2 Yalumba Riesling, Australia. $10.95 Just off dry with refreshing lime qualities. Was best with seafood. #3 and #1 Red Sattler Zweigelt, Austria $17.95 OK probably never heard of this one unless you spent time there. A racy, fruity red that has enough back bone to stand out. Excelled with the chicken. #4 Pillar Box Red $10.95 One of those great red blends that Australia does so well. Fruity but good depth. Really good value if you like this style. #5 Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek CA $15.95 A very aromatic wine that did well but didn’t shine. #6 Domaine de Couron Cotes du Rhone, France $10.95 A really good Grenache based blend that worked better with the chicken than the seafood. Didn’t win but not a bad pairing. Flip Flop your shorts and dresses. Shorts aren’t just for day; dresses aren’t just for night. Dresses burst into the forefront as the alternative to shorts or denim for everyday wear. You will see dresses everywhere. Throw one on instead of capris or shorts, and look feminine and pulled together with minimal effort while beating the heat. Then, slip into this season’s newest eveningwear— shorts! for cocktails with the girls or a romantic dinner with your honey. This season’s shorts range from short shorts to City shorts (shorter and more tapered than last season’s Bermudas) with more refined details (cuffs, buttons, etc.) and dressier fabrications. Wear these as you would a dress pant or skirt, paired with a fabulous top for an evening out. Important: don’t be afraid to wear a high heel! Wedges and stacked-heels are perfect with this trend, but don’t hesitate to get feisty in a strappy sandal or pointy stiletto or sling-back. In the Navy Nautical-inspired trends are everywhere! Navy and white are the must-have colors this season. Accent this tried and true combination with splashes of red. Never-out-of-style black and white is also a strong forerunner this season, nipping at Navy’s heels. Solid white dresses in cotton, eyelet, and silk make a girl feel like a goddess, and luckily will be easy to find. Also, look crisp and cool in white denim. Pair with this summer’s favorite colors: red, yellow and of course, black. Interestingly all wines did receive a first place vote from our 50 participants. Look forward to seeing everyone at the next tasting. If you’re not on the email list please go to our new website redorwhitewine.com and sign up for the newsletter. Print it y Very feminine prints: florals and polka-dots abound this Spring. Enjoy the bold variety of patterns and colors. Also to be appreciated, volume! Leave those clingy clothes in your closet till it cools off, and breeze on out in full, flowy skirts, voluminous tops and wide-legged pants. Of course you want to strategically nip these pieces in at the waist (true or empire), but keep the feel simple, sexy, summer. 323-A De La Mare Ave, Downtown Fairhope P: 251-990-0003 Store House Monday 10:30-5 Tues-Sat 10:30- 8 Wine Bar House Tues – Sat 2-8 251.928.5295 Slip into this season’s newest eveningwear - shorts! for cocktails with the girls or a romantic dinner with your honey. 8 Here comes the sun…and we’re ready! www.pageandpalette.com Upcoming Events page & palette and The Fairhope Public Library Read It & Eat present Mockingbird Author, Charles Shields, Meet Gayden Metcalfe to be featured at First Read It and Eat Tuesday, April 24th at Page and Palette Bookstore Co-author of “Somebody’s Going to Die” and “Being Dead Is No Excuse” 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Fairhope Public Library April 16th Lunch (subject to change) A Free Event “FEVER MOON” with author, Carolyn Haines Sharing the Deep Dark Secrets of the Deep South Writers Salon - the inner workings of a critique group. Thursday, April 26th 6-8 p.m. I Heard It on the Mountain with Toni Meyers, Author Thursday, April 26th Noon – 3 p.m. 6 – 8 p.m. Pirates Don’t Change Diapers Carolyn Haines will read from and sign FEVER MOON, and members of the Deep South Writers Salon (DSWS) will join her to discuss the benefits and problems of critique groups. Funny and outrageous, that’s what the group is all about – working to help each other, but also having fun. A “must-do” for booklovers and writers, in general. with Melinda Long, Author Saturday, June 16th 1 – 3 p.m. Page and Palette Read-a-thon April 23rd-27th is TV Turn Off Week o 251.928.5295 T Tuesday, April 24th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. he first complete book by J.R.R. Tolkien in three decades-since the publication of The Silmarillion in 1977-The Children of Húrin reunites fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, dragons and Dwarves, Eagles and Orcs. Presented for the first time as a complete, standalone story, this stirring narrative will appeal to casual fans and expert readers alike, returning them to the rich landscape and characters unique to Tolkien. I think this is pretty significant literary milestone in the publishing industry and I want to try to build a fun community event around this. We’re going to have a Read-a-Thon outside our store on Tuesday, April 24th from 8am-6pm. People can sign up in the store for different 15minute increments to read the book in full starting at 8am. 9 We’ll have a stage set outside with a microphone. After each person reads for 15-minutes the next person will be waiting in the wing for their turn. But before the next person reads the one who has just completed their reading will sign the title page. (We’re actually going to have each reader sign two books.) After the full book has been read a loud all day, we’ll take the book with the 39 signatures and begin the silent bidding in the store until 5/1 where we’ll auction it off at the Paula Deen event. The money raised for the book will be donated to The Center for the Book. The second book that will be signed by all the readers we’re shipping back to Mr. Tolkien himself to thank him for all the years he’s dedicated to writing for our enjoyment. So everyone come in and sign up and be a part of this tribute. www.pageandpalette.com Mr. Jay A Review by Jay Qualey Carry My Bones It’s okay to be dazzled by the fact that J. Wes Yoder, the author of Carry My Bones, is not yet 28 years old. But it is a huge mistake to fail to grasp the fact that this wonder-filled novel, no matter how easy it is to read, no matter how devastatingly funny, no matter how intensely sad, is as deeply and movingly wise as if it had been penned by, well,…. pick a guru,….any guru! Yoder’s quintessentially unique voice delights, charms and seduces the reader. It might also inadvertently contribute to his being under appreciated. Clearly the novel was not written in a vacuum! There is the fruition of a variety of literary traditions to be found in this book. To the widely divergent population of the marginalized in fiction--think Faulkner, Steinbeck, McCullers, Bragg, Hudson, for example--Yoder adds a highly unlikely, yet completely credible trio, at least one of whom, Gid, pretty much defies being reduced to a thumbnail sketch. Gid’s adopted son Merit--you just won’t believe why he is so named--is something of an idiot savant and the tale’s narrator. John Frederick, Merit’s best friend, a seventy-four year old turnip farmer, turns into Moses by the novel’s conclusion. The three are rather bizarrely on a largely unnecessary lam and they are supported by a cast of fascinating bit players, Patty Berry being my favorite. Yoder’s writing resonates with overtones and even undertones of Scripture. The epigram is from St. Paul- “Meanwhile we groan.”- and even the unexplained title has a Biblical source. John Frederick’s final words are a masterpiece of lyrical black preaching that brings Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech to mind. But other significant works of literature surfaced too, as I read Carry My Bones. I heard F. Scott Fitzgerald, Flannery O’Conner, Judith Richards, Watt Key, and Everett Capps. (Now there’s a guru!) Inevitably, other readers will add other names to this list, I am sure! A review of this novel would be incomplete without saying something about the various forms of humor to be relished in it. There are incisively funny send-ups of politics, education and even of football being of greater import than the War on Terror throughout our great state. There are also various forms of humor in the dialogue. Merit can speak at times with the flat affect of the afflicted and/or country bumpkin! But he is also something of a stand-up comic, and an absolute wizard when it comes to what I can only refer to as “gallows humor.” And this trio has an unerring penchant for falling into some of the most hysterically funny situations not found in A Confederacy of Dunces. Not to even mention the situations they themselves create! Do I like this book? Let me make a confession. I liked it the first time I read it! I’ve loved it every other time I’ve read it! Is it flawless? Well of course not! But I attribute the errors in it to the publisher, one of the most prestigious publishers I know of that apparently disavows the use of proofreaders and/or spell check! (C’mon, guys, how else explain “peneapple” on page 220!) As for the author, please know that J. Wes Yoder is this year’s Writer-in-Residence for The Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts. He will be living at the Wolff Cottage right behind the library throughout the coming year as he works on his second novel. Let’s welcome him and nurture him in that endeavor, and, in that regard, the paperback edition of Carry My Bones will be published in June. I think it would be wonderful to schedule an all day outdoor reading to celebrate the event with and for him. What do you think, Karin? by J. Wes Yoder Mac Adam/Cage Qualey Grayson Capps • Lisa Mills • Dog River Boys • Willie King • Michael Warren 251.928.5295 10 www.pageandpalette.com Music = Brain Power & We offer a great variety of fun summer classes. Available private music lessons at JUBILEE MUSIC include: Guitar Bass Guitar Piano Violin Cello Trumpet Flute Clarinet Saxophone Introduction to Music (for little ones) & & & & door prizes Studies have proven that children who participate in music lessons have higher SAT scores, consistently higher on test scores, and better motor skills. Health sceenings You can boost your child’s brain power with music by enrolling them in a “fun with music class” or music lessons. Once you enroll your child in music – listen to him play. Be enthusiastic and supportive – leave correcting up to his teacher. A positive audience makes a happy performer. The rewards of planting “music seeds” now are worthwhile and will return to you for years to come. Besides the huge rewards of enhanced brain activity; self-confidence, selfdiscipline, responsibility and, down the road – college music scholarships, are just a few. We are located at 505 N. Section Street in Fairhope. Call 928-1003 or email [email protected] today to find out about our exciting Summer Class schedule and get those brain waves moving! Food Kids DayAmerica fingerprinting is returning to the Eastern Shore in a way! BIG & drinks Saturday, May 19, 2007 12-3 p.m. 401 N. Section Street McGruff the Crime Dog Photo Ids This is a day dedicated to children’s health, environmental and safety awareness With childhood obesity skyrocketing, ADHD being diagnosed more then ever before, and diseases that used Eye Screenings to only affect adults now affecting more children then ever - You don’t want to miss and Much More for children these FREE health screenings!!! Everything is FREE....FREE....FREE! For More Information 928-5058 or LopezChiropractic.net 251.928.5295 11 www.pageandpalette.com The Why of Writing W by Charlotte Hayes Co-author of “Somebody’s Going to Die” & “Being Dead is No