Kimberla Lawson Roby Visits the Central Library

Popular and best-selling author Kimberla Lawson Roby will visit the Central Library in downtown Atlanta on Monday, January 25th at noon. Click here to learn more. You may also want to check out her website: www.kimroby.com.

Literary Losses

The literary world has lost two prolific authors and one incredible inspiration over the last few days.

Ruth McBride Jordan, the mother of author James McBride and the inspiration for his book The Color of Water died on January 9th.

Robert B. Parker, author of the famous Spenser detective series, died suddenly on Monday, January 19th.

Erich Segal, whose novel Love Story touched a generation of college kids and beyond, died on Sunday, January 17th.

Click on the names above to read their obituaries in the New York Times.

Roswell Reads Tickets Are Now Available

Tickets for the 2010 Roswell Reads Final Event on March 20th @ 5:00 p.m. (a Literary Fest with author Warren St. John and Coach Luma Mufleh) are now available for purchase. You can purchase tickets at the Friends' Book Corner, just inside the Roswell Library (hours are Tues. - Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Sun. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) You may also download an order form that's included with the Program Guide. A link to download the Program Guide is on the Roswell Reads page at www.forl.net/roswellreads.htm. Follow the simple instructions on the form and mail in your form, with payment, to the Friends of the Roswell Library (address is listed on the form). The tickets will be mailed to you ASAP. Unfortunately, tickets may not be purchased online at this time.

Upcoming Titles for Noonday Nosh

Here's a list of titles for the Noonday Nosh Book Club through July 2010.

February 16
Outcasts United: A Refugee Soccer Team, An American Town
by Warren St. John (The 2010 Roswell Reads Selection)

March 16
My Antonia by Willa Cather

April 20
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham

May 18
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

June 15
The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

July 20
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Upcoming Authors at the Georgia Center for the Book

Thanks to AC for a tip about upcoming author visits sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book. One of interest to locals may be Bloodroot by Amy Greene. Set in East Tennessee, this first novel is receiving critical acclaim for its deftly told family tales. Click here to visit the GA Center for the Book's website. Most programs are free and are held at the DeKalb County's Main Branch in beautiful downtown Decatur.

The Tax Man Cometh

Yes, the tax man cometh April 15th, but as always, the Roswell Library is here to help! Free Tax Assistance will be offered on Mondays, February 1 - April 12 from 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Assistance is provided by trained AARP Tax-Aid volunteers. Volunteers will gladly assist anyone, with special attention given to those ages 60 and older. Please bring last year's tax returns and other important documents.

Honorable Mention for Roswell Reads

OutcastsUnited.com has given Roswell Reads honorable mention by listing our reading program on its website! In addition to Roswell Reads, OU has been selected by San Diego for its community-wide reading program. Click here to take a look.

Roswell Reads Programs: Check 'Em Out!

A variety of great programs have been planned around this year's Roswell Reads selection, Outcasts United: A Refugee Soccer Team, an American Town by Warren St. John. A listing of these programs has been added to the Friends' website. Click here to visit the Roswell Reads page on our website and mark your calendars now!

Warm Readings on a Cold Day

If you're spending the day inside where it's warm and toasty, check out some online book reviews to plan what you want to read next. Click the links below.

New York Times
Washington Post
Wall Street Journal
Guardian UK
Telegraph UK

Authors, Authors Everywhere

2010 is off to a literary start with upcoming author visits around town. First, local author Patti Callahan Henry appears at the Roswell Library this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

The MJCCA Book Festival hosts a "Page From the Book Festival" on Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Steel Restaurant and Lounge on West Peachtree Street in Midtown. The featured author is Bethenny Frankel, author of The Skinny Girl Dish. Visit the MJCCA online to learn more.

In February, author Jim Wallis (Rediscovering Values) will appear at the Carter Library on Friday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m. Visit the Carter Library online to learn more.

Three Cheers for Janice!

Three rousing cheers for Janice Tedford, President of the Friends of the Roswell Library. She drove to downtown Atlanta on a frigid morning and spoke to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System! Thank you, Janice! You rock!

America's Most Literate Cities

Well, it will come as no surprise that Atlanta ranks in the Top 5 list of America's most literate cities. It's actually #4 - due in no small part, we're humbly sure, to the award-winning Roswell Reads community-wide reading program (CABY Award, 2007) and the Friend's sponsored Atlanta Author Series! Read all about it in the Christian Science Monitor's Book Blog, Chapter and Verse.

Learn more about Roswell Reads and the Atlanta Author Series by visiting the Friends' website at www.forl.net.

Book News: The First Week of 2010

As we start a new year filled with books, books, and more books, be the first to know what's happening in the publishing world. Click here to visit earlyword.com and be the first to know the most.

Patti Callahan Henry Visits the Roswell Library

Local author Patti Callahan Henry kicks off our 2010 Atlanta Author Series next Saturday. She'll visit the Roswell Library at 2:00 p.m. Be there or be square.

Roswell Reads Program Guide

Start the year by marking your brand new calendar with upcoming Roswell Reads programs! The 2010 program guide is now available online as a .pdf file. Click here to visit the Friends' Roswell Reads information page. You can also pick up a hard copy at the Roswell Library. We look forward to seeing you at some of our great programs.