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Join us for the 5th annual Library and literacy supporters enjoy great drinks, a sumptuous dinner, and engaging conversation with five of America's – and the world's – top authors. And 2008's Opus & Olives author line-up has a distinctly "thrilling" flavor! This year we are pleased to have as our Master of Ceremonies the perennially bestselling author of nine political thrillers, Vince Flynn - lauded for his research and prescient warnings about the rise of Islamic Radical Fundamentalism and terrorism. Flynn brings with him his latest novel, Protect and Defend. Also joining us will be the internationally acclaimed, self-described "Tartan Noir" mystery writer, Val McDermid, author of the award-winning The Grave Tattoo and Beneath the Bleeding, as well as several books which were adapted for television in the UK, in a highly successful series known as The Wire in the Blood. Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War historian, James M. McPherson (Battle Cry of Freedom) will discuss his latest book, Tried By War, illuminating how Abraham Lincoln worked with—and often against—his senior commanders to defeat the Confederacy and create the role of Commander-in-Chief as we know it. McPherson is known for presenting the complexities of history while maintaining a narrative that makes it appealing to the public. We will welcome Brad Meltzer, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate, and The Tenth Justice. His new thriller, The Book of Lies, will be published in September. Meltzer is also the author of the murder-mystery comic book, Identity Crisis, a critically acclaimed and all-too-human look into the lives of super-heroes, and the terrible price they pay for doing good. Finally, we'll present one-half of the writing team known as Jefferson Bass, Jon Jefferson. The Body Farm, which was created by the other half of the writing team - Dr. Bill Bass - is the world's first laboratory dedicated to the study of human decomposition. Jefferson Bass have authored four novels and three works of nonfiction about the Body Farm, including their latest - The Devil's Bones. Background Now celebrating it's fifth year, Opus and Olives is one of the premiere literary evenings of the Twin Cities. This light and fun event has grown to attendance of well over 600 community leaders from the business, political and social world. The evening begins with a social hour during which the emcee and authors are available to speak with guests and sign books, which can be purchased at the event. There's a fun martini bar, as well as traditional cocktails and complimentary wine. Following this is a sit-down dinner after which each author speaks about their book, the writing process, or other topics. The evening ends with another opportunity to visit with authors and purchase books. Receive priority seating by purchasing a table of ten at this year's Opus & Olives. Tables are available at the $1,250, $2,500 and $3,500 levels. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. Opus & Olives is a fundraising event hosted by - and supporting the work of - The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and local literacy projects of the Pioneer Press, and is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management. Click here for additional sponsors and supporters of the 2007 Opus & Olives. History Opus & Olives was successfully launched on Sunday, September 26, 2004 with a stellar line-up of celebrity authors. More than 400 supporters attended the inaugural event and enjoyed the charm and wit of Lorna Landvik as Mistress of Ceremonies. She graciously carried the evening and led the room through each author's talk. Participants were treated to lively offerings from John Sandford, author of numerous thrillers including the Lucas Davenport series and his then-latest novel, Hidden Prey; New York Times best-selling non-fiction author, Robert Kurson, whose book, Shadow Divers, was the true and riveting tale of the discovery and exploration of a German U-boat by two weekend scuba divers; Laura Lipman, winner of numerous book awards and author of the suspenseful By a Spider's Thread; and Harper's Magazine editor, Lewis Lapham, who spoke about current national policies on dissent and freedom of speech, and his book, Gag Rule: On the Suppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy. In 2005, Mike Veeck, owner of the Saint Paul Saints and author of Fun Is Good, was our highly entertaining host. Our second year brought in well over 500 attendees to meet, greet, and hear presentations from Anita Diamant, author of the Booksense™ Book of the Year, The Red Tent and Last Days of Dogtown; Bruce Feiler, award-winning NPR journalist and author of Where God Was Born; Jonathan Eig, senior reporter for The Wall Street Journal and author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig; and perennially best-selling author J.A. Jance, renowned mystery writer of the popular J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady series, who shared her then-latest book, Long Time Gone. 2006 brought contributing editor with National Geographic Traveler magazine and one of America's premier consumer travel broadcasters, Rudy Maxa to Opus & Olives as our Master of Ceremonies. He deftly led the presentations from one mood to another without skipping a beat. Bob Greene, a columnist for Life, Esquire, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, and a contributing correspondent for ABC News, and Nightline, shared a highly personal and moving true story of friendship and remembrance from his book, And You Know You Should Be Glad: A True Story of Lifelong Friendship. Shira Nayman discussed her book, Awake in the Dark, a beautiful collection of short stories about the devastating heritage that separates and yet links the descendants of Holocaust victims and perpetrators. Sena Jeter Naslund, author of the sensational Ahab’s Wife, joined us with her new novel, Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette, a hypnotically intimate and sympathetic portrayal of the much-maligned French queen. Phillip Margolin, author of twelve New York Times best-selling criminal thrillers, including Proof Positive, talked about the writing process and shared some of the sources for his stories. In 2007, we welcomed Katherine Lanpher as our Emcee. She brought her book, Leap Days: Chronicles of a Midlife Move, about her transition in 2004 from mild-mannered Midwesterner to savvy New Yorker. The tone of her essays mixes emotional depth with quirky wit. Lanpher kept things moving, and eased the transition between authors of varied styles and subjects. We heard Nikki Giovanni — world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Always insisting on presenting the truth as she sees it, her focus is on the individual; specifically, on the power one has to make a difference in oneself, and thus, in the lives of others. Bringing a softer and funnier side to the evening was Dorothea Benton Frank, the New York Times best-selling author of Sullivan’s Island and The Land of Mango Sunsets. She writes about heartbreak and loss with humor and a gabby, just-between-us tone, slyly teaching life lessons while entertaining and comforting her growing legion of readers. Dave Zirin, Press Action’s 2005 and 2006 Sportswriter of the Year, has been called “an icon in the world of progressive sports.” His book, Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics, and Promise of Sports, has been called “the sports primer for our time.” Zirin is more concerned with sports' place in the political and sociological arenas than scores-and-sweat stories. You can read his work online each week at Edge of Sports. Perhaps the most "literary" of our presenters was Frank Delaney, a former judge for the Booker Prize who enjoyed a prominent career in BBC broadcasting before becoming a full-time writer. A prolific author of history and fiction, his work includes Ireland: A Novel (2004) and James Joyce’s Odyssey: A Guide to the Dublin of Ulysses (1983). Delaney brought with him his latest epic, Tipperary, a vivid portrait of late-nineteenth-century Ireland offering well-crafted characters who intermingle with real-life events.
TICKET OPTIONS Bookplate Table Seats - $125 per person Recommended Read Table Seats - $250 per person First Edition Table Seats - $350 per person
If you have purchased more than 1 ticket, please provide the names
and address of the other people who will be attending. Purchasing a Table
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library thanks our sponsors for their generous support of the third annual Opus & Olives: 2007 Event Lead Sponsor:
Co-host and Media Sponsor:
2007 Bestseller Partner 2007 Recommended Read Partners 2007 Additional Sponsorship by 2007 Table Sponsors 2007 Table Hosts For more information on any of The Friends' giving
opportunities, please contact |
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