Submitted by NicoleY on
Join us for an online event with Charlie Lovett Tuesday, October 6 at 4:00 PM CDT to discuss ESCAPING DREAMLAND.
FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW ON EVENTBRITE:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reader-meet-writer-charlie-lovett-tickets-121455553831
*If you elect to attend the event, you will receive a link and password the morning of the event.*
You can order ESCAPING DREAMLAND below, call us at (901) 922-5526, or stop by for your copy when the book releases on September 22!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Nostalgic, wistful, warm, and wise, Charlie Lovett's latest is a tribute to readers everywhere, and the writers who pen the stories that shape us. Lovett skillfully weaves together fact and fiction to deliver an immensely satisfying and thoroughly absorbing tale that explores the power of stories to irrevocably shape their readers."
-- Anne Bogel, creator of Modern Mrs. Darcy and author of I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
Robert Parrish's childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series--the Tremendous Trio.
Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.
Robert's quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children's books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island's Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.
The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert's redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children's series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
"The Gilded Age of New York pulses with life as Charlie Lovett cleverly weaves together historical figures and events with the compelling, emotionally layered stories of a trio of young aspiring writers juxtaposed against a struggling, modern-day Manhattan novelist. Lovett navigates skillfully between centuries while exploring interwoven themes of regret, unrequited love, loyalty, and ambition. Not since E. L. Doctorow's Ragtime has this era in New York been so beautifully captured."
-- Liza Nash Taylor, author of Etiquette for Runaways
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Charlie Lovett is an award-winning playwright and author of the New York Times bestseller The Bookman's Tale and other novels. His plays for children have been seen in over five thousand productions worldwide. A former antiquarian bookseller, he collects books and memorabilia related to Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland and has written extensively on Carroll. He hosts the literary podcast Inside the Writer's Studio. Charlie and his wife, Janice, live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and in Kingham, Oxfordshire.
Please note: We will be using Zoom for this event. If you haven't used Zoom before, you can familiarize yourself with the controls and how to join events on their website here:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/200941109-Attendee-Controls-in-a-Meeting
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