Excuse” hen my parents divorced, my great aunt Sometimes I think that people who made a bee line to our house to take me for died before I was born in Virginia are a ride in her Buick and discuss my altered future. as real as if they’d lived across the Now that all was changed, she informed the fifteen- street like Mr. Foote. There is a word year-old me, I could no longer indulge this fantasy for the kind of talk southerners do: it about being a writer. “Shelby,” she said, referring to a is called gossip. Ellen Douglas, the friend’s father—who would later become world famous as pen name for Greenville novelist the mellifluous voice of Ken Burns’ Civil War series on TV but was still Ellen Douglas, once said that gossip is the lifeblood of literature. Jane remembered in our neighborhood as a struggling writer and curmud- Austen loved it, too. I define gossip as a love of an interest in your geonly owner of bad dog Beau, destroyer of azalea beds— fellow human being—with perhaps just a soupcon of malice. “nearly starved to death trying to write.” I suppose I have told you about wanting to be a writer. But Meet And, of course, there was the notion that I should have did I become one? I became a journalist—and gossip columGayden wanted something more, well, normal. Like being a Chi nist—and wrote for magazines. But for some reason I Omega. That is something everybody could have undercould never tap into the Greenville vein. It was off limits. Metcalfe stood and supported. But I didn’t want to be a Chi at Page and Palette I’d tell myself, Dickens had a lot more overpowering Omega (good thing), and I did want to write. I feel childhood than you, Charlotte, and he made it into Bookstore certain—know—that I would have wanted to write, novels. I am particularly addicted to the English writer H. of Co-author even if I had not grown up in Greenville, Mississippi, a H. Munro, who wrote under the name Saki. He gained “Somebody’s town celebrated for the unusual number of writers it has the distance to turn his terrifying aunts, no doubt produced. But it certainly didn’t hurt to grow up in Going to Die” well-intentioned but ill-suited to raising a small child, into Greenville. lapidary and hilarious (in a juvenile sort of way, I admit) As a child, I devoured Lanterns on the Levee, the quintes- April 16th short stories. sential book on how to be a southern aristocrat; a fond memAlthough I made my living as a reporter, I made it a rule 6-8 pm ory is reading it, hidden on the back row in the band room at E. never to write about Greenville or my family. Then Gayden E. Bass Jr. High. (Before you ask, I played the drums. Badly.) Adding to Metcalfe, whom I have known all my life and who lives in Greenville, the magnolia scent of childhood, my mother and I (and a bachelor uncle) called me. Gayden said she had an idea for a book—about Greenville lived in my grandfather’s house even before the divorce. My grandfa- and funerals. I knew it was a brilliant idea. But I was far too busy. Or ther was a white manned personage—he was offered the role of so I said, knowing the book would mean writing about Greenville. mayor or some such in the movie Baby Doll but was irate at the very Fortunately, I mentioned it to a friend, who mentioned it to a friend, idea of being in a movie- was born in Petersburg, Va., during who happened to work at Miramax. Gayden and I soon found ourselves Reconstruction. He nearly fainted when a friend of mine used the word sitting in a roomful of Yankees who were enthralled by Gayden and her commode in conversation, and the blood drained from his face, and he lively talk about death. Reader, the fools gave us a contract to do the almost ran out of the room when my bachelor uncle came perilously book. close to actually sayingthat Mama was pregnant with me. I once told our agent that I wanted to write a piece on how an old Along with the strange family came, I must admit, something very friend had saved my literary life. In a way, this is that piece. Working helpful to becoming a writer: a good library, composed of many now together, Gayden and I wrote about both our families—and all our seldom-read masters such as my beloved Lord Macauley, dear Lothrop friends’ families, too. In the end, I think my family came out a lot nicer Motley, and naughty Mr. Gibbon, whom Papa was constantly trying to than the H. H. Munro aunt who got whacked by Sredni Vashtar, an banish to the back hall on the grounds that those Roman emperors imaginary god. (You must read “Shredni Vashtar.”) weren’t a bit like stuffy southern gentlemen. Mama, not an avid Gayden has an inimitable way of expressing herself, learned at the reader, nevertheless fought for their position in the living room—the feet of Anne Gayden Call, her mother and Greenville’s greatest congold and leather binding was quite handsome. versationalist, and I am hoping that some of her flare rubbed off on me. We also did in our atypical little family something else that is very And, without giving anything away, I devoutly hope that my mother, helpful for an aspiring writer—we talked. And talked and talked. Julia Morgan Hays, would like Olivia Morgan Gilliam in the book. 251.928.5295 12 www.pageandpalette.com our presence is The honor of y by e Bookstore Page & Palett with in conjunction ost Theatre will h et ll a B e or h S y Ba RY TIME O T S A L L E CINDER eld event will be h This magical lette at Page & Pa on Aaargh! il 28th Saturday, Apr . from 2 – 4 p.m Pirates Be Babysitters in New Book for Young Mateys— g inderella, alon C t ee m to e m ncers. will want to co lletTheatre da a All princesses B e or h S y a utiful B with other bea s d, and memorie a re ks oo b , d re sha . Stories will be st of Cinderella ca g in rm fo er p made with the Pirates Don’t Change Diapers encouraged) (costumes are Webkinz Workshop Saturday, April 14th from 1 - 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12th from 1 - 3 p.m. Teachers will be Miss Baley Firlus, Miss Mary Helene Hall, Miss Claire Stewart. Please sign up prior to event. with Melinda Long, Author Saturday, June 16th 1 – 3 p.m. Shiver me timbers! Braid Beard and his crew from the bestselling How I Became a Pirate are back for a second adventure with their landlubber friend, young Jeremy Jacob. But this time they’ve taken on a task more fraught with peril than walking the plank during a hearty gale—they’re babysitting Jeremy’s little sister!, Kid Review Brandon Killian, 10 years old, 4th Grade at Fairhope Intermediate School Brandon reads, on average, three books a week 4Save the date Harry Potter Event July 20, 2007 10 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. 251.928.5295 Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy If you like magical, action adventure stories, then this is the perfect book for you. Twelve year old Stephanie will inherit her uncle’s property, possessions, assets, and royalties the day she turns eighteen. Little did Stephanie know what undiscovered adventures came with the inheritance. When Stephanie spent the night in her late Uncle’s house, she had an unexpected visitor who just managed to get there in time to save Stephanie from a certain death at the hands of a thief. Skulduggery Pleasant is an unusual hero. It turns out Skulduggery Pleasant is a skeleton. This is a wonderful, funny book that is full of adventure and magic. In my opinion this is a wonderful book. If you are a Charlie Bone fan, then you’ll love this book. 13 , Children s Department house… e h t f o s s e c in r To the P requested www.pageandpalette.com Things that Make You Go Hmmmm.. . "If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." - George W. Bush 43% of all statistics are worthless. Chicago law prohibits eating in a place that is on fire. I doubt, therefore I might be. If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy? It has recently been discovered that research causes cancer in rats. Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics. This sentence contradicts itself -- no actually it doesn't. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do. What happens if you get scared half to death twice? What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expect generally happens. 251.928.5295 14 www.pageandpalette.com page & palette and The Fairhope Public Library Read It & Eat present Mockingbird Author, Charles Shields, to be featured at First Read It and Eat Page & Palette Bookstore and the Fairhope Public Library Board of Trustees will kick off a new monthly event, Read It and Eat, with author, Charles Shields reading and signing his latest novel, Mockingbird. The program will be held Tuesday, April 24th, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. in the Giddon’s Room in the new Fairhope Public Library— located at the NE corner of Fairhope Avenue and Bancroft Streets. Charles Shields’ wildly successfully biography of Harper Lee, Mockingbird, is the first book ever written about the Pulitzer-prize winning author. To Kill A Mockingbird, the twentieth-century’s most widely read American novel, has sold thirty million copies and still sells a million yearly. Yet despite the book’s perennial popularity, its creator has become a somewhat mysterious figure. Shields’ tantalizing biography draws on interviews with 600 of Lee’s acquaintances but was compiled without cooperation from its subject; Lee stopped granting interviews in the mid-60’s. Tuesday, April 24th 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch (subject to change) A Free Event After years of research, Shields has brought to life the warmhearted, high-spirited, and occasionally hardheaded woman who gave us two of American literature’s most unforgettable characters—Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout—and who contributed to the success of her lifelong friend Truman Capote’s masterpiece, In Cold Blood. At the center of Mockingbird is the story of Lee’s struggle to create her famous novel. But her life contains many other highlights as well; her girlhood as a tomboy in overalls in tiny Monroeville, Alabama; the murder trial that made her beloved father’s reputation and inspired her great work; her journey to Kansas as Capote’s ally and research assistant to help report the story of the Clutter murders; the surrogate family she found in New York City. Invite a friend and meet at the Fairhope Public Library for a nice lunch and great literature. Read It and Eat is a free event, open to the public. For more information contact Page & Palette at 928-5295 or visit online at www.pageandpalette.com. The paperback has just released for only $15. We will have hardbacks available for purchase for those who like signed hardbacks. 