You are cordially invited to join 826michigan and guest of honor, Cristina Henríquez, for our 10th annual Storymakers Dinner – an evening of outstanding stories, fantastic food and amazing company in downtown Ann Arbor.
STORYMAKERS DINNER honors impactful writers and their stories, from nationally known novelists to emerging young authors in our community. Through this annual benefit celebration, 826michigan partners with Zingerman’s Community of Businesses to bring together a noted person of letters and more than one hundred friends committed to supporting the next generation of Storymakers.
GUEST OF HONOR, Cristina Henríquez, will join us on June 6, 2019, to share perspectives on her heartfelt stories of family life, identity and belonging. Recently declared a luminary of fiction, she is the author of The Book of Unknown Americans, which was a New York Times Notable Book of 2014 and one of Amazons 10 Best Books of the Year. It was the Daily Beast Novel of the Year, a Washington Post Notable Book, an NPR Great Read, a Target Book of the Month selection, and was chosen as one of the best books of the year by BookPage, Oprah.com, and School Library Journal. It was also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Henríquez is also the author The World In Half (a novel), and Come Together, Fall Apart: A Novella and Stories, which was a New York Times Editors Choice selection.
Don’t miss this extraordinary evening showcasing the words, wonder and wit of our students and their work. Let’s make this our biggest fundraiser yet!
Tickets are available at two levels:
$125 (general admission and dinner)
$250 (VIP reception with Cristina Henríquez at 6pm and dinner)
6:00 pm – Reception with Cristina Henríquez for VIP ticket holders
7:00 pm – Doors open for general admission
7:30 pm – Opening Remarks and Dinner
8:00 pm – Storymaker Readings and Student Reflections
8:30 pm – Future Storymakers Paddle Raise
9:00 pm – Closing Remarks
For more information, please email Ken@826michigan.org. For sponsorship opportunities please email Naimah@826michigan.org.
All proceeds support free writing and tutoring programs for school-aged students in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit.
About 826michigan:
734-761-3463
www.826michigan.org
826michigan aims to spark of love for reading and writing for school aged children, while encouraging and fostering their sense of creativity and voice. We believe writing is a process of discovery and engagement, an action that connects us to the world, a means to further personal understanding, and a tool to access power and build a better world. Our small staff mobilizes hundreds of adult volunteers to support more than 3,500 school-aged students with free writing and tutoring programs that take place in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit. We believe that one-on-one attention helps students succeed in school and in life. Last year, adult volunteers contributed more than 16,000 hours in 826michigan programs.
As part of our ongoing Fiction at Literati Series, we welcome New York Times-bestselling author Susan Jane Gilman in support of her latest, Donna Has Left the Building, which author Boris Fishman calls an “engrossing and incisive–politically, domestically, psychologically–story.” The event is free and open to the public.
About the book:Forty-five-year-old Donna Koczynski is an ex-punk rocker, a recovering alcoholic, and the mother of two teenagers whose suburban existence detonates when she comes home early from a sales conference in Las Vegas to the surprise of a lifetime. As her world implodes, she sets off on an epic road trip to reclaim everything she believes she’s sacrificed since her wild youth: Great friendship, passionate love, and her art. But as she careens across the U.S. from Detroit to New York to Memphis to Nashville, nothing turns out as she imagines. Ultimately, she finds herself resurrected on the other side of the globe, on a remote island embroiled in a crisis far bigger than her own.
About the author: Susan Jane Gilman is the bestselling author of Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress, Kiss My Tiara, Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, and the novel, The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street. She has provided commentary for NPR and written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Ms. Magazine, among others. Visit her at SusanJaneGilman.com.
Join author Jen Rubin as she discusses her book, We Are Staying: Eighty Years in the Life of a Family, a Store, and a Neighborhood, a small business story about a shop owner that keeps on going despite the odds. It is an immigrant story, a grandfather-father-daughter story and a story of the unique character a family business brings to a neighborhood.
