Seattle Twist

- Annie Leibovitz – photo by JoDavid -

Annie Leibovitz, one of the most celebrated, acclaimed photographers in recent decades will be at Elliott Bay Books, Monday Dec. 12. Annie is here for a brief talk/reading and then booksigning of her new book, Pilgrimage.

Details are here

Saturday, November 19, 3-6 pm. Free.
Phinney Neighborhood Association, Blue Building , Room 7-8 and Gallery.

Enjoy an afternoon of readings and signings. Meet your favorite local authors, do your holiday shopping and support literacy and community! Participating authors include Garth Stein, Stephanie Kallos, Erik Larsen, Kevin O’Brien, Erica Bauermeister, Elizabeth George, Carol Cassella, Jennie Shortridge, Randy Sue Coburn, Laurie Frankel, Maria Dahvana Headley, Bob Dugoni, Thea Cooper, Sean Beaudoin, Dave Boling, Lynne Brunelle, Suzanne Selfors, Deb Caletti, Boyd Morrison, Kathleen Alcala and Peter Mountford. Our local bookseller, Santoro’s Books, will create a mini-bookstore on site and we have a full schedule of readings by the authors.

Proceeds benefit 826 Seattle and the PNA.

Friday November 4th 2011 at 7pm-9pm

Roq La Rue Gallery will host a reading and acoustic performance with the legendary Alice Bag. Alice has written about growing up in the LA Punk scene, and will be doing a reading as well as a book signing at the gallery on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH at 7:00PM.

In addition, Alice Bag will duet on a few songs with special guest El Vez.

Books will be available for purchase at Roq la Rue, located at 2312 2nd Avenue in Belltown in Seattle

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Seattle author Maria Dahvana Headley will be reading and signing Queen of Kings at Seattle’s University bookstore on Tuesday, June 7th, from 7-10pm. She promises a party and says there’ll be Egyptian snacks from Golden Beetle and mummified milk and honey from the tombs of pharaohs and kings (well, maybe.)

Here’s the UW Bookstore listing:

Of this debut novel by the Seattle author of The Year of Yes, no less than fantasy superstar Neal Gaiman says: “It’s rare that a first novel is so magical, so dark, so well-researched, so smart or so compelling. Queen of Kings is a powerful work of the imagination, stalking the murky, dangerous territory between Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned and Robert Graves’ I, Claudius and should appeal to those who like their historical fiction and those who crave dark magics and sharp teeth in the night.” It’s the epic story of a Cleopatra who, distraught over the loss of her beloved Antony, makes a dark pact with a goddess to bring back her love.

Renowned Seattle author Maria Dahvana Headley debuts her hotly anticipated novel Queen of Kings on May 12th.

PRE-ORDER HERE!

Once there was a queen of Egypt…a queen who became through magic something else…

The year is 30 BC. Octavian Caesar and his massed legions are poised to enter Alexandria. A messenger informs Queen Cleopatra that her beloved Mark Antony has died by his own hand. Desperate to save her kingdom and resurrect her husband, Cleopatra turns to the gods for help. Ignoring the warnings of those around her, she summons Sekhmet, goddess of death and destruction, and strikes a mortal bargain. But not even the wisest of Egypt’s scholars could have predicted what would follow…

In exchange for Antony’s soul, Sekhmet demands something in return: Cleopatra herself. Egypt’s queen is possessed, transformed into a vampiric creature of mythical proportions, an immortal shapeshifter with superhuman strength—at once ferocious and seductive. Fighting to preserve something of her humanity, Cleopatra pursues Octavian back to Rome: she desires revenge, she yearns for her children…and she craves human blood.

Clashing against witches and monsters, gods and warriors, Cleopatra journeys from the tombs of the Pharaohs to the great amphitheaters of imperial Rome to the ancient underworld—where she will meet her love once again, and where the battle between man and beast will determine the fate of the world.

Blending history, mythology and the darkest of fantasy, Queen of Kings brings the timeless story of Cleopatra to life like never before in this stunningly original and spellbinding debut.

