![]() Last week the highly accessible publication BookPage posted a feature called 25 Books That Showcase Black Talent on their website. They chose five books in five reading categories to highlight, and among the five fiction books their editors selected is Edward Kelsey Moore’s The Supremes At Earl’s ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT! You can read what they briefly had to say about Edward’s debut novel and also explore the twenty-four other recommendations for great books by talented black writers — click here! While you are looking at the article, click on the Supremes At Earl's book title to find an in-depth interview that BookPage did with Edward at the time it was first released, before The Supremes At Earl’s ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT was translated and published in nine other languages and optioned for a film (still in pre-production, as good things are worth the wait)! Currently the featured article on black authors is only available on the Bookpage.com website, but there is also much to enjoy in their monthly print editions! BookPage is a book review publication distributed across 48 U.S. states to 400,000 avid readers through subscribing bookstores and public libraries who provide it free of charge to their patrons. Their goal is to connect every book lover with their next great read! BookPage covers all types of books—from literary fiction, history and biography to popular genres like romance and mystery—and their book reviews, author interviews and special features are informative and accessible. To find a location with free issues of BookPage near you, or for information about individual subscriptions, click here.
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![]() We are huge fans of (and friends with) author Melanie Benjamin and want you to know, dear readers, that her new book has arrived online and in stores today. We also want you to know that Melanie and Edward have a secret… which will be revealed very soon! Melanie’s new book, Mistress of the Ritz, is the much-anticipated story of an extraordinary real-life American woman who secretly worked for the French Resistance during World War II—all the while playing hostess to the invading Germans at the iconic Hôtel Ritz in Paris! Here are more details for Ms. Benjamin’s new novel: From Melanie Benjamin, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and The Aviator’s Wife Nothing unfortunate can happen at the Ritz; inside its gilded walls every woman looks beautiful, every man appears debonair and witty. Favored guests like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coco Chanel, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor walk through its famous doors, where they’re welcomed and pampered by Blanche Auzello and her husband, Claude, the hotel’s director. The Auzellos are the mistress and master of the Ritz, where the daily glamor and glitz busies their minds away from a troubled marriage, and from the secrets that they keep from their guests—and each other. Then in June 1940, the German army sweeps into Paris, commandeering the Ritz for their headquarters. Suddenly, with the likes of Hermann Goëring moving into suites once occupied by royalty, Blanche and Claude must navigate a terrifying new reality—one that entails even more deceptions. A reality which could bring an end to the tempestuous marriage between this beautiful, reckless American and her very proper Frenchman. For the falsehoods they tell to survive, and to strike a blow against their Nazi “guests,” will spin a web of deceit that ensnares everything and everyone they cherish. One secret that is shared between Blanche and Claude alone—is the secret which, in the end, imperils both of their lives and threatens to bring down the legendary Hôtel Ritz itself. Based on true events, Mistress of the Ritz is a taut tale of suspense surrounded by a love story for the ages, the inspiring saga of a woman and a man who discover the best in each other amid the upheaval and sacrifice of war. Praise "Benjamin, who has made a career out of fashioning compulsively readable historical fiction starring real-life women..., does it again here.... The novel improbably but effectively combines a delectable, upstairs-downstairs look at the operation of a luxury hotel; a many-textured and deeply romantic love story; and a compelling drama of the French Resistance.... Readers of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale are the natural audience for this book-club-ready historical novel." —Booklist "This impeccably researched, lyrically told historical about a brash American woman and her French husband during WWII is a remarkable achievement.... Benjamin (The Aviator’s Wife) skillfully weaves in a host of historical figures—including Coco Chanel, alleged to be a Nazi sympathizer, and Ernest Hemingway—whose vibrant presences make Benjamin’s protagonists and engaging group of supporting characters shine all the more." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin. Available now in Hardcover and E-book. Also available as an Audiobook on CD, or by instant download. ![]() Every month, and all across the U.S., we find a book club or two who are discussing The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, or its recent sequel, The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues. This month there are more gatherings than usual (thanks particularly to the Elmhurst Public Library) where discussions of one or the other novel will take place. You might enjoy skimming the descriptions below to see what the groups are up to. You might even live near one of them and drop by to describe your experiences of reading the books with other Edward Kelsey Moore readers. Tell your friends that live nearby, too! Some events require registration, but all are free of charge. Click on each link below to go directly to the event details. Please note the author will not be present at these discussions. (He’s rehearsing, performing and recording classical music this month -- and also busy working on a new book!) Wednesday, March 7th Noontime Pageturners Book Club Allen Public Library ~ Allen, Texas (near Dallas) March's selection is "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" Bring a lunch and a friend and join us for a lively discussion! We offer a relaxed environment where you can share the joy of reading. New members always welcome. Ages 18+; no registration. Tuesday, March 20th Coffee and Conversation Book Club Fountaindale Public Library ~ Bolingbrook, Illinois (near Chicago) “The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues” by Edward Kelsey Moore Looking for something to wake you up in the morning? Join us for a stimulating morning book discussion on the third Tuesday of the month. New members are always welcome and no registration is required. Tuesday, March 20th The Evening Book Club Stillwater Public Library ~ Stillwater, New York (north of Albany) “The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” A traditional book club with titles we select as a group – all you have to do is read the book and join us for the discussion. There’s usually a snack related to the tale. New readers are always welcome! We are an easy going group and look forward to new ideas and interpretations, so join us! The Elmhurst Public Library in Illinois selected E.K.M. as a focus author for the month of March — they will host three discussions of his work! Not directly related to the March library programs, but true nonetheless: during the 1990s and early 2000s Edward Kelsey Moore was a professor of music at nearby Elmhurst College! Wednesday, March 21st Adult Book Discussion Elmhurst Public Library ~ Elmhurst, Illinois (near Chicago) Join us to discuss “The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat” Three high school friends support each other through the joys and difficult times of the next four decades. They meet each Sunday at Earl’s diner for conversation, great food, laughter, and sometimes tears. This debut novel focuses on strong women facing challenges together. This discussion does require registration. Click the link above for details. Space is limited. Thursday, March 22nd Adult Book Discussion 1pm to 2:15pm Elmhurst Public Library ~ Elmhurst, Illinois (near Chicago) Join us to discuss “The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat” (Description as shown above.) This discussion does require registration. Click the link for details. Space is limited. Thursday, March 22nd Adult Book Discussion 7 PM - 8:15 PM Elmhurst Public Library ~ Elmhurst, Illinois (near Chicago) Join us to discuss “The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat” (Description as shown above.) This discussion does require registration. Click the link for details. Space is limited. It might also interest you to know that the Elmhurst Public Library received Five-Star Status in annual rankings for the first time in 2017. The Library placed in the top ten percent nationwide and 1st in Illinois in their annual budget category. Click to read more. Tuesday, March 27th African American Authors Book Group Southeast Branch ~ Cuyahoga County Public Library ~ Bedford, Ohio (near Cleveland) March title: “The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues” Join us to explore all genres of African American writing. We will read African American classics, historical fiction, science fiction, mysteries, autobiographies, nonfiction and urban fiction. All adults are welcome, no registration required. |
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