251.928.5295 15 www.pageandpalette.com Reviews A Search for New Beginnings Coming of Age The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish The Year of Fog Life can change in an instant. Abby Mason – photographer, fiancée, soon-to-be-stepmother – looks away from six-year-old Emma to take a picture, and when she looks up, Emma has disappeared. The resulting search causes Abby to unearth memories of her own childhood and eventually leads her on a journey of discovery both physical and emotional. Michelle Richmond’s The Year of Fog ($20, Bantam, 978-0385-34011-3) is a moving novel of family, loss, and hope, dealing with both the choices we make and the choices made for us. Based on historical events, Elise Blackwell’s The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish ($23.95, Unbridled Books, 978-1-932961-31-7) is the story of Louis Proby, son of Cypress Parish’s superintendent, on the eve of the great floods that devastated his Louisiana hometown in 1927. Narrated nearly 80 years later on the eve of another catastrophe, Louis’s tale of sacrifice, both physical and emotional, resonates beyond geography to reveal the complexities of our relationship to the past and the price of guilt carried over decades. If You Lived Here So Many Ways to Begin Desperate to become a mother, but unable to have a child of her own, Shelley seeks to adopt a Vietnamese boy. When her husband, already the father of two grown children, withdraws his support of her efforts, Shelley turns to Mai, who still struggles with assimilation after her emigration from Vietnam two decades earlier. When Mai agrees to help Shelley and travel back to her home country, each woman is faced with decisions that will reverberate for the rest of their lives in If You Lived Here by Dana Sachs ($24.95, William Morrow, 978-0-06-113048-9). It is the intimate details that ultimately shape a life, or so thinks David Carter, collector, curator, calculator of the minutia of the day-to-day. When, at age 22, he learns that he was adopted, David embarks on a voyage of self-discovery that colors the next decades of his life – his marriage, the birth of his daughter, a tragic affair – until at last he finds meaning where he least expects it. So Many Ways to Begin ($23.95, Bloomsbury, 978-1-59691-222-9), by award-winning author Jon McGregor, shines a different light on what it means to be connected to family. The Secret of Lost Things The Reluctant Fundamentalist Rosemary Savage arrives in New York from Tasmania with little more than her love of books, eager for adventure. Hired to work at the labyrinthine Arcade bookstore, she builds a home populated with the modern equivalent of Dickensian characters who work with her. An anonymous letter referring to the existence of a “lost” Melville manuscript brings the ambitions and rivalries of the Arcade staff to a head, and serves to place Rosemary in the center of The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay ($23.95, Doubleday, 978-0-385-51848-2). On the brink of a brilliant career with a prestigious New York firm, Pakistani native Changez finds his life overturned by the events of 9/11. A few years later, at a café table in Lahore, Changez relates his American experiences to an American visitor whose presence may have to do with his recent antiAmerican activities. Presented in the form of a monologue, Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist ($22, Harcourt, 978-0-15-101304-3) is an illuminating portrait of a man whose allegiances prove more powerful than money, power, or even love. Winterton Blue American Youth Lewis, a sullen loner, is on a quest to avenge his twin brother’s death 20 years ago. Anna is the maiden daughter of vivacious Rita, who at 76 is beginning to show her age despite her loud, carefree ways and retired actor boyfriend. As Lewis follows the trail of the person he believes to be responsible for his brother’s death, his path crosses with Anna’s, and each recognizes a kindred spirit. At once a touching love story and an intricately plotted mystery, Trezza Azzopardi’s Winterton Blue ($24, Grove Press, 978-0-8021-1841-7) will both entice and entertain. 251.928.5295 While showing off his .22 to a schoolmate, Ted LeClare loads the gun. When Ted’s back is turned, his friend accidentally kills his own younger brother. The tragedy earns Ted the admiration of a vigilante group in the high school and serves to further sharpen the conflict in a town where old values are clashing with new money. American Youth by Phil LaMarche ($21.95, Random House, 978-1-4000-6605-6) redefines the coming-of-age novel for a new generation in different times. 16 www.pageandpalette.com Around the World in 80 Ways Mysterious Doings Pig Island Jaded and world-weary, journalist Joe Oakes makes a living by exposing hoaxes. When his latest case takes him to a remote Scottish island in search of a strange creature caught briefly on film, even his own definitions of evil and reality are challenged. Pig Island ($24, Atlantic Monthly, 978-0-87113-952-8) by Mo Hayder is a convincing thriller that deftly explores the degree to which skepticism can become its own sort of blind faith. God’s Spy The search is on for Pope John Paul II’s successor, but so too is the search for a serial killer attacking cardinals arriving in Vatican City for the conclave. Italian police inspector Paola Dicanti finds an unusual ally in Anthony Fowler, a former U.S. intelligence office turned priest as they seek the whereabouts of Victor Karosky, a sexually abused child who has become a deeply dysfunctional adult – a priest and murderer. God’s Spy ($24.95, Dutton, 978-0-525-94994-7) by Juan Gomez-Jurado is a thriller worthy to stand with those of Thomas Harris and Dan Brown. The Blackest Bird: A Novel of Murder in Nineteenth-Century New York Based on one of the most celebrated unsolved murders in New York City history, The Blackest Bird ($24.95, Norton, 978-0-393-06231-1), by Joel Rose, brings new perspective to the death of cigar girl Mary Rogers in the sweltering summer of 1841. High Constable Jacob Hays, John Colt, scion of the firearm fortune, and a young romantic poet named Edgar Allan Poe each play a pivotal role in this intriguing historical whodunit. The Bad Quarto: An Imogen Quy Mystery Jill Paton Walsh has been labeled the new queen of academic mysteries after her praise-winning completion of two posthumous works of Dorothy Sayers. Walsh, author of several previous books featuring nurse-sleuth Imogen Quy, now brings us the latest in the series, The Bad Quarto ($23.95, St. Martin’s Minotaur, 978-0-312-35409-1). Imogen, a nurse at St. Agatha’s College, snoops into the death of a research fellow at Cambridge University, whose “accidental” death from a fall off a campus tower is challenged in an unorthodox production of the “bad quarto” – a shortened version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This one is a great read for lovers of old-fashioned British mysteries. The Best Travel Writing 2007 No need to pack your bags or worry about who will water the plants when you can travel to 28 different destinations with experienced travel writers as your guide. Funny and profound, life-affirming and enlightening, the stories in The Best Travel Writing 2007: True Stories from Around the World ($16.95, Travelers’ Tales, 978-1-9323-6146-9) allow us to explore both exotic and familiar places around the world where writers have been transformed by their experiences. The Best Women's Travel Writing 2007 Women who travel often find their lives profoundly and deeply affected by their experience. Sit down with the newest volume of The Best Women’s Travel Writing: True Stories from Around the World ($16.95, Travelers’ Tales, 978-1-9323-6149-0) for lively storytelling and engrossing narratives that take you from dancing the tango in Argentina to riding a horse from Senegal to Mali with hilarity and misadventure, romance, spiritual growth, service to humanity and exotic cuisine – all told from a woman’s perspective. Cucina del Sole It’s simply not possible for someone to travel to Italy and not fall in love with the food. Just the thought of fresh pastas, focaccias, savory olive oils and all those lovely vegetables at the open-air markets are reminders of living the sweet life. Southern Italy, with its own culinary traditions, is the inspiration for Cucina del Sole (Apr. $29.95, Morrow, 978-0-0607-2343-9). Travel with Nancy Harmon Jenkins, author of The Essential Mediterranean and contributor to Food & Wine, for local folklore and recipes of the magnificent region from Naples to Sicily. World Grilling There’s something special about the sizzle and smells from a grill. If you enjoy the flavors of cuisines around the world, browse through the more than 100 recipes in the second edition of World Grilling (Apr. $18.95, Sasquatch Books, 978-1-5706-1519-1). From meats and seafood to vegetarian dishes, you’ll find easy-to-do recipes that will reinvigorate your creations from the grill. “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” ~ Margaret Fuller 251.928.5295 17 www.pageandpalette.com Talking to God It’s possible that if we focused on what unites us rather than what divides us, the world would be a more peaceful place. The experience prayer shows how all parts of the human family are interconnected. With its breathtaking beauty and affirmation of life, Talking to God: Portrait of a World at Prayer ($39.95, Stone Creek, 978-0-9656-3383-3) gives us new insights into the practices of the world's many faiths. This lovely volume features more than 100 photos taken in 50 countries as well as essays by Karen Armstrong, The Dalai Lama, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Kathleen Norris, Harold Kushner, C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton and others. A gift to be revered and treasured. Katie Brown's Outdoor Entertaining If you feel right at home with a casual, relaxed style of entertaining, don’t miss “Katie Brown’s Workshop” to premiere on PBS this May. She’s already on TV more than 12 times a week and in dozens of newspapers across the country weekly with her tips for enjoying life in the company of others. The PBS segments will be tied to Katie Brown’s Outdoor Entertaining: Taking the Party Outside (Apr. $30, Little Brown, 978-03161-1306-9) and will fill you with ideas for food, crafts, and your garden. Kabul Beauty School If you enjoyed Reading Lolita in Tehran, we think you’ll enjoy the story of how Deborah Rodriguez, an American volunteering as a nurse’s aid after the fall of the Taliban, finds that her skills as a hairdresser were far more in demand. Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil (Apr. $24.95, Random House, 978-1-4000-6559-2) tells how Rodriguez negotiated a donation of 10,000 beauty products and supplies from U.S. companies, then dealt with political problems and cultural misunderstandings in this witty, colorful adventure. You’ll Find Me Outside Rightsizing Your Life You’ve hung on to so much stuff for so long, it’s finally time to keep what truly matters and forget the rest. Whether you want to clear the clutter, are down-sizing to a new home, helping a parent transition to a smaller space, or wanting a nostalgic spouse to finally move on, look to Rightsizing Your Life: Simplifying Your Surroundings ($15.99, Springborad Press, 978-0-82125813-2). Author Ciji Ware knows it’s not as easy as it looks and provides helpful guidance to ease the emotional attachment to stuff and get ready for our next chapter in life. Wake-Up Calls On the Porch There is simply something magical about a porch. It tells you to slow down, take some time, delve into a book, sip a glass of iced tea, watch the weather roll in. If you’re ready to add a porch onto your home or add some comfort to the one you have, you’ll find tips from construction and maintenance to lighting and rockers in On the Porch: Creating Your Place to Watch the World Go By (Apr. $30, Taunton Press, 978-1-5615-88497), your invitation to spend more time out on the porch. Pots in the Garden Container gardening is no longer just for apartment dwellers! Today you’ll find ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself to add dimension and beauty, save space and even save time and money. Award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers shows us how to incorporate containers into our outdoor living spaces in his new book, Pots in the Garden ($29.95, Timber Press, 978-0-8819-2834-1). From creating focal points to adding texture, finding new uses for empty containers to using the techniques of line and repetition, you’ll enjoy the results of this creative and fresh approach. 