The Science Cafe, sponsored by the Pacific Science Center, is this Tuesday March 1 7:30-10:30 at T.S. McHugh’s at 21 Mercer near the Seattle Center. Come hear writer Thea Cooper, co-author of Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle and trace the intersecting stories of the principle discoverer and one of the first recipients of this miracle drug. The speaker will be available afterward to sign copies of her book.

In the early 1900s, the best hope for a child with diabetes was to follow a risky starvation diet while waiting for a cure to be discovered. But the discovery of insulin in 1922 was a most unlikely medical breakthrough. Relax, have a beer and hear all about this fascinating history of the discovery of insulin.

On Saturday 3pm-6pm, the Phinney Neighborhood Center will be crawling with many luminaries of the Seattle’s literary community with local authors from Seattle 7 on hand signing and selling their wares. The poster says “17 authors” but they’ve added several new ones, including Thea Cooper, author of the new book, BREAKTHROUGH. You won’t be able to throw a Kindle without hitting an author. Neighborhood bookstore Santoro’s will supply the merchandise, and plans to donate 10 percent of sales to Seattle Arts and Lectures’ Writers in the Schools program and the Phinney Center. For extra deliciousness, the authors are bringing their own homemade cookies for shoppers to nibble while perusing the wares.

Some of the authors in attendance: Thea Cooper, Maria Dahvana Headley, Garth Stein, Stephanie Kallos, Jim Lynch, Erica Bauermeister, Erik Larson, Carol Cassella, Kevin O’Brien, Jennie Shortridge, Elizabeth George, Randy Sue Coburn, Kit Bakke, Robert Dugoni, Sean Beaudoin, Kathleen Alcala, Suzanne Selfors, David Boling, Laurie Frankel and Susan Wiggs.

Another opportunity to purchase holiday books and gifts will be on Saturday, December 11 which marks the 4th anniversary of the fabulous Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. To celebrate this auspicious occasion they’re having a big party with music, comix, and art, and Larry will post more about that closer to the event.

And by the way, did you see Larry (one of our featured contributors on Seattle Twist) on the City of Seattle website?

The store is featured on this city-sponsored website and other promotional materials as part of their “Only in Seattle” campaign to encourage local commerce in the city’s neighborhoods.

BREAKTHROUGH: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle, by Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg is the dramatic true story of one of the most significant medical breakthroughs of the 20th century: insulin. Told with the suspense and drama of a thriller, BREAKTHROUGH chronicles the discovery through the fragile life of young girl.

The book was written by Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg and together, they embarked on an exploratory research effort that would ultimately take them to medical centers, universities, libraries, archives, and other sites of significance located in twenty-five cities and towns in eight states and four countries over the course of five years.

Seattle resident Thea Cooper will be talking about Breakthrough and signing copies of the book at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle on September 18 and at Third Place Books in Seattle on November 16, and more events will be posted on the book’s website and on Thea’s Amazon author page.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Breakthrough will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Life for a Child Program of the International Diabetes Federation.

Come to the Fremont Fair, see the Mighty Elvis Mobile and hear Gillian G. Gaar read from her latest book Return of the King: Elvis Presley’s Great Comeback.

Gillian will make an appearance on Saturday, June 19th at 2pm at the Fremont Fair in the upper parking lot of the Burke Building on N. 35th between Phinney and Evanston.

If you would like to see her in a more traditional environment, she will also be reading at the Elliott Bay Book Company, Sunday June 20th at 4pm.

Return Of The King tells the story of a tumultuous period in the life
of Elvis Presley. By 1967, The King Of Rock & Roll was all but washed-up, thanks to a string of bland movie roles and lackluster records. But within a year he had roused himself, loosened the creative shackles imposed by his grasping manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, and reconnected with the rock audience through a riveting TV special. There followed a glorious but all too brief artistic flowering, in which he
made some of his most enduring records, including “Suspicious Minds” and “In The Ghetto.” This meticulously researched and elegantly written book, based on a string of new interviews with colleagues, friends, fans, and observers of The King, sheds new light on the events of Elvis’s great comeback.

