BOOKS DIGEST: Christie’s new book nears release

local

Christie’s new book nears release

CANFIELD

“Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories,” a book of fictional stories by Nancy Christie of Austintown, will be released Tuesday from Pixel Hall Press.

The book explores what happens when people face life situations for which they are emotionally or mentally unprepared. They might choose to let fate dictate the path they take — leading to the potential for disastrous results.

Launch activities for “Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories” include a virtual book tour, with Christie stopping to visit several online book blogs. Here’s a link to a press release about how she is connecting with bloggers: www.prweb.com/releases/2014/08/prweb12111033.htm

The public is invited to a more traditional book launch from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 21 at Peaberry’s Cafe, 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road. Christie will chat with the public about writing and publishing, as well as sign copies of “Traveling Left of Center,” which will be available for purchase.

The book is available at all major booksellers in print and in ebook format. The print version costs $18.95, and the ebook version is $5.99.

Youngstowner’s book hits second edition

ATLANTA

Allison Brager, a Youngstown native, has written a book, “Off Colored Rainbows,” which is in its second edition.

In an all-white community filled with WASPs, a high school senior, Ella, becomes best friends with her next-door neighbor, Julian, who happens to be a homosexual. Though she was raised in a WASP home that prides conservatism, she is determined to repress her homophobic feelings and pursue a long-lasting, but secret friendship with her neighbor. Even when her parents, friends, and the town of Wrightside discover that a homosexual has moved into town, Ella is willing to save her friendship.

The book is available on Amazon.com.

Author to speak at Jewish center

YOUNGSTOWN

The Schwartz Judaica Library at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane, will present author Maggie Anton from noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in the multipurpose room at the JCC.

The cost is $8 per member and $10 per nonmember, and $12 after Oct. 2. Lunch will be served.

Anton is the award-winning author of historical fiction series “Rashi’s Daughters” and “Rav Hisda’s Daughter.” She is a Talmud scholar, with expertise in Jewish women’s history. Anton will discuss the research behind her new historical novel, “Enchantress: A novel of Rav Hisda’s Daughter.”

The novel weaves together Talmudic lore, ancient Jewish magic and a timeless love story set in fourth-century Babylonia.

Based on five years of research and populated with characters from the Talmud, Enchantress brings a pivotal era of Jewish and Christian history to life from the perspective of a courageous and passionate woman.

nation

Book of Streisand pics due out in December

NEW YORK

How obsessive are Barbra Streisand’s fans? A coffee table book may provide an answer.

Publisher Taschen announced last week that “Barbra Streisand’s Early Years in Hollywood, 1968-1976” will be published in December.

According to Taschen, the book will include more than 240 images, many of them never published before. The text will feature a conversation between photojournalists Steve Schapiro and Lawrence Schiller, both of whom were commissioned to work with Streisand after she arrived in Hollywood.

But the main Collector’s Edition is limited — 1,000 copies. And the price is worthy of seats at a Streisand concert: $750. Two “Art Editions” are even more limited, 100 copies each, and cost $1,800. One set of “Art Edition” books features a print signed by Schapiro, the other a print signed by Schiller.

George W. Bush’s book about father titled ‘41’

NEW YORK

The title of former President George W. Bush’s book about his father will feature a number, not a name.

Crown Publishers announced last week that the book about former President George H.W. Bush will be called “41: A Portrait of My Father.” The elder Bush was the country’s 41st president.

As announced by Crown last summer, the book will be published Nov. 11 with a planned first printing of 1 million copies.

Jaffe Awards announced

NEW YORK

Two poets, two fiction writers and two nonfiction writers have been named winners of this year’s Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards.

Each winner will receive $30,000.

The awards are given to emerging women writers who show “excellence and promise.” The winners announced last week are fiction writers Olivia Clare and T.L. Khleif, nonfiction writers Karen Hays and Mara Naselli and poets Danielle Jones-Pruett and Solmaz Sharif.

Projects the winners have in the works range from a novel by Khleif about Syrian society and politics to essays by Hays about the “lore, language, and landscape” of Missouri’s Corn Belt.

Jaffe died in 2005.

Vindicator staff/wire reports