Literary Reading: Sena Jeter Nasland
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2–3:30 p.m.
Free, no reservations required.
Critically acclaimed for her novels Ahab’s Wife and Abundance, A Novel of Marie Antoinette, author Sena Jeter Nasland writes fiction that gives life to history. She will read from her new novel, The Fountain of St. James Court; Or, Portrait of the Artist as an Old Woman, which deftly intertwines the life of 18th-century French painter Élisabeth Louise Vigée-Lebrun (whose works are on view in the mezzanine level collection galleries) with that of a fictional contemporary writer Kathryn Callaghan. A book signing follows the reading.

Ford’s Theatre Society hosts a book discussion and signing with author James L. Swanson and moderator Sam Donaldson on November 12, 2013, at 7 p.m., at Ford’s Theatre (511 Tenth Street, NW). Following the discussion in the theatre, Swanson will sign copies of the book in the Ford’s Theatre lobby.

Fifty years ago, our country was jolted by tragedy: our 35th President was brutally murdered on an American street in front of hundreds of horrified witnesses. In “End of Days: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy” (publication date November 12, 2013), Edgar award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of the highly acclaimed “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,” James. L. Swanson offers a comprehensive understanding of this historic day, lending edge-of-your seat, storyteller’s mastery to the subject. With fascinating, colorful detail culled from vast historic resources, Swanson sets the stage for his central drama: the unfolding of the private final hours of John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald as their destinies converge in a rifle’s crosshairs—one man bound for infamy, the other for myth. Told in Swanson’s signature, thrilling, ticking-clock narrative style, “End of Days” tracks the seemingly inevitable, and equally improbable, collision course between two men that would change history, devastate a hopeful generation, and spur one of our country’s greatest national mysteries. As the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s death approaches, Kennedy buffs looking for a deeper understanding as well as readers new to the subject will find End of Days to be a comprehensive, fascinating, emotional, riveting must-read.

Tickets for the discussion are free but required and may be reserved in person at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office, at www.fords.org or through Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 (Ticketmaster fees apply). Seating is available on a first-come basis. Books will be available for purchase on site at the Ford’s Theatre Gift Shop.

The Le Creuset Signature Store at Bethesda Row welcomes Pati Jinich, host of the PBS series Pati’s Mexican Table, for a book signing event on November 21 from 5pm – 6:30pm. Pati will sign copies of her book, Pati’s Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Hardcover; $30), which showcases everyday Mexican dishes, from the traditional to creative twists.

The Le Creuset Signature Store at 7116 Bethesda Lane at Bethesda Row, carries the largest assortment available of unique Le Creuset enameled cast iron products, stoneware baking pieces, dinnerware, utensils, stock pots, tea kettles, wine accessories and more. Le Creuset is the world’s leading manufacturer of enameled cast iron cookware.

Pati Jinich

Pati is the official chef of Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., appears frequently at the Smithsonian Institution to speak about Mexican culture and cuisine, and will be launching her third season of her PBS show this January.

For questions about the book signing, please contact Marla Loftus at 843-531-5459 or mloftus@lecreuset.com

On December 12, 2013, Georgetown Jingle will host a book signing with renowned designer Alexa
Hampton as she introduces her second book, Decorating in Detail. Hampton, who is the owner and designer for the firm Mark Hampton LLC, is a perennial member of Architectural Digest’s AD100, House Beautiful’s Top Designer list and a member of Elle Decor’s A-list. She is also one of the guest designers for the 8th Annual Georgetown Jingle, a holiday extravaganza hosted each year by Four Seasons Hotel and the design community to raise funds for Medstar Georgetown University Hospital’s pediatric oncology programs.

Hampton is the featured designer for this year’s event, decorating the prominent mantle in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. Working with an assortment of seasonal décor including floral, antiques and wood workings, she will design a masterpiece vignette that will retail for $30,800—all of which will be donated to Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center to benefit pediatric patients. Hampton’s mantle and 17 Holiday Trees decorated by other designers will be on display and available for purchase at Four Seasons Hotel beginning December 4.

At Alexa Hampton’s Book Signing, guests will have the opportunity to meet the design icon and receive a personalized copy of her new book, Decorating in Detail. Coffee, tea and decadent holiday sweets will be provided by Four Seasons Hotel. Tickets to the Book Signing are $65, with a portion of each ticket benefiting Georgetown Jingle.

To purchase tickets, RSVP to Shazalynn@scwinteriors.net by Tuesday, December 10.

Thursday, December 12
Four Seasons Hotel
George Washington Room
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Called “the ultimate ‘you go, girl’” community by New York Times best-selling author, Marianne Williamson, Women on Fire is proud to announce the Washington, D.C. launch of the new book, Women on Fire: 21 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!) on Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 at The Dunes in Columbia Heights (1402 Meridian Place, NW, Washington, DC 20010).