251.928.5295 Living an Authentic Life You feel it. Something is “off” and calling you to take action. Throughout life, there are reasons and opportunities to change directions. Whether it’s a big U-turn or simply taking a fork in the road, these are times that help define who we really are. If you’re feeling prompted by a nagging force that just won’t quit, pick up a copy of Wake-Up Calls (Apr. $24.95, Bloomsbury, 978-1-5823-4584-0) by Bruce Grierson for a greater understanding of your epiphany and what it offers you about life choices and identity. The Gospel According to Dogs Robert Short reveals what man's best friend can teach us about life. Dogs do much more than just keep us company and give us love and attention – they are models for how we can live better lives as humans. From humility and obedience to singleness of purpose and unconditional love, Short shows us how we can learn from the remarkable qualities of dogs in The Gospel According to Dogs ($11.95, HarperSanFrancisco, 978-0-0611-9874-8), a delightfully entertaining book of comic strips and photos with wisdom about living a good life. 18 www.pageandpalette.com A Long Way Gone Historic Moments, Heart-Rending Memoirs American Spy E. Howard Hunt had a storied career in the CIA and with the White House during the Watergate years. Now in his late eighties, Hunt addresses his exploits in the CIA, clarifies the accusations that have linked him to the JFK assassination and the George Wallace shooting, explains why he agreed to participate in the Watergate burglary and sheds new light on the breakin aftermath in American Spy ($25.95, Wiley, 978-04717-8982-6). An important memoir from one whose life shaped history. A Man Without a Country You’ll find Kurt Vonnegut's (Slaughterhouse Five, Cat’s Cradle) hilarious and razor-sharp look at life, art, politics and the condition of the soul of America today in his first book since 1999, A Man Without A Country ($13.95, Random House, 978-0-8129-7736-3), now in paperback. Filled with short essays and speeches composed over the last five years, this book is also illustrated throughout with artwork by the author, a grandmaster of American letters. USA Today says, “…this is Vonnegut doing what he does best: being himself." More and more, wars are now fought by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. Now twenty-five years old, Beah tells his unforgettable story of being a child fighting a war in Siera Leone, capable of truly terrible acts in A Long Way Gone ($22, Farrar Straus Giroux, 978-0-3741-0523-5). A rare and mesmerizing account told with literary force and heartbreaking honesty. Fowl Weather In Bob Tarte’s home, pandemonium is the order of the day, and animals literally rule the roost – thirty-nine of them at last count. But not until this modern-day Noah’s Ark hits stormy weather does Bob realize that this exuberant gaggle of animals provides his spiritual anchor. He writes about their alien presence, their sense of humor, and their impulsive behavior in Fowl Weather: How Thirty-Nine Animals and One Sock Monkey Took Over My Life ($23.95, Algonquin, 978-1-56512-502-5), a hilarious, heart-warming and utterly delightful read. America’s Place in the World A Guest in My Own Country George Konrad, one of Eastern Europe’s most accomplished modern writers, was a young man living in Budapest at the end of World War II and one of the only Jewish children to escape the Holocaust. He played a role in the unsuccessful Hungarian Uprising and refused to leave the Eastern Bloc under socialism. He writes of the dangers, hopes, betrayals and courageous acts of the period in A Guest in My Own Country ($15.95, Other Press, 978-1-5905-1139-8), a powerful literary memoir and reflection on national and individual identity. When A Crocodile Eats the Sun After his father’s heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan where he now lives. During his visits he witnessed Zimbabwe’s dramatic spiral downwards. The question remained, why did his parents remain loyal to the failing state? When A Crocodile Eats The Sun ($23.99, Little Brown, 978-0316-15894-7) is the revelation of a family secret and a portrait of the profound strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. 251.928.5295 Second Chance Former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski offers an assessment of the last three presidential administrations' foreign policy and how a country with once unprecedented power and prestige managed to squander both in such a short period of time. In Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower ($26.95, Perseus, 978-0-4650-0252-8), Brzezinski traces the tale of decline and concludes with how America can regain its lost prestige. The Real Wealth of Nations Eminent social scientist Riane Eisler, author of the mega-bestseller The Chalice and the Blade, shows that the great problems of our time — poverty, inequality, war, terrorism, and environmental degradation — are due largely to flawed economic systems that set the wrong priorities and misallocate resources. In The Real Wealth of Nations ($24.95, Berrett-Kohler, 978-15767-5388-0), Eisler suggests that we need to adopt innovative economic indicators and new practices for government and business alike in this bold look at how to recreate society so that all may participate and benefit. 19 www.pageandpalette.com Live From Jordan Despite having a degree in Middle Eastern studies, Ben Orbach was completely unprepared for what he discovered. Beyond the anti-American sentiment he experienced, he found a complex, curious people whose lives were made even more difficult by an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness. Travel through Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Turkey in Live from Jordan (Apr. $22, AMACOM, 978-0-8144-74273), an engaging myth-breaking book about a misunderstood region and the welcoming people who inhabit it. Righteous Among the Nations While most of history focuses on difficulties of our past, Yad Vashem’s quest – which began in 1963 – to find people who had risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust has brought forth fascinating stories of heroism in what was an unthinkable period in world history. Righteous Among the Nations ($59.95, Collins, 978-0-0611-5112-5) presents the findings of the public commission that meticulously studied all documents and evidence by survivors and other eyewitnesses, offering important stories of those who stood with courage and conviction for the sake of others. More Effective, More Productive Time Power If you’d like to discover the five tools and techniques that will help you find two more productive hours each day, learn to make better decisions faster or focus on higher-value activities, look to Brian Tracy’s Time Power ($16, AMACOM, 978-0-8144-7470-9). You’ll discover what you could be doing that would help you relieve stress and get even more crossed off your ToDo list. The Dream Manager Today’s manager is pressed on all levels. If you’re in the driver’s seat and would like to reduce turnover, engage your staff and increase productivity, look to Matthew Kelly’s The Dream Manager ($22.95, Jossey-Bass, 978-0-7879-8701-5). When Business Week reports that 21% of top management and 24% of middle management positions become vacant each year, this story of one company and one leader will show that transformation is possible, and can happen with an unorthodox, but highly effective approach to relationships. 251.928.5295 Brilliantly Told Tales Finn Over a century ago, Mark Twain left Huckleberry Finn’s father dead in a room amid such puzzling oddities as a wooden leg, women’s underclothing, and two black cloth masks. In his remarkable new novel, Jon Clinch takes the reader on a journey into the history and heart of one of America’s most brutal and mysterious figures, and offers a haunting look at Pap Finn’s appalling life and ruinous death, while revealing the secret of his remarkable son’s birth. Populated with a cast of characters as unforgettable as Twain’s own novel, Finn ($23.95, Random House, 978-1-4000-6591-2) dares to recreate Huck for a new generation, and succeeds. A tale handed down from generation to generation about the damage done, about the indelible stain of slavery, and about the triumph of a young spirit with vast possibilities, this is a story based on a classic and destined to become one itself. The Book of Air and Shadows “Tap-tapping the keys and out come the words on this little screen, and who will read them I hardly know. I could be dead by the time anyone actually gets to read them, as dead as, say, Tolstoy. Or Shakespeare. Does it matter, when you read, if the person who wrote still lives?” Such are the thoughts of Jake Mishkin, whose seemingly innocent job as an intellectual property attorney has placed him in the center of a deadly conspiracy in which no one is who they seem. A distinguished Shakespearean scholar found tortured to death. A lost manuscript and its secrets buried for centuries. An encrypted map that could lead to incalculable wealth. These are the elements of a brilliantly layered plot found in the pages of The Book of Air and Shadows ($24.95, William Morrow, 978-0-06-087446-9), Michael Gruber’s most intricate and rewarding novel yet. Then We Came to the End No one knows us better than the men and women who share office space – and office gossip – with us. Every workplace becomes a family of sorts, and the Chicago ad agency that Joshua Ferris hilariously depicts in Then We Came to the End ($23.99, Little, Brown, 978-0316-01638-4) is certainly family at its strangest and best. As business trends irrevocably downward, these colleagues cope in time-honored fashion: through elaborate pranks, secret romances, and increasingly frequent coffee breaks. As one after another of their members is fired, the survivors spend their energies parsing their bosses’ decisions while competing for the best office furniture left behind and trying to make sense of what little “work” there remains. Ferris has a searingly accurate eye for detail and emotion, and has captured the modern workplace – and its inhabitants – in both raucous and moving fashion. 20 www.pageandpalette.com The Camel Bookmobile Librarian Fiona Sweeney has a comfortable job, a comfortable boyfriend, and a comfortable life. But at age thirty-six, she longs to make a difference, and inspired by the memory of her single mother who raised four children, she leaves the security and sophistication of New York behind to run a mobile library, powered by camel, in Kenya. Assured that her good works will bring the joy of reading to poor farming villages, Fi is unprepared to deal with the regulations of her boss, who dictates that if one volume goes missing, the library will stop visiting the village. When a villager refuses to return a book, a feud erupts that leads Fiona to question her motives, her ideals, and the consequences of the Western values that she holds dear. The Camel Bookmobile ($24.95, HarperCollins, 978-0-06-117348-6) is based on a true story, and Masha Hamilton brings this inspiring tale to life in a novel both entertaining and thought-provoking. Poetry You’ll Love Love Poetry Out Loud Looking for a little gift book that will help say "I love you?” In the realm of love, the power of words is far better to convey exactly what we're feeling, whether we want to seduce, plead, flatter, or convince; proclaim the depth of our devotion; or even reveal a broken heart. Robert Rubin, whose perennially popular Poetry Out Loud helped give voice to our inner poet, now guides us through a medley of love poems old and new in Love Poetry Out Loud ($14.95, Algonquin, 978-1-5651-2459-2). The Thief of Time From John Boyne, the acclaimed author of Crippen and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, comes the ingenious tale of Matthieu Zela, who in 1999 is 256 years old, but doesn’t look a day over 50. Moving from his current position as a satellite television