Seattle’s legendary book store the Elliott Bay Book Company has now
relocated to the Capitol Hill neighborhood at 1521 10th Ave.
(www.elliottbaybook.com). The reading is set for June 20, at 4 pm, and
will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

Gillian G. Gaar is the author of She’s A Rebel: The History Of Women In
Rock & Roll; Green Day: Rebels With A Cause; Nirvana: In Utero; and The
Rough Guide To Nirvana. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies
and publications. She lives in Seattle.

Stuck with another ugly sweater, useless gadget, or awful CD this year? We know. Santa sucks! Get yourself the gifts you really want this weekend at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery’s storewide sale. At least 20% off on every item in stock! Two days only – Saturday and Sunday, December 26 & 27. Hundreds of titles by your favorite artists and a big batch of brand new books. 2009 was a banner year for Fantagraphics Books. Don’t miss this chance to catch up on the graphics action.

For all you procrastinating shoppers, Fantagraphics Bookstore is open this week 11:30 to 8:00 PM and on Christmas Eve until 5:00 PM. Avoid the mall nuts and parking hassles. Perfect presents for everyone on your list. – many priced under $20.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport way S.) just minutes south of downtown Seattle. Phone 206.658.0110. See you all soon.

What, me study? Not this Saturday, when Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery hosts a storewide sale! Get 20% to 50% off cover price on cool comix, graphic novels, and awesome art books. Lots of gorgeous new books by Fantagraphics favorites as well as some pleasant new surprises. And you’ll get a chance to see the critically acclaimed exhibition “Comics Savants: A Survey of Seattle Alternative Cartoonists” featuring local legends like Jim Woodring, Peter Bagge, Ellen Forney, Charles Burns, Jim Blanchard and others.

Drop by for major bargains all day Saturday, September 12. And join us between 6:00 and 9:00 PM for the lively Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack with visual and performing arts presentations throughout the historic neighborhood. (Then meander up to Capital Hill to see Rhea, Eric & Adam play with Fox Hallow at the Wildrose.)

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00. Phone 206. 658.0110.

September 3, 2009 – SEATTLE, WA. The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack continues to present provocative visual, performing and applied arts throughout Seattle’s most colorful creative community on September 12. The monthly Art Attack promotion is intended to raise regional awareness of the historic Georgetown industrial/arts district with the purpose of generating public sentiment toward preserving this valued civic asset. Aside from all that, it’s a heckuva lotta fun!

Among the highlights of the September 12 installment: An exhibition of underwater photography by Tom Radio and a musical performance by the Abiders at Calamity Jane’s; A punk rock Elvis tribute featuring The Kings at the MIX; An exhibition of mixed media art by Kim McCarthy together with new work inspired by 6os mod and Japanese street fashions by designer Lady Konnyaka at FRIDA/Georgetown Tile Works; “Comics Savants,” an exhibition of 13 Seattle-based alternative cartoonists featuring a one day storewide “Back to Skool” sale at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; A group exhibition of members of the Twilight Artists Collective at the Stables; An outdoor performance by Georgetown’s resident reggae ruffians Dubcar; and the general joviality associated with this lively and diverse cultural event.

The Georgetown Art Attack is a monthly production of the Georgetown Merchants’ Association. For a map of participants and related information please visit: www.georgetownartattack.com.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery continues its summer celebration of Seattle cartoonists with a signing and book launch party for Eroyn Franklin’s new graphic novel Another Glorious Day at the Nothing Factory on Saturday, August 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Produced with the support of the Xeric Foundation and Allied Arts, this 216 page book consists of striking hand cut images, with an individually die-cut silkscreen cover in a numbered edition of 1,000 copies.

Another Glorious Day at the Nothing Factory is a revealing examination of the artist’s transition from adolescence to adulthood. Franklin’s impressionistic narrative complements the austere hand cut imagery in her exquisitely crafted autobiography.