About the Book
For eighty years, a store named Radio Clinic stood on the 98th Street block of Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Jen Rubin’s immigrant grandfather opened it in 1934 during the depths of the Depression as a radio repair shop. To distinguish his shop from his many nearby competitors in those early days of radio, he sat fixing radios in the storefront window – visible to the public in his “clinic” — wearing a white doctor’s lab coat. The business grew over the decades to sell radios, televisions, appliances big and small, electronics, and air conditioners, lots and lots of air conditioners.
Her book, We Are Staying: Eighty Years in the Life of a Family, a Store, and a Neighborhood, tells about the rise , struggles, and fall, and the family that owned it across those decades. It is a small business story and a story about a shop owner that keeps on going despite the odds. It is an immigrant story, a grandfather-father-daughter story, a story of the unique character a family business brings to a neighborhood, and a reflection on what has been lost as stores like these disappear.
About the Author
Jen Rubin is a former New Yorker living in Madison, WI. (Her first midwestern home was Ann Arbor from 1988 – 1996.) Jen leads storytelling workshops around Madison, co-produces the Moth StorySlam in Madison, and co-hosts ‘Inside Stories’ podcast. She also teaches the occasional social policy class at the University of Wisconsin School of Social Work and works at the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
We welcome author Dean Kuipers in support of his new memoir, The Deer Camp, which Kirkus describes as “lushly detailed and full of eco-devotion.”
About the book: For readers of The Stranger in the Woods and H Is for Hawk, a beautifully written and emotionally rewarding memoir about a father, his three sons, and a scrappy 100-acre piece of land in rural Michigan. Bruce Kuipers was good at hunting and fishing, but not at anything else that makes a real father or husband. Distant, angry, and a serial cheater, he destroyed his relationship with his wife, Nancy, and alienated his three sons–journalist Dean, woodsman Brett, and troubled yet brilliant fisherman Joe. He distrusted people and clung to rural America as a place to hide. So when Bruce purchased a 100-acre hunting property as a way to reconnect with his sons, they resisted. The land was the perfect bait, but the moment the sons arrived, none of them knew how to be together as a family. Conflicts arose over whether the land–an old farm that had been degraded and reduced to a few stands of pine and blowing sand–should be left alone or be actively restored. After a decade-long impasse, Bruce acquiesced, and his sons proceeded with their restoration plan. What happened next was a miracle of nature. Dean Kuipers weaves a beautiful and surprising story about the restorative power of land and of his own family, which so desperately needed healing. Heartwarming and profound, The Deer Camp is the perfect story of fathers, sons, and the beauty and magic of the natural world
About the author: Dean Kuipers has studied and written about the field of environmental politics and the human-nature relationship for decades. He is the author of Burning Rainbow Farm and Operation Bite Back. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Outside, The Atlantic, Men’s Journal, Rolling Stone, andPlayboy. He lives in Los Angeles.
Bring your family out for an afternoon to celebrate some wonderful local children’s authors and illustrators that include; Esperanza U. Ramirez-Christensen and Tracy Gallup – the author and illustrator of My First Book of Haiku Poems, Nancy E. Shaw the author of Sheep in a Jeep 5 Minute Stories, Deb Gonzales author of Girls with Guts and Deb Pilutti author of The Secrets of Ninja School.We will have stations step-up around the store for families to visit with the authors and there will be prizes for children that wear their sports uniforms.
Author Info:
Debbie Gonzales is a career educator, curriculum consultant, former school administrator, adjunct professor, podcaster and once served as a SCBWI RA for the Austin Chapter. Deb currently devotes her time to writing middle grade novels, producing The Debcast (a podcast dedicated to the tenacity of the female athlete), crafting teacher guides and various other freelance projects. She’s the author of six “transitional” readers for New Zealand publisher, Giltedge, and the forthcoming non-fiction picture book Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019) Deb currently serves as a member of the Michigan Reading Association. She earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen is an award-winning teacher and scholar of classical Japanese literature at the University of Michigan. She has written extensively on the subjects of Japanese poets and poetry and Buddhist philosophy.