mogul in London back to his coming-of-age in the 1750s when he fled Paris with his young half-brother Tomas after witnessing his mother’s murder and his stepfather’s execution, Matthieu’s story mirrors great world events from the French Revolution to the 1929 Stock Market crash, as well as brushes with famous people from Charlie Chaplin to accused spies Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Suddenly, at the end of the twentieth century, Matthieu is forced to answer an uncomfortable question: what is the worth of immortality without the comfort of love? The Thief of Time ($24.95, St. Martin’s Press, 978-0-312-35480-0) tells a story of a life more than fully lived and redemption that arrives not a moment too soon. The Trouble with Poetry Playfulness, spare elegance, and wit epitomize the poetry of Billy Collins, America's two-term Poet Laureate, opening the door to poetry for countless people. Like the book's title, The Trouble with Poetry ($13.95, Random House, 978-0-3757-5521-7), Collins's poems are filled with mischief, humor, and irony, Through simple language, Collins shows that good poetry doesn't have to be obscure or incomprehensible, qualities that are perhaps the real trouble with most "serious" poetry. Gorgeous, funny, and deeply empathetic, Billy Collins's poetry is a window through which we see our lives as if for the first time. Dancing with Joy If you still find yourself rereading poems in Roger Houseden’s collection, Risking Everything, get ready to savor the many colors of joy in his latest, Dancing with Joy ($20, Harmony, 978-0-3073-4195-2). From Italian classical and romantic works and early Chinese and Persian verse to contemporary works, you’ll discover 99 poems from 69 poets who write about looking for sheer happiness. April is National Poetry Month – a perfect time to rediscover the lyrical language of poetry 251.928.5295 PICTURE BOOKS Old Turtle Douglas Wood’s beloved tale of Old Turtle ($17.99, Scholastic, 978-0-439-30908-0) is now available in a beautifully redesigned edition. The story begins with the animals, rocks, waters, and trees arguing about God. To the fish, God is a swimmer deep in the sea. To the lion, God is a hunter. To the stone, God is a rock that never moves. Their argument ends when Old Turtle states his belief that God is all of those things, and more. Old Turtle is a 21 www.pageandpalette.com wisdom tale about the interconnectedness of our world, with a message of hope that will touch readers of any age. It’s the perfect gift for graduations and other milestones. All ages. Fix-It Duck One mishap leads to another in Jez Alborough’s Fix-It Duck ($7.99, Kane/Miller, 978-1-93305-30-2), a board book featuring the ever-determined but not always handy-tohave-around Duck. When rain drips through the roof into Duck’s tea, Duck goes to see Sheep to borrow a ladder so he can fix the roof. At Sheep’s, he gets sidetracked by a stuck window — another job for Fix-It Duck! While fixing the window, Duck breaks the glass, pops a tire, and ends up driving Sheep’s mobile home into a pond. Too bad Duck’s results aren’t as good as his intentions! Little ones will love this board book with its bright illustrations and rhyming text. Ages 2-6. Mahalia Mouse Goes to College (Book and CD) Mahalia Mouse and her family live in the basement of a Harvard dorm. In desperate need of food, Mahalia makes the long journey to the cafeteria — only to be swept up in a backpack and carried off to an advanced physics class! Separated from her family, Mahalia is sad for awhile but soon discovers how exciting learning can be. Bestselling author John Lithgow first read this story as part of a commencement address he gave at Harvard in 2005. Now it’s available as a beautifully illustrated picture book that includes a live reading by Lithgow on CD. Mahalia Mouse Goes to College ($17.99, Simon & Schuster, 978-1-4169-2715-0) will have you cheering for its tiny heroine. Ages 4-8. POETRY MONTH What Are You So Grumpy About? Everybody gets grumpy sometimes, but it’s hard to stay grouchy when you’re reading Tom Lichtenheld’s What Are You So Grumpy About? ($6.99, Little, Brown, 978-0-31606589-4). In this boldly illustrated picture book, life’s grumpy moments get turned around until the humor shows. Buy a copy of the book for those days when someone you love needs a little cheering up. Pretty soon even the biggest pout will dissolve into giggles and grins. Now available in paperback. Ages 3-6. Animal Poems The late poet Valerie Worth was acclaimed for her children’s books and we’re delighted to have a new collection of her work. Animal Poems ($17, Farar, Straus and Giroux, 978-0-37438057-1) features 23 of Worth’s poems, each one capturing with her poet’s eye the uniqueness of a different animal. Her elegant free verse will charm young listeners, as will the breathtaking cut-paper illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner Steve Jenkins. Ages 4-8. If: A Father’s Advice to His Son Bee Frog She’s a little frog with a big personality. Bee Frog thinks of herself more like a dragon than a frog, actually, especially when she’s feeling a little left out. But even scary dragons get lonely sometimes and Bee Frog soon learns that being yourself is the best way to get the attention and affection you need. Bee Frog ($14.99, Candlewick, 978-0-7636-3310-3) is by Martin Waddell, author of more than 100 children’s books including favorites like Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? and Owl Babies. Ages 3-7. Pirates Don’t Change Diapers If you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; / If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too… So begins the classic poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling, a list of suggestions from a father to his son on what it takes to be a man. In If: A Father’s Advice to His Son ($14.99, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 978-0-689-87799-5), Kipling’s poem is uniquely paired with Charles R. Smith’s stunning photographs of young people playing sports. It’s a lovely option for Poetry Month or for a gift for a special boy in your life. Ages 6 & up. In this funny follow-up to Melinda Long’s bestselling How I Became a Pirate, the swashbuckling pirate crew of Braid Beard faces their scariest challenge yet: babysitting! When they return to Jeremy Jacob’s house, young Jeremy extracts a high price from the pirates — to get to the buried treasure in the back yard, the pirates first have to calm down Jeremy’s screaming baby sister. Pirates Don’t Change Diapers ($16, Harcourt, 978-0-15-205353-6) is another rollicking read from Melinda Long, with illustrations by David Shannon. Argh! Ages 3-7. 251.928.5295 22 NONFICTION The Jumbo Book of Space Explore the mysteries of the universe in this kidfriendly guide to the galaxy! In The Jumbo Book of Space ($17.95, Kids Can Press, 978-1-55453020-5), authors Cynthia Pratt Nicolson, Paulette Bourgeois, and Bill Slavin offer answers to the www.pageandpalette.com many questions kids have about the sun, moon, stars, and planets. The book includes a history of space exploration as well as the latest scientific information. Kids will enjoy hands-on experiments like making a telescope, building a two-stage rocket, or cooking with the sun’s rays. This is a great gift for young people who are fascinated by outer space, and a terrific reference for the family or classroom library. Ages 8-12. MIDDLE GRADE FICTION Barnstormers: Tales of the Travelin’ Nine, Game 1 Set in 1899, during the early days of baseball, Barnstormers: Tales of the Travelin’ Nine ($10.99, Simon & Schuster, 978-1-4169-18639) is the first in a new series of sports stories by the outstanding team of Loren Long and Phil Bildner. In this first installment, the three Payne children — Griffith, Graham, and Ruby — are trying to get over the death of their father. The family’s deep in debt and hoping that their traveling baseball team, The Travelin’ Nine, can raise enough money to save the day. The adults aren’t telling the children much about what happened, though it all seems tied up with a baseball that once belonged to their father. Strange things happen when the children hold the ball in their hands. Will the ball give them the answers they need? Ages 7-10. The Penderwicks Jeanne Birdsall’s National Book Award-winner The Penderwicks ($6.50, Random House/Yearling, 9780-440-42047-1) is now available in paperback. Subtitled “A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy,” The Penderwicks is the nostalgic tale of a magical summer vacation spent in a cottage on a Massachusetts estate called Arundel Hall. The son of the owners, Jeffrey, is the perfect companion for the four Penderwick girls’ adventures, but his mother is not nearly as pleased to have the girls around. Is there any chance the kids will stay out of trouble? This is a sweet story, very well written. Ages 8-12. The Invention of Hugo Cabret In his new book, award-winning and best-selling author/illustrator Brian Selznick combines outstanding storytelling with hundreds of his vivid illustrations. Hugo Cabret is an orphan, and a collector of clocks, who lives in the walls of a Paris train station. His life clicks into a new path after he meets an eccentric little girl and the bitter old man who runs the toy shop in the train station. Soon Hugo’s secrets are in jeopardy. He must find a way to decode a cryptic drawing and a hidden message from his dead father in order to solve a mystery which will change his life forever. Don’t miss The Invention of Hugo Cabret ($21.99, Scholastic, 978-0-439-813785). Ages 9-12. Feathers “Hope is the thing with feathers” starts the poem Frannie is reading in school. Frannie hasn’t thought much about hope. There are so many other things to think about including her brother’s deafness and her mother’s sadness. When Frannie’s all-black sixthgrade classroom gets a new student, a boy who looks white but says he isn’t, life as she knew it gets shaken up. In Feathers ($15.99, Putnam, 978-0-399-23989-2), set in 1971 during racial segregation and the Vietnam War, award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson paints a compelling picture of a group of young people learning to look beneath the surface to find faith and hope in difficult times. Starred review in Publishers Weekly. Ages 9-12. Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam Her novel Kira-Kira received the 2005 Newbery Medal and now author Cynthia Kadohata is back with a uniquely captivating story of a dog and a soldier. In Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam ($16.99, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 978-1-4169-0637-7), we meet young Rick MacBride, a soldier who is filled with doubts about whether he’s tough enough to survive the war in Vietnam. After he arrives there, he’s paired with Cracker, a highly trained German shepherd whose job is to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. Though initially wary of each other, the two soon realize they’ll have to be friends as well as teammates in order to survive. Ages 10 & up. The Mysterious Benedict Society “Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” asked the newspaper ad. Reynie and three other children who respond to the ad are selected for a secret mission. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. They’ll have to solve puzzle after puzzle — and you, dear reader, will get to help them! Grab a pencil and join in the twisting, turning fun of Trenton Stewart Lee’s debut novel, The Mysterious Benedict Society ($16.99, Little, Brown, 978-0316-05777-6). Ages 8-12. 