On Sunday, August 27th, Book Beat will be celebrating our 35th Anniversary Party from 12-5 PM. We will have authors, music, book discounts, and other fun. Come out & celebrate with us! All new books, CDs, DVDs and sale books will be discounted 20% all day! Thank you for supporting our store!
•Our favorite print maker Amos Kennedy will be here at 1:30 PM demonstrating his letterpress techniques making hand-made cards and prints.
•From 12-5 PM Numerologist and Tarot consultant Joan Goldman will be giving mini-readings.
•Photographer Leni Sinclair will be selling some of her iconic images from 2-5 PM.
•Laura Grimshaw will have posters, silk screens and special editions created by the legendary artist Gary Grimshaw.
You’ve Got to Have Music!
•At 1 PM Mike “DJ Yeti” McGonigal will be spinning tracks from his Detroit Gospel project with Street Corner Music DJ’s Chris, Evan and Aaron filling in throughout the day.And Street Corner Music will be discounting ALL USED CD’s 35% Off for the entire day!
• R n’ B Empress Lay’na Michellewill sing some tracks from her latest release Blue Dream Avenue at around 2:00 PM
• Eclectic performer DAS (Donald Angelo Schwenk) will perform work from his recent epic release God Electric at about 3 PM.
• Matthew Smith, producer, musician and front man from Outrageous Cherry will perform a solo set of psychedelic ambient prog-rock at about 4 PM.
Feed Your Brain!
Michigan Authors & Illustrators helping us celebrate:
Patricia Abbott is a mystery writer whose latest book Shot in Detroit has been nominated for an Edgar Award. Time: 2:00 PM.
Kathryn Madeline Allen is a children’s author of A Kiss Means I Love You and other interactive books for babies and young children about topics like communication, manners, families, and love. Kathryn Madeline Allen will be signing from 4-5 PM.
Deborah Aronson‘s first book, Where’s My Tushy?, was published in 2014. Her newest title is Dragons From Mars. Time: TBA
Brynne Barnes is the author of the picture books: The Colors of Me and her newest release: Books Do Not Have Wings. Brynne Barnes will be signing from 12:00-2:00 PM.
Ruth McNally Barshaw is an author/illustrator of the five book Ellie McDoodle series. Her first picture book Leopold the Lion has just been released. Ruth McNally Barshaw will be signing from 3:00-4:00 PM.
Kirstin Bartley-Lenz is the author of the Great Lakes Great Books 2017-2018 State-wide Literature Program Selection The Art of Holding On and Letting Go. It is her first YA novel. Appearing: 12-3:00 PM
Jim Benton is the author/illustrator of the Franny K. Stein and Dear Dumb Diary series. His Happy Bunny books from Scholastic have been chosen three times by the American Librarians Association as their top picks for teen readers. Jim Benton will be signing at Book Beat from 2:00-3:00 PM.
Denise Brennan-Nelson is the author of many children’s picture books including; Buzzy the Bumblebee, My Momma Likes to Say My Teacher Likes to Say and two recent releases: Willow and the Wedding and Good Night, Reindeer. Denise Brennan-Nelson will be signing from 12-2:00 PM.
Jack Cheng, winner of the 2017 Great Lakes Great Reads Award, is the Shanghai born, Michigan raised author of the highly acclaimed young adult debut novel See You in the Cosmos. Time: 3:00-4:00 PM.
Barbara Madgy Cohn is the author of The Detroit Public Library: An American Classic, a book to please history buffs, art enthusiasts, library lovers, and Detroit-area locals, a tribute to one of the city’s most impressive structures. Time: 1:00-3:00 PM.
Lauren Crane is the first time novelist of The Square Donut, a LGBT coming of age story set on the shores of Lake Erie and told from a woman’s perspective. Lauren Crane will be signing from 2:00-3:00 PM.
Lynn Crawford is an art critic and fiction writer. Her latest novel is Shankus & Kitto published by Detroit’s newest small press Ditto Ditto. Lynn Crawford was a 2010 Kresge Literary Arts Fellow and a 2016 Rauschenberg Writing Fellow. She will be signing her latest book from 2:30-3:30 PM.
Shutta Crum is a children’s author of picture books, novels, and a storyteller. Her latest novel is William and the Witch’s Riddle for ages 8 and up. Shutta Crum will be signing from 2:00-3:00 PM
Christopher Paul Curtis is the Newbery Award winning author of Bud, Not Buddy. He also won a Newbery Honor for The Watson’s Go To Birmingham, 1963. His last book was The Madman of Piney Woods. Christopher Paul Curtis will be signing starting at 12:00 PM.
Karen Dionne is an international bestselling author. Her latest The Marsh King’s Daughter was called one of the BEST BOOKS OF THE SUMMER by Publisher’s Weekly. “Subtle, brilliant, and mature . . . as good as a thriller can be.” — The New York Times Time: 2:00.
Kelly DiPucchio is the award-winning author of several children’s books. Two of her books, Grace For President and The Sandwich Swap, were New York Times bestsellers. She has two new picture books published this summer: Littles and How they Grow and Super Manny Stand Up! Kelly DiPucchio will be signing from 1:00-3:00 PM.