Tracy Gallup is a children’s book author (A Roomful of Questions; A Crazy Little series, Paint the Night), and illustrator (A Beastly Banquet), and a maker of whimsical doll figures. A portfolio of her work can be found on her website: tracygallupillustration.com
Nancy Shaw is the author of the eight stories in the Sheep in a Jeep series, now together in an anthology, as well as Elena’s Story and Raccoon Tune. Her work has received the Horn Book Fanfare citation, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year citations, Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award, IRA/CBC Children’s Choice listings, Parents’ Choice Awards, and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award. She lives in Ann Arbor.
Deb Pilutti is children’s book author and illustrator. Previous books include Idea Jar (illustrator), Bear and Squirrel are Friends…Yes, Really! and Ten Rules of Being a Superhero. www.debpilutti.com
Book Info:
My First Book of Haiku Poems introduces children to poems that speak of our connection to the natural world and of their own ability to see an entire universe in the tiniest parts of it. Each of these 20 poems by Basho, Issa, Shiki and other great haiku masters is paired with a stunning original painting that both portrays and inspires a child’s inner life, and opens a door to a world of imagination.
The original Japanese versions of the poems (in script and Romaji) are included alongside the English translation as part of the cultural experience. Each haiku is accompanied by a “dreamscape” painting by award-winning artist Tracy Gallup. Commentaries offer parents and teachers a little ready-made “food for thought” to share with young readers.
Girls with Guts No chasing! No stretching or straining! And never, ever sweat. These were the rules girls were forced to play by until Title IX passed in 1972. And it was a game-changer.
A celebration of the strength, endurance, and athleticism of women and girls throughout the ages, Girls With Guts! keeps score with examples of women athletes from the late 1800s up through the 1970s, sharing how women refused to take no for an answer, and how finally, they pushed for a law to protect their right to play, compete, and be athletes.
Sheep in a Jeep 5-Minute Stories Join the five rambunctious sheep on their exciting adventures as they drive their jeep, take a hike, trick or treat, pick out a birthday gift–and much more. Each story can be read aloud in just five minutes, making this the perfect book for bedtime, story time, or any time!
The Secrets of Ninja School Ruby sets out to learn her own secret skill at Master Willow’s School for Ninjas in this charming picture book that celebrates confidence, creativity, and kindness.
We are pleased to present Patrick Lohier, whose enticing debut novel, Radiant Night, blends history, mystery and adrenaline to produce a wildly entertaining and fast-paced literary thriller. Patrick’s stories, book reviews, and essays have appeared in African American Review, Harvard Review, The Georgia Review, Callaloo, The Globe & Mail and other publications. He is an alumnus of the Caldera Artists Residency program, and is a member of the Toronto Arts Council Literary Committee. Patrick lives in Toronto with his wife and two kids. Signing to follow.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ludwig Mason is the only Marine to have survived an explosion that reduced his military Humvee to a smoldering wreck in war-torn Fallujah. Back home on American soil, the 28-year-old Iraq War vet struggles through the traumatized, booze- and drug-addled aftermath. He fears that he’s lost his family, his friends, and his last chance at anything when something like fate intervenes in the form of a mysterious stranger named Mrs. S.
The old fortune-teller tells Ludwig about an heirloom seized from her family by Nazis decades ago―a fabled tarot deck that has 23 major arcana cards instead of the customary 22. A deck that she believes is now located somewhere in Mobile, Alabama.
Whatever it was that brought Ludwig to Mrs. S.―be it chance, or fate―now draws him into an hallucinatory odyssey fraught with arcane symbols, danger, and paranoia as he ventures to retrieve the missing tarot deck and, with any luck, a piece of his own lost soul.
“Lohier’s prose is enthralling. One dark secret dissolves into another, each one more treacherous and shocking. Ludwig Mason, broken and searching, is a character you’ll never forget; more than a hero or anti-hero, he is heartbreakingly human.” — Matt Marinovich
We welcome author Sharon McRill, president of The Betty Brigade based in Ann Arbor, in support of her new book Downsizing the Silver Tsunami: Who to Call and Where Does the Stuff Go?