Drop by and meet this extraordinary young artist this Saturday. While you’re there you can enjoy a cold beverage and take in our delightful exhibition of Seattle cartoonists including new work by Fantagraphics superstars Jim Woodring, Peter Bagge, and Jim Blanchard together with Franklin and her fellow Xeric alums Ellen Forney, Megan Kelso, and David Lasky among other local wonders.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown. Open daily 11:30 until 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. Phone 206.658.0110.

August 4, 2009 – Seattle, WA. The notorious Georgetown Art Attack returns to action on Saturday, August 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. This festive monthly event draws attention to one of Seattle’s few remaining art communities with challenging visual and performing arts presentations as well as unique dining, drinking, and shopping opportunities throughout the historic neighborhood.

The August 8 installment of the Georgetown Art Attack includes: “CB” a photography exhibition exploring the culture of the café racer motorcycle by Jaime Forero at Smarty Pants; a special display of Tina Randolph’s large-scale linocut print recently produced during the Flat Stanley Steamroller Print Initiative in Georgetown at Frida/Georgetown Tile Works; “Comics Savants: A Survey of Seattle Alternative Cartoonists” celebrating 20 years of Fantagraphics Books’ presence in the region featuring Peter Bagge, Jim Blanchard, Charles Burns, Ellen Forney, Roberta Gregory, Ted Jouflas, Megan Kelso, David Lasky, Jason T. Miles, Patrick Moriarity, Eric Reynolds, Jim Woodring, and introducing Eroyn Franklin at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery; Recent works by Georgetown painter Tyler Kohat at All City Coffee; West Coast punk rawk show with Koalacaust from Santa Cruz, Joyce Manor from Long Beach, Tacoma’s Premise Beach, and Jason Clackley of Seattle at Squid & Ink; and the usual spontaneous mirth and merriment we’ve come expect during the Art Attack.

Additional information and map at: www.georgetownartattack

July 29, 2009 – SEATTLE, WA. Since relocating to Seattle from Southern California 20 years ago, Fantagraphics Books has remained committed to nurturing and promoting the diverse practitioners of alternative comics in the Northwest. The country’s most successful purveyor of challenging comics routinely employs local cartoonists and publishes the work of regional artists which has contributed to Seattle’s international reputation as the unrivaled center of alternative comics. To celebrate this association, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery presents “Comics Savants: A Survey of Seattle Alternative Cartoonists” opening Saturday, August 8.

This exhibition will feature over a dozen emerging and established artists, including many of the most accomplished cartoonists in the alternative movement. Among them: Peter Bagge, who coined the term “alternative comics” in 1990 and as the highly-regarded creator of the phenomenal HATE comic book series attracted dozens of young cartoonists to the city during the 90s decade; Seattle native Charles Burns, whose teen years are fictionalized in his amazing graphic novel BLACK HOLE, soon to be a motion picture directed by David Fincher; Visionary artist Jim Woodring, one of only a handful of cartoonists to be embraced by the fine art world, having been awarded the United States Artist Fellowship in 2007 and a 2009 Art Trust Washington State Artists Fellowship, who will exhibit work from his forthcoming graphic novel WEATHERCRAFT; Ellen Forney, whose collaboration with local author Sherman Alexie won the prestigious 2008 National Book Award; David Lasky who will exhibit pages from his collaboration with Seattle writer Chris Estey “The Last Testament” from HOTWIRE #2; Second wave Seattle alternative cartoonist Megan Kelso; emerging artist Eroyn Franklin, who will exhibit hand cut pages from her Xeric award winning graphic novel ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY AT THE NOTHING FACTORY; current and former Fantagraphics Books staffers Jim Blanchard, Roberta Gregory, Patrick Moriarity; Ted Jouflas; Jason T. Miles and Eric Reynolds.

In addition to the display of original artworks, an eclectic array of comics and graphic novels by exhibiting artists will be available. Many featured artists will attend the opening reception of Saturday, August 8 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) only minutes south of downtown. This event coincides with the colorful Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack featuring exciting visual and performing arts presentations in close proximity throughout the historic artists’ enclave.