251.928.5295 23 FANTASY Children of the Lamp #3: The Cobra King of Kathmandu Good news for Children of the Lamp fans — the 3rd installment has arrived! In The Cobra King of Kathmandu ($16.99, Scholastic, 978-0-439-670234), by P.B. Kerr, djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt attempt to help a friend solve a murder mystery, only to find themselves in danger from a creepy cobra cult. Can they find the priceless Cobra www.pageandpalette.com King talisman in time to stop the cult’s deadly plan? You may want to read the series in order starting with The Akhenaten Adventure (#1) and The Blue Djinn of Babylon (#2). Ages 9-12. Ruthie compete with a perfect girl? Ruthie’s life goes in interesting new directions in this funny and touching new novel by Mary Hogan: Perfect Girl ($16.99, HarperCollins, 978-0-06-084108-9). Ages 12 & up. The New Policeman Heart of a Champion When fifteen-year-old J.J. Liddy asks his mother what she wants for her birthday, she tells him that she wants more time. That’s a problem J.J.’s all too familiar with as he struggles to find time for his music as well as his schoolwork and friends. So when a neighbor tells him there’s a place where time stands still, J.J. sets off to find it. His disappearance brings the new policeman to town, even as J.J. discovers some secrets not just about time but about his family, too. Irish author Kate Thompson won the Whitbread Award and the Guardian Award for this enthralling novel with touches of mystery and fantasy: The New Policeman ($16.99, Greenwillow, 978-0-06-117427-8). Ages 12 & up. Wildwood Dancing In her first novel for teens, Wildwood Dancing ($16.99, Random House/Knopf, 978-0-375-83364-9), popular fantasy author Juliet Marillier creates an enchanted world you’ll never want to leave. Jena is one of five daughters who lives in the castle Piscul Draculi in the woods of Transylvania. The castle hides a portal through which the sisters can enter the Other Kingdom, where they dance the nights away with magical creatures. But when their father falls ill, a mysterious cousin arrives who threatens the peace of both Jena’s family and the Other Kingdom. Can Jena handle the tests she must face in order to save everything she loves? Ages 12 & up. Author Carl Deuker has a gift for combining high action sports stories with characters who seem as real to you as your friends and family. One of his classic stories, Heart of A Champion ($7.99, Little, Brown, 978-0-316-06726-3), will be released this spring in a new paperback edition. It’s the story of two boys who come together as friends through their shared love of baseball. Jimmy is a natural on the field and Seth learns from him the kind of self-confidence he needs to handle both the wins and the losses that life inevitably brings. Ages 12 & up. The Day My Mother Left Based on author James Prosek’s own experiences, The Day My Mother Left ($15.99, Simon & Schuster, 978-1-4169-0770-1) is a compelling story of grief, growth, and redemption. Abandoned by his mother, young Jeremy tries to make sense of his life without her. He begins by trying to re-create a book of his drawings which his mother took with her when she left. This fictionalized memoir will resonate with teen readers as they watch Jeremy triumph over his loss by looking inside himself to see the kind of man he will become. Ages 12 & up. Paperback Originals Eldest At last, Christopher Paolini’s second novel is available in paperback. In Eldest ($12.99, Random House/Knopf, 978-0-375-84040-1), the tale of Eragon continues. Eragon and his dragon Saphira travel to the land of the elves for training in the essential skills of the dragon rider. Meanwhile, for Eragon’s cousin Roran and the people of Carvahall, it’s a time of testing as the king’s forces attempt to crush the seeds of rebellion. If you loved Eragon in book or movie form, don’t miss the action in Eldest! Ages 12 & up. YOUNG ADULT Veronika, a young Swedish writer, rents a home in a remote village, intent on finishing her second novel. Her only neighbor for miles is Astrid, an older, reclusive woman thought by the villagers to be a witch. A relationship, ultimately based on loss, grows between the women as they gradually share their most closely guarded secrets. The landscape of true friendship is revealed in Linda Olsson’s powerful novel Astrid & Veronika ($14, Penguin Books, 978-0-14-303807-8). Remainder Perfect Girl Ruthie Bayer falls in love with her best friend, Perry, who is literally the boy next door. Ruthie knows how to be a good friend, but the transition to being a girlfriend is confusing. If that doesn’t make freshman year complicated enough, there’s a new girl at school who’s got it all. If Ruthie’s not careful, the perfect girl may just get Perry, too. How does an ordinary girl like 251.928.5295 Astrid & Veronika A mysterious accident causes the nameless British narrator of Tom McCarthy’s Remainder (($13.95, Vintage, 978-0-307-27835-7) to lose his memory, but gains him an enormous sum in legal compensation. One evening at a friend’s party, an ordinary sight sets off a series of visions he can’t place. How he goes about bringing those memories to life, and what the ultimate consequences of his “re-enactments” are result in one of the most complex and memorable novels of recent years. 24 www.pageandpalette.com Goldberg: Variations Inspired by Bach’s masterpiece, this collection of interlocking stories comprising a novel is set in 1800 when a German–Jewish writer named Goldberg is hired to read to a wealthy insomniac who claims to have read everything. The result is a nightly story invention – the thirty pieces in this book – that weave past and present into a bizarre and illuminating whole in Goldberg: Variations by Gabriel Josipovici ($13.95, Harper Perennial, 978-0-06-089723-9). Favorite Fiction Now in Paperback Second Honeymoon Now that her third and last child has left the nest, Edie longs for the days when motherhood was in full bloom. In an extreme case of “be careful what you wish for …,” one by one all three of Edie’s offspring return home, delighting her and perplexing husband-andfather Russell. With humor and insight, Joanna Trollope paints a moving portrait of extended parenthood in Second Honeymoon ($14.95, Bloomsbury, 978-1-58234-476-8). Philosophy Made Simple Rudy Harrington is ready for a new life. A widower with three grown daughters, the time is right to move to that dream of an avocado grove in Texas. Finding solace in a volume entitled Philosophy Made Simple, Rudy learns that no amount of Plato, Socrates or Schopenhauer can prepare him for the surprises that await as he arranges for his daughter’s Hindu wedding, and encounters a woman who just might lead him to new love. We think you’ll find Philosophy Made Simple by Robert Hellenga ($13.99, Back Bay, 978-0316-01334-5) touching, humorous, and enlightening, Brookland Set in the late 18th century, this novel offers the story of an ambitious young woman with an eye to the future. Prue Winship inherits an enormously successful gin distillery and becomes obsessed with bridging the East River between the loose settlements of her “Brookland” home and the city of Manhattan. While the dream literally collapses, the story of a time and place when one woman’s vision fired the imagination of so many makes Brookland by Emily Barton ($15, Picador, 978-0-31242580-7) an engaging and satisfying read. 251.928.5295 Book Group Paperbacks Sufficient Grace One quiet spring day, Gracie Hollaman hears voices in her head that tell her to get in her car and leave her entire life behind – her home, her husband, her daughter, her very identity. Gracie's subsequent journey releases her genius for painting and effects profound changes in the lives of everyone around her. In Sufficient Grace ($14, Free Press, 978-0-7432-8448-6), Darnell Arnault explores the power of personal transformation and redemption, and the many ordinary and extraordinary ways they come to pass through faith, love, motherhood, art, even food. We meet unforgettable characters and are reminded that spirit and belonging have a vital role in every inner life – and in the everyday world. Once Upon a Day Nineteen years ago, a famous filmmaker disappeared from Los Angeles, taking his two children, Dorothea and Jimmy, to a desolate corner of New Mexico. There he raised them in complete isolation. Now, at twentythree, Dorothea leaves in search of her missing brother – and ventures into the outside world for the first time. Her search becomes an odyssey of discovery when Dorothea meets Stephen Spaulding, a cab driver dealing with his own mysterious history. With him as her guide, Dorothea uncovers the truth of her family's past and the terrifying day that changed her father forever. Together, they have a chance to discover that although a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities in Once Upon a Day (May $14, Washington Square, 07434-9278-1) by Lisa Tucker. The Red Tent Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, The Red Tent ($14.95, Picador, 978-03121-9551-9) by Anita Diamant (a favorite author with book groups), reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood. The novel begins with the story of her mothers, the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. 25 www.pageandpalette.com Skinner’s Drift What to give mom for Mother’s Day? Ten years after leaving South Africa, Eva van Rensburg returns to her dying father, a violent stuttering man whose terrible secret Eva has kept since she was a child, and to the family farm on a tough stretch of land on the Limpopo River where jackals and leopards still roam. In Skinner’s Drift ($15, Scribner, 978-0-7432-7333-6), Lisa Fugard paints a haunting portrait of a young woman coming to terms with her family's violent past as her homeland, South Africa, confronts its own bloody history. From know beautiful cookbooks, her interests and we’re happy to recommendations for something she’ll just love. fun make some Gift Cards Available at Page and Palette You’ll find a wonderful array of creative, touching and funny cards – all designed to send just the right message from the most inspirational to the “funkiest”! For Mom, Dad and the Grad - stop in TODAY to avoid the rush. We’re confident that you will be pleasantly surprised at our prices (average card price is $2) and selection as compared to the “big box” outlets! They don’t get any cuter than this! I Love You Mom ($7.95, Hylas, 978-1-5925-8262-4) tugs at your heartstrings with its gorgeous, full-color illustrations of mother and child animals snuggling alongside sweet quotes about the grace, glory, and gumption of being a mother. This uplifting, celebratory collection — a readymade love letter to mom, in book form — is a heartwarming testimonial to the special bond between mother and child. Great With Child If you know a new mother or someone who is expecting, pick up a copy of Great With Child: Letters to a Young Mother ($13.95, Norton, 978-0-3933-2978-0) by Beth Ann Fennelly. In this collection of modern letters written in an old-fashioned way, she’ll find advice and perspective on the role that transforms life. The letters range in tone from serious to sisterly, from lighthearted to downright funny. Some answer practical questions while others muse about the identity shift a woman encounters when she enters Mommyland. Remember this one when you receive another invitation to a baby shower! 