Rakestraw Books presents a series of celebrity author events

Movie star Alicia Silverstone and Danville's hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger are among this month's guests at the indie bookstore.

October has been a busy month for Danville’s favorite independent bookstore. Since relocating to its new spot at 522 Hartz Avenue, Rakestraw Books has begun hosting a “Writers Reading” series, giving authors a chance to discuss their new books with local readers.

The series kicked off on Oct. 6 with an appearance by Francine Prose, whose new book Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife, takes a closer look at the young girl’s diary as not only a historical record of WWII, but as a literate work of art.

On Oct. 14, San Francisco-raised author Tom Dolby will appear at The Dorris-Eaton School in Walnut Creek at 10 a.m. to read from and sign his new novel, The Secret Society. The author’s teen fiction debut is about a group of teenagers who join a cult-like society that promises to reward with fame and success—until a mystery body is found with ties to the society, and the members discover they cannot escape. (This event is free, but reservations are essential. Call Rakestraw to reserve your seat: 925.837.7337. The Dorris- Eaton School, 1847 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek.)

Get your nutrition questions answered on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. when actor Alicia Silverstone appears at Rakestraw to discuss her new book, The Kind Diet, about the benefits of going vegan. Having enjoyed a plant-based diet free of meat and dairy products for the past decade, Silverstone will discuss how to incorporate all the essential vitamins and nutritional bases into your everyday diet, and feel empowered by your food choices. (This event is free, but reservations are essential. Call Rakestraw to reserve your seat: 925.837.7337)

Danville hero Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger will host a sold-out discussion and signing of his new book Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Many know him as the pilot of Flight 1549, but his discussion will provide a deeper look into his life, his family values, and what he has learned since that fateful day in January.

Scheduled to visit the shop on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. is Jeannette Walls, who will introduce her true-life novel based on her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. Titled Half Broke Horses, the book details Lily’s life, from age six when she helped her father break horses, to teaching and driving, and through the many natural and personal tragedies she endured. It’s been dubbed the adult-version of a Laura Ingalls Wilder novel. (Cost: $35, which includes a copy of the book. Proceeds will be donated to Wardrobe for Opportunity. Seats have just been added; call the shop to reserve yours.)

In remembrance of her son Matthew, Judy Shepard reflects upon her tragic loss in 1998 and the vast response from supporters across the country in her new book, The Meaning of Matthew, on Thursday, Oct. 22 at The Athenian School. She explains the challenges and rewards that come with raising a gay child in America and why she became a gay rights activist, shining a light on the civil rights issue that is still significant today. (Cost: $10 for adults, $2.50 for students. Advance ticket purchase is essential. Proceeds will benefit The Working Group. This event will take place at the Performing Arts Center at The Athenian School, 100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd, Danville.)

Rakestraw will welcome Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Timothy Egan to the shop on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. to discuss his latest work, The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America. The book chronicles the despair of the forest rangers who were no match for the blaze that whipped across Washington, Idaho Montana in August 1910, and how former President Roosevelt and his chief forester Gifford Pinchot turned the concept of land conservation into a national idea and changed the way fires are fought today. (Cost: $7. Reservations are essential. Proceeds will benefit the Danville Public Library.)

And finally, the October series will wrap up with an appearance by the Booker Prize-winning author A.S. Byatt, who will be discussing The Children’s Book on Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. Set in Europe during the Victorian era, the novel follows a famous children’s book author through the trials and tribulations of the times. It was nominated for this year’s Man Booker Prize and comes very highly recommended from the bookstore. (This event is free, but reservations are strongly recommended.)

Keep an eye out for the November series, to be posted on Rakestraw’s website soon.


 

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