About the book: This is the moving reference you’ve been waiting for! Downsizing the Silver Tsunami is the compilation of years of working with thousands of clients and helping them resolve the moving problems and logistical and vendor questions that come up everyda, a comprehensive reference tool that you can refer to over and over to help you navigate the difficult pathways of estate sales, consignment dealers, picking the right real estate agent, why a trust or will are important and so many other moving and downsizing questions.
About the author: Sharon McRill is owner and president of The Betty Brigade, a relocation and organization company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her mission is to help people live more organized and less stressful lives.
Laid off from a corporate marketing job in 2003, McRill turned the setback into an opportunity. As a busy professional herself, she wanted to help other busy people get organized and stay that way. She’s now done so successfully for 15 plus years. McRill, a graduate from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, has expanded her brand’s influence through strategic marketing and sales reaching 100k plus on social media daily. Her highly trained team of 12 is comprised of handymen, organizing experts and logistical wizards.
McRill has done scores of television and radio interviews and has been featured in such media outlets as Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Crain’s Detroit Business, Forbes.com and The Ann Arbor Observer. Additionally, she won awards from the ATHENA foundation, Tuck School of Business, and Women Business Owners of Southeast Michigan.
For Whom
Grade K–5
Description
Meet Llama, the next great picture-book megastar, who has most definitely driven a bus and who loves tacos way more than you.
He also loves cake, and that’s where our story begins.
On Monday, Llama discovers a pile of cake, which he promptly eats.
On Tuesday, Llama squeezes into his dancing pants, which he promptly rips.
The force of the rip creates a black hole (naturally).
By Friday, Llama will (indirectly) destroy the world.
In their debut picture book, Llama Destroys the World, author/illustrator team Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox introduce young readers to the comical, the studious, the oblivious Llama, a picture-book hero for the ages.
This event is in partnership with Literati. It includes a signing and books will be for sale.
Jonathan Stutzman is an award-winning independent filmmaker and writer of books for children. His short films have screened around the world and on television, and he is a contributing writer to the bestselling collection The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories and Emmy-winning variety show HitRecord on TV. When he isn’t writing, Jonathan loves books, playing with his puppy, exploring, and watching old black and white movies. He is a staunch believer in the power of stories and the deliciousness of donuts. Jonathan lives in the wilds of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and as you read this, he is probably writing something new.
Heather Fox is an illustrator of stories for children. Her art is filled with quirk and dashes of whimsy that is created in both doodle and digital forms. When she isn’t creating, she is probably drinking a hot cup of coffee, eating Chinese food, or chasing down her dog (Sir Hugo) that has stolen one of her socks. Fox’s books for children include The Elephant’s Nose and Llama Destroys the World. She lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Literati is thrilled to welcome bestselling novelist Sarah Dessen in support of her latest book The Rest of the Story. A book signing will follow an author talk and Q&A. A copy of The Rest of the Story is required to join the signing line. Copies will be available to purchase in our store. If you pre-order your copy through Literati (your support makes these events possible!) before June 4th, you can receive a special tote from Epic Reads. Sarah will personalize copies of The Rest of the Story and sign up to two backlist titles.
About The Rest of the Story:
Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when Emma was twelve. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.
Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family that she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.
When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is also divided into two people. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.
Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake–and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.
For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her–Emma or Saylor–will win out?
Sarah Dessen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, which have received numerous awards and rave reviews. Her books have been published in over thirty countries and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association for outstanding contribution to young adult literature for her novels, including Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, This Lullaby, The Truth about Forever, Just Listen, Along for the Ride, and What Happened to Goodbye. A North Carolina native, Sarah currently lives in Chapel Hill with her family.
Crazy Wisdom Poetry Series hosted by Joe Kelty, Ed Morin, and David Jibson • Second and Fourth Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. in the Crazy Wisdom Tea Room • Second Wednesdays are poetry workshop nights. All writers welcome to share and discuss their own poetry and short fiction. Sign up for new participants begins at 6:45 p.m.
Fourth Wednesdays have a featured reader for 50 minutes and then open mic for an hour. All writers welcome to share. Sign up begins at 6:45 p.m. Free. Contact Ed at 668-7523; eacmorso@sbcglobal.net or cwpoetrycircle.tumblr.com.