251.928.5295 to inspiration, we’ve got something for every woman. Let us I Love You Mom If you have a pre-teen or teenage daughter, you’ve likely heard of the common and ongoing challenges to help her build self-esteem and lead a healthy life. During this important time of your daughter’s development, consider starting (or joining) a MotherDaughter book club. You’ll find step-by-step guidelines, reading lists, themes and activities, and stories in the newly updated edition of The Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came Together to Talk, Laugh, and Learn Through Their Love of Reading ($13.95, HarperCollins, 978-0-0608-9034-6). Now is the time to reinforce the bond that will help her through all the life stages yet to come. novels crossword puzzle books to lovely books filled with daily Mother’s Day Sunday, May 13th The Mother-Daughter Book Club engrossing Friends for Life Can you and your Mom be friends for life? The relationship between a mother and her grown daughter is complex, but one that can be rewarding if both women get beyond the emotional matters that can get in the way. Susan Jonas and Marilyn Nisseson rely on their expertise in the field of psychology and more than one hundred interviews to offer valuable insights and enlightening personal stories in Friends for Life: Enriching the Bond Between Mothers and Their Adult Daughters ($14.95, HarperCollins, 978-0-0611-3819-5), a nonjudgmental guide to help you enjoy a healthy and satisfying friendship. If it’s time to work together on this quest, consider picking up two copies. 26 www.pageandpalette.com Women’s Health Special Report Minimally-Invasive Surgeries: Advanced Technology Makes a Difference in Everyday Lives of Women This special report is the first in a series focusing on women’s gynecological health. In each issue, we will focus on a different condition women face today, as well as options for treatment. Topics in the series will include conditions that are extremely common yet rarely receive media attention, including stress urinary incontinence, pelvic-floor prolapse, excessive menstrual bleeding, and hysterectomy options. End the Embarrassment of Stress Urinary Incontinence Fairhope OB/GYN Dr. Angie McCool. “But once we start talking and we discuss treatment options, it’s like a weight is lifted off their shoulder,” McCool continues. Today, women have options for eliminating stress urinary incontinence that previous generations did not have available. The first step is for your doctor to discern which type of urinary incontinence is involved. A series of diagnostic tests called Urodynamics can tell Accidental urine leakage is no laughing matter. And yet it happens every single day to countless women simply by laughing. Or coughing. Or through the action of simply picking up a child. All of these symptoms describe stress incontinence which occurs when sphincter or pelvic muscles have been damaged (common with women following multiple childbirth or menopause). Many women are surprised to learn that urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million American women. The problem is so common, occurring in women as young as age 25; yet no one Do you experience unplanned, sudden urine wants to talk about it. In fact, many loss while laughing, sneezing, coughing, or women change their entire lives to exercising? avoid activities in which they might have an accident. They live each day Do you wear pads to absorb urine leakage? fearing the next accident. Sadly, only about half the women Do you limit or avoid any activities to who endure persistent urinary incontiprevent leakage? nence will seek medical help for it. Many of them believe accidental urine When planning a trip, does the availability leakage is a normal part of aging, of restroom facilities affect your decision? something they just have to accept. Or they believe it’s “not that big a deal.” If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, That it will resolve itself. Others believe take the next step and talk to your doctor. there is simply no effective treatment option. And still some women are uncertain about what kind of doctor can help them. your doctor if you have stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The simple tests last only about 30 minutes. Most women with SUI are candiTalking is dates for a revolutionary surgery called TVT. Taking Charge. “TVT is changing women’s lives,” explains Dr. Bobby Brown, a partner in the OB/GYN Urinary incontinence does not resolve itself. In fact, it usually worsens with time. The first practice Brown & McCool. “TVT is performed on an outpatient basis, recovery time is just 2 step is to talk to your doctor. to 3 days, and its success rate is greater than “So many women suffer in silence. They 90%,” Dr. Brown adds. can’t bear to open up and share with me that they’re having these problems,” explains Continued on page 30 4 Accidental urine leakage is no laughing matter. And yet it happens every single day to countless women simply by laughing. 990-1985 251.928.5295 27 Questions to Ask Yourself: www.pageandpalette.com Art Department Page and Palette, When you arrive changes art supplies expand art department artists Please come visit us at where so many good books are waiting. , you’will notice some in our store. We feel that it’is time to get back to the heart of our business—and books. Fairhope is a town rich in literature and the arts, so we have decided to our to accommodate the numerous in our area. All canvases and brushes are off 30% off every day. Art Takes Flight Pelican's Ink - the name chosen by Page and Palette and artist, Bill Harrison for our pelican. Literary theme features covers of books on the wings and signatures of local artists. Come by and see our Pelican outside the store before it’s auctioned off later this year and all of the different pelicans across downtown! For more information about Art Takes Flight benefit go to www.arttakesflight.com or call the ESAC at 928-2228. Pictured left to right: Hope Lamber, Jennifer Birge and Bill Harrison (all helped in the creative process) 251.928.5295 28 www.pageandpalette.com Latte Da What is the difference between caffe latte and cappuccino? Come by a nd see why we we re voted #1 Coffee House by Mobile Ba y Monthly Readers in 2006 Collector’s Club Both caffe latte and cappuccino are made from espresso. Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing steam through finely ground darkly roasted coffee beans. When espresso is mixed with steamed milk, it is called caffe latte. When espresso is mixed with frothed hot milk or cream and flavored with cinnamon, it is called cappuccino. You can’t go wrong with a gift that keeps on giving. Whether you need a special Mother’s Day gift or the perfect graduation present, membership in our Collector’s Club is perfect for anyone who enjoys reading. Each month, members receive an author-signed, first edition copy of a New York Times Best Seller. Membership is free— you only pay the cost of the book. Books can be shipped anywhere and membership may be cancelled at any time. Don’t miss out on upcoming selections from these authors: There are many variations of these drinks such as mocha latte, which contains chocolate syrup, granite latte, which is frozen espresso topped with whipped cream, and flavored lattes such as raspberry latte. If you want to try an original, try our Latte Da which is the Milkyway Latte Da. To read more interesting questions and answers like this one, pick up a copy of Do Fish Drink Water? By Bill McLain – a fascinating read! April—Anne Lamott May—David Baldacci June—Ian McEwan Thousand Splendid Suns, on sale 5/22/07 It thrills us every time a V&N advertiser shares a positive story about new business that cames from you – our readers! Thank you! Why Views & News Makes a Difference with our advertisers! 4 Views & News is celebrating its 5th year of publication and our advertising cost is THE best value on the Eastern Shore with a huge circulation and dedicated audience. To reserve a copy just give us a call or email. Pre-solds on this will receive a 20% discount. After two years on the New York Times bestseller list with The Kite Runner, and with four million copies in print, Khaled Hosseini returns with a beautiful, riveting, and haunting novel that confirms his place as one of the most important literary writers today. 4 Inserted into 12 Baldwin County Schools (goes home with 4,800 students!) 4 Increased distribution with insertion in Gulf Coast Newspapers (Fairhope Courier, Daphne Bulletin & Spanish Fort Sun and stands) 5,000. 4 Total distribution - between 15,000-18,000! You will not find a better price for advertising your business with this kind of circulation! “One of the best books I have ever read!” 4 Expanded Publication ~ 24-32 pages of interesting, current content ~ Karin Wilson 251.928.5295 29 4 Full Color “article” ads ~ You are the Expert, Tell Your Story! 4 Community Calendar – includes key events taking place in Baldwin County 4 Monthly Payment available for advertising in more than one issue 4 All newsletters are available on our website which averages over a quarter million hits a month! Previous issues also remain on our website, therefore increasing advertisers’ exposure with search engines. Each advertiser contributes to the overall success of this important publication! If you would like more information about advertising in Views & News, call Pam Denham at 251.937.1195 or send an email to [email protected]. www.pageandpalette.com Women’s Health Special Report Continued from p. 24 How does it work? TVT stops urine leakage the way your body was designed to – by supporting your urethra. TVT can be performed under general or local anesthesia. The outpatient procedure is minimally invasive, requiring two tiny incisions near the groin. Most women experience very little or no discomfort after the procedure, and are able to return to normal activity the next day. Good News Close to Home Just how effective is TVT long-term? Clinical studies indicate that 98% of women treated with TVT are still dry or report significantly less leakage seven years after treatment. “The statistics for TVT are very encouraging. But on a personal, doctor-to-patient level, it’s just so rewarding to be able to help change these women’s lives for the better. They can laugh again, jump on the trampoline with their children again, and enjoy being with friends again,” Dr. McCool says. As it turns out, Dr. McCool is in a unique position to advise women about TVT. After having two children of her own, she suffered persistent urinary incontinence. She underwent the TVT procedure in 2005 and has been accident-free since. “I can actually speak first-hand about it (TVT),” McCool says. “I know the encouraging statistics, but more importantly I know what it’s like to get your life back, to end the embarrassment,” she explains. Dr. Brown performed her surgery. In an interesting twist of fate, women living in Baldwin County who suffer from stress urinary incontinence are actually quite fortunate. Since 2004, Dr. Brown and Dr. McCool have been National Preceptors for the TVT procedure. Physicians from around the country come to Fairhope to be taught the TVT procedure by Drs. Brown & McCool. “It’s just a fancy way of saying we’re clinical educators,” jokes Dr. Brown about having been named a National Preceptor. But in fact, because of their work instructing other physicians, Thomas Hospital in Fairhope performed more uro-gynecological surgeries (including TVT) in 2006 than 95% of the hospitals in the United States. Not bad for Hip Joint Resurfacing Children ages 5-13 This long-awaited hip surgery breakthrough: • Ideal for patients under age 60 who live active lifestyles • Preserves more of your body’s natural bone structure and stability than total hip replacement APRIL: • Uses the tough, low-friction BIRMINGHAM HIP™ resurfacing implant United States • Has the potential to return you to more physical activity than total hip replacement MAY: Mexico and South America (Columbia, Brazil & Uraquay) Dr. Rhett Hubley, Orthopaedic Specialist, is among a small group of surgeons in the country who have received training in England on the new Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) technique. “This is one of the most exciting procedures I’ve seen in years,” states Hubley. “I see hip resurfacing as the ideal solution for many of my young, active patients who suffer from hip pain. As my patients are getting younger and younger, and are staying physically active much later in life, I’ve needed an alternative to total hip replacement that accommodates their age and lifestyle. The BHR system is that alternative.” 