Karen Dybis is a Detroit-based writer and blogger who wrote Better Made in Michigan: The Salty Story of Detorit’s Best Chip. Time: 12:00-2:00 PM.
Jean Alicia Elster is the author of Who’s Jim Hines and The Colored Car a Michigan Notable selection for 2014 (suitable for ages eight and up). Jean Alicia was honored with a Kresge Artist Fellowship in Literary Arts in 2017. Jean Alicia Elster will be signing from 2:00-3:00 PM.
John C. Ford is the author of two YA mysteries: The Cipher and The Morgue and Me.John C. Ford will be signing from 1:00-3:00 PM
Rhonda Gowler Greene is an award winning children’s author of over twenty children’s books including No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou. Her latest book Push! Dig! Scoop! A Construction Counting Rhyme is for preschool to kindergarten. Rhonda Gowler Greene will be signing from 4:00-5:00 PM
Nancy Caye Jones is the author of Goodbye Earth an illustrated political parody told in rhyme. Nancy Caye Jones will be signing from 2:00-4:00 PM.
Stephen Mack Jones has just published his first mystery August Snow set in Detroit and has garnered rave reviews from the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and The Detroit News. The Harvey Weinstein production company recently optioned the book for a television series. Jones won a Kresge Artist Fellowship in the Literary Arts in 2012. Jones will be signing at Book Beat from 1:00-2:00 PM.
Charlie LeDuff is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter. Formerly of The New York Times, The Detroit News, and Fox TV’s The Americans with Charlie LeDuff, his book Detroit: An American Autopsy was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for best non-fiction. Time: 2:00 PM.
Rick Lieder is a nationally known photographer and artist who has teamed up with poet Helen Frost to create their fourth photo book on nature: Wake Up! Time: 12:00-2:00 PM.
Dunya Mikhail is an Iraqi poet and professor at Oakland University. Her poetry collection The War Works Hard, won PEN’s Translation Fund award, and was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize, and named one of the best books of 2005 by the New York Public Library. Her last collection was the critically acclaimed Iraqi Nights. In 2013, Dunya was honored with a Kresge Fellowship in Literary Arts. Dunya Mikhail will be signing at Book Beat at 2:00 PM.
Sarah Miller is author of the award winning YA books Miss Spitfire and The Borden Murders. She will be signing at Book Beat from 4:00-5:00 PM.
Amy Nielander is an author/illustrator. Her first book Ladybug Race won the IPPY Bronze Medal Book Award in 2017 for Children’s Picture Books All Ages Category by Independent Publisher. Amy Nielander will be signing her books and doing a ladybug art activity with children. Time: 12:00-3:00 PM.
Deb Pilutti is an author/illustrator of children’s books that include; Bear and Squirrel are Friends,, and Ten Rules for Being a Super Hero. Time: 3:00 PM.
Renee Prewitt is the author/illustrator of Malcolm Mows the Lawn and Taj Cleans the Garage. “Reading to our children is so important,” Prewitt says, “but we should also engage them in conversation!” Prewitt hopes her books will encourage more young boys to read. Renee Prewitt will be signing from 1:30-3:30 PM.
Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen and Sweet Fifteen a series of YA novels about Margot Maples and her high school adventures. Beth Rodgers will be signing from 4:00-5:00 PM.
Nancy Shaw is the author of Sheep in a Jeep and seven other tales featuring the endearing and comical sheep. Her latest on in the series is Sheep Go to Sleep. Time: 1:30-3:30 PM.
Michael G. Smith is an architectural historian and the author of Designing Detroit: Wirt Rowland and the Rise of Modern American Architecture. A major new overview of the Art Deco skyscraper masterpieces of Rowland in the Motor City and beyond.Michael G. Smith will be available for signing from 1-3:00 PM.
Gregory Sumner JD, PhD is chair of history at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is the author of Dwight Macdonald and the Politics Circle, and Unstuck in Time: A Journey Through Kurt Vonnegut’s Life and Novels. His latest book Detroit in World War II chronicles the wartime sacrifices, contributions and everyday life of the Motor City. Greg Sumner will be signing from 2:00-4:00 PM
Paul Vachon is the author on several books about Michigan. His most recent book Lost Restaurants of Detroit explores the history of the Motor City’s fine dining, ethnic eateries and everything in between. Paul Vachon will be signing from 12:00-2:00 PM.
Frances Vallejo born and raised in Detroit, is an artist/illustrator. His first book Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph illustrates the emotions, energy and era of Harlem, New York in 1958, when the world’s most famous Jazz musicians came together one hot summer’s day. The book won the Horn Book illustration award. Mr. Vallejo will be signing from 3:00-5:00 PM.
Saundra L. Williams is the author of the newly released drama, Love and Espionage Unmixed. Time 3:00-5:00 PM.
Wong Herbet Yee is a Detroit born author/illustrator of award winning children’s books including The Mouse and Mole series, the early reader classic EEK! There’s a Mouse in the House (which has been in print since 1992), Fireman Small and many others. Time: 1:00 PM.
Thank you for 35 years! Tell a friend, bring a friend!
A recent article in The Jewish News.
Here is a recent article on our 35th anniversary from the Oakland Press.
Book Beat recently made a list of the 50 best bookstores in America from the Huffington Post.