The post-holiday book release party and celebration will include readings by DC area authors from the book containing 21 unique voices, each one belonging to a courageous woman who chose to share her story of heartache, loss, and discovery in the hopes of saving you years of struggle. Insights in the chapters include how to:

Conquer the grief left behind after the death of a loved one;
Go from stay-at-home Mom to building a blockbuster business;
Conquer an eating disorder and take charge of your life;
Take the road to recovery from drug and alcohol abuse;
And many more insights from women just like you who battled their way through obstacles to find a life of freedom, compassion and joy on the other side!

WHAT: Washington, DC Post-Holiday Book Release Party for Women on Fire:
21 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!)

WHO: DC Area Authors from the 2nd Version of the Women on Fire book series.

Women on Fire is one of the fastest growing organizations of powerful women in the country.

Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Books will be available for purchase at the event, signed by the authors.

Alice McDermott
Alice McDermott in Conversation With Kate Reading

On Thursday, February 27, Eric Schmidt, the Executive Chairman and former CEO of Google, and Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas discuss their New York Times bestselling book, The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Business and Our Lives, in a talk that coincides with the book’s paperback release. With billions of people coming online in the next decade, the book tackles some of the most interesting questions about our future: how will technology change privacy and security, war and intervention, diplomacy, revolution and terrorism? How will technology improve our lives? What new disruptions can we expect?

Billions of people are coming online in the next decade. Their physical lives, human rights, and civic relationships will be forever altered. Technology is reshaping human society in ways we never imagined, and the story for the future is one of promise and innovation.

In the paperback release of the New York Timesbestseller The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Business and Our Lives, Eric Schmidt, theExecutive Chairman and former CEO of Google, and Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas, tackle some of the most interesting questions about our future: how will technology change privacy and security, war and intervention, diplomacy, revolution and terrorism? How will technology improve our lives? What new disruptions can we expect?

On the heels of months of news stories about online privacy and security, The New Digital Age is a timely and forward-thinking account of where our world is headed and what this means for people, states and businesses.

In conversation with Alec Ross, one of America’s leading experts on innovation, a Senior Fellow at Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs, and former Senior Advisor for Innovation to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Then, on Wednesday, April 2, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone shares stories on the power of creativity and how to harness it in Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of a Creative Mind. Reflecting on his path to Google, Twitter and beyond, Biz (who also can add GQ’s “Nerd of the Year” and one of TIME magazine’s “Most Influential People” to his résumé) also provides his insights on ambition, failure, corporate culture, and the value of vulnerability. Most recently, Biz is founder and CEO of his newest venture, Jelly.

In Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of a Creative Mind, he shares fascinating, pivotal, and personal stories on the power of creativity and how to harness it. Biz’s early life and unique resume embody the mindset of today’s top innovators. He knows better than anyone that:

• Opportunity can be manufactured
• Great work comes from abandoning a linear way of thinking
• Creativity never runs out
• Asking questions is free
• Empathy is core to personal and global success

Admission:

1 ticket: $20
1 ticket + 1 book: $30
2 tickets + 1 book: $40

How to Purchase:

Online or by phone (877.987.6487 with a $1.50 fee per ticket). Additional fees apply.

Seating:

General Admission

Seinfeld writer Peter Mehlman’s will launch his debut novel at Kramer Books & Afterwords in D.C. on September 23, 6:30 pm in K Street Magazine. Known for most memorableSeinfeld-isms like “Yada Yada”, “sponge-worthy” and “double-dipping”, he is a graduate of the University of Maryland and wrote for theWashington Post before his engagement on Seinfeld throughout which he continued to write for top publications, including New York TimesMagazine, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Esquire as well as contributing to NPR’s “Day to Day” and “All Things Considered”.

It Won’t Always Be This Great is a literary debut that perfectly captures Peter’s satirical genius in a uniquely conceived crime story, set in East Coast suburbia, that offers timely social commentary about religion, marriage, and the politics of life. Distinguished advance praise includes: 

“Anyone who writes for television gets frustrated that they can’t write like Peter Mehlman. Now he’s going to make novelists mad too. Mehlman’s writing style is completely unique, and creates an intimate bond between the narrator and the reader. You finish the book feeling as though you’ve made a new friend.” ––Academy award winning writer Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The Social Network)

“Peter Mehlman wrote a brilliantly funny, effortlessly insightful and unexpectedly moving book.” ––Academy award winning writer/directorSteven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven, Erin Brockovich, Traffic)

“Peter has an uncanny knack for pin-pointing the absurdities of our petty bourgeoisie. Funny and astute and disarmingly humane.” ―Madeleine Brand,  American broadcast journalist and radio personality

For more on Peter Mehlman, please visit: www.pmehlman.com.