251.928.5295 Imagine a hysterectomy with no noticeable scars. Imagine feeling like yourself again in less than a week! This is all possible with a new hysterectomy procedure called LSH. WORLD OF STONES If you’ve been told you need total hip replacement surgery, you may qualify to be one of the first recipients of a hip resurfacing procedure in the United States. 1505 Daphne Avenue • Daphne, AL www.baldwinboneandjoint.com Next Month: New Options for Hysterectomy INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO THE A Remarkable New Alternative to Total Hip Replacement Surgery For more information on the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing and other orthopaedic issues and treatments, call 625-2663. a community institution. Dr. Brown is quick to add that he 990-1985 and Dr. McCool’s affiliation with the Bladder Health Network is an important component of his patients’ success in ending stress urinary incontinence. The country’s foremost uro-gynecologists, Dr. Bob Harris and Dr. Steven Speights, founded the Bladder Health Network in 2004 to assist physicians with diagnosing and treating stress urinary incontinence. Both Dr. Brown and Dr. McCool trained with Dr. Harris and Dr. Speights. All Urodynamics test results (to diagnose SUI) are sent to the Bladder Health Network, ensuring a timely and correct diagnosis for patients of Drs. Brown and McCool. JUNE: Africa (Madagascar, Morocco, Tanzania) have the opportunity to gain a Rock Solid Education at Analece/Bayside Beads. Beginning Saturday, April 7th, the store (specializing in custom jewelry design & fabrication, beads, minerals and gemstones) will offer one-hour workshops where students will “travel” to exotic places around the world to learn about rocks, minerals, fossils and gemstones. Each class will be held on the first Saturday of every month from 10 – 11 a.m. This hands-on program will be presented by the store’s resident Rock Hounds (lapidaries who specialize in the art of stone-cutting). There are three levels of participation, beginning with a basic registration fee of $10 per session. Package plans include special products and discounted registration fees. All proceeds from the Rock Solid Education classes will be contributed to Baldwin County Schools. Analece/Bayside Beads is an approved field trip site for Baldwin County Schools. Classes are popular in demand and space is limited – register now. For more information or to register, stop by the store (395-A Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope), give us a call (251-929-3620) or visit us at www.analecedesign.com. 30 www.pageandpalette.com Overwhelming Response from Paula Deen Fans Leads to Change in Venue to Mobile Convention Center: Page & Palette Bookstore announces Food Network Star, and Best-selling Author, Paula Deen, as She Shares Her Personal Story, It Ain’t All About the Cookin’ Sponsored by: “Worth the Weight” Level Naman’s Catering Butter Level Brown & McCool Encore Azaleas Onmedia Scrumptious Level Stephen Savage Photography Hartman Blackman & Kilgore First National Bank Lite Mix 99.9 Grand Hotel “Elbow Licking Good” Self Center Remax by the Bay FAQ Inside Out designs by Elizabeth Smith J oin Page & Palette Bookstore for one of their most exciting events of the year, an evening with Paula Deen, Tuesday, May 1st, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Mobile Convention Center. The event, originally set for the Marriott Grand Hotel, was close to sellout seven weeks out from the event’s date. Page & Palette organizers, along with the Grand Hotel together made the decision, in the interest of better serving her multiple fans, to move it to a venue with four times the capacity. Just a few years ago, Southern food sensation Paula Deen seemed to arrive out of nowhere to become one of Food Network’s biggest stars. With her plain-spoken Southern charm and talent for sharing the secrets of down home comfort food, Ms. Deen has been embraced by millions of fans. But as she reveals in her new memoir, Paula Deen: It Ain’t All About the Cookin’, her road to success as restaurateur, TV personality, and best-selling cookbook author has been anything but straight and smooth. As candid, warm, and unpretentious as Paula herself, Paula Deen: It Ain’t All About the Cookin’, is the warts-and-all story of how a girl from Albany, Georgia weathered personal hardships, took matters into her own hands, and transformed herself into a savvy business woman who has never lost touch with her humble roots. Of course, no Paula Deen book would be complete without recipes, and she closes each chapter with one of her favorites. From down-to-earth Georgia girlhood to appearances with Oprah Winfrey and President Jimmy Carter, Paula Deen has lived the American dream, built with equal parts luck, hard work, talent, and inspiration. Hear her tell her story as she’s never told it before. Why was the venue changed from the Grand Hotel Ballroom to the Mobile Convention Center? The event, originally set for the Marriott Grand Hotel, was close to sellout seven weeks out from the event’s date. Page & Palette organizers, along with the Grand Hotel together made the decision, in the interest of better serving her multiple fans, to move it to a venue with four times the capacity. Will there be reserved seating? There is reserved seating only for a limited number of Corporate Sponsors. You may contact Karin Wilson at [email protected] for more information about this. What time does the event start and what to expect? The doors open at 5pm and you can enjoy Hors d'œuvres and pick up your book (if you have not already done so at the Page & Palette). The event will start promptly at 6pm. David Holloway, the food editor for the Mobile Register, will be introducing Paula Deen and conduct an interview. Paula Deen will then take questions from the audience. Tickets are $65 and include the event, a hardcover copy of her book, Paula Deen: It Ain’t All About the Cookin’, and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres from her cookbooks prepared by local gourmet chefs in conjunction with the Gourmet Chef Challenge – a benefit for the Bay Area Food Bank. This special event will also benefit the Bay Area Food Bank. Major Sponsorship is provided by Naman’s Catering, Brown/McCool OBGYN and Encore. The event will not include an author signing, however, all of Ms. Deen’s other books will be available for purchase at Page and Palette and the event. General seating is assured for all ticket holders. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and attendees are invited to savor the delicious hors d’oeuvres (straight from her wonderful cookbooks), sip a drink from the cash bar and browse Paula’s cookbooks available for purchase. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with David Holloway, Food Editor of the Mobile Press-Register serving as emcee. Ms. Deen will speak, answer questions from Holloway, and then take questions from the audience. Tickets for the event may be purchased online at www.pageandpalette.com or at Page & Palette located at 32 S. Section Street in Fairhope, AL. Tickets purchased online may be picked up at Will Call at the event, mailed to your directly or picked up at the bookstore. For more information contact Page & Palette at (251) 928-5295 or visit their website at www.pageandpalette.com. What does the ticket include? The $65 ticket includes the event, a copy of Paula Deen's new biography ($25 value) and Hors d'oeuvres from Paula Deen's cookbooks. What will be the dress? Just come to have fun. As with all of our events we will have a range from semi-dressy to casual. What is money going towards? A portion of the money will go to the Page & Palette Foundation which raises money for community enrichment. But this is not being advertised as a foundation event. What about Dinner? here will be a buffet served at that Riverview (across the street from the Convention Center) serving recipes from Paula Deen's cookbooks. This is a separate ticket that can be purchased directly through Riverview (reservations are needed). Hors d'eouvres will be served at the event from her cookbook as well that is included with your event ticket. For buffet tickets call 251.415.3092 Is there a children's ticket? All tickets are $65, it is geared for adults. We anticipate a full sell out. How do I get to the Mobile Convention Center and parking? Directions here. here will be a buffet served at that Riverview (across the street from the Convention Center) serving recipes from Paula Deen's cookbooks. This is a separate ticket that can be purchased directly through Riverview (reservations are needed). Hors d'eouvres will be served at the event from her cookbook as well that is included with your event ticket. For buffet tickets call 251.415.3092 Will Paula Deen sign my book? There will not be an author signing but all of her books will be available for purchase. Where can I purchase tickets? Tickets for the Paula Deen event can be purchased on line HERE or at the store. If you purchase the tickets online you may pick them up at Will Call at the event. The dinner tickets for after the event can be purchased at the Grand Hotel 1-251-990-6316. Please indicate if you would like to pick up your tickets at the store, have them mailed to you or pick them up at Will Call in the comments section when ordering tickets online. For For sponsorship sponsorship opportunities opportunities contact contact Karin Karin Wilson Wilson at at [email protected]. [email protected]. 251.928.5295 31 www.pageandpalette.com Treat yourself to a Grand Dining Experience at the Grand Hotel Marriott where sunsets and relaxation are complimentary and priceless memories are made. You will find no other local dining experience this incredible. Valet Parking Complimentary Grand Gourmet Deli Lunch Buffet Enjoy lunch in the casual atmosphere of The Dining Room, nestled among the majestic live oaks on beautiful Mobile Bay. Feast on our Grand Gourmet Deli Buffet featuring fresh soup of the day, a variety of salads, homemade Panini and Signature Grand Hotel Bread Pudding. This delicious buffet is served Monday - Saturday, from 11:45 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. $13.95 includes freshly brewed tea or coffee. Entertain the kids with a game of croquet before unwinding to the sounds of Zydeco music in our family-friendly Saltwater Grill. Sip your favorite signature drink and dine on the freshest Gulf seafood served by a team who has perfected the art of fun and efficient service. Dinner is served from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. nightly. Come early and enjoy the sunset. Culinary Academy Whether you’re just starting or have been cooking for years, indulge your inner chef at the Grand Hotel Culinary Academy. Classes are hosted by The Grand’s Executive Chef, Mike Wallace, who boasts over 25 years of culinary experience. Chef Mike has worked with various restaurants and resorts throughout the United States and Switzerland including The Waldorf Astoria in New York and The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Join him as he features new cooking courses each month which include a two-hour cooking demonstration, recipes, food tasting, and a culinary academy diploma. Call now to reserve your Grand Dining Experience. 251.928.9201
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