RBC Wealth Management presents
the tenth annual
Opus & Olives
Fine Print & Fine Food
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Parking and directions
5:00 p.m. Autograph Reception and Book Sales
6:15 p.m. Dinner & Author Presentations
9:00 p.m. Prize Drawing With only 400 tickets to be sold, you'll need to act fast to get in on this year's exciting raffle!
Additional autographing & book sales will follow.
Cocktail or business attire.
Complimentary valet parking.
Book clubs welcome.
Sponsorship opportunities available.
We promise this will be a special Opus & Olives that you won’t want to miss!
Last Year's O&O featured authors Mark Shriver, Gillian Flynn, John Taft, Cheryl Strayed and Richard Russo - an impressive line-up!
Sign up for email alerts and receive updates about each of our authors (to be announced) in the weeks leading up to our gala event. It's going to be amazing!
About the books:
Opus & Olives’ emcee this year is John Taft (CEO of RBC Wealth Management-US). Taft’s recently released, Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost Culture of Wall Street, “demystifies the complex inner workings of the financial services industry.” His viewpoints on stewardship and Wall Street greed have been informed by a legacy of family history in public service. Taft is the great grandson of President William Howard Taft and the grandson of Congressman Robert Taft.
Cheryl Strayed’s blockbuster memoir, Wild, was immediately
chosen to be the opening read for Oprah Winfrey’s brand new book club, Oprah’s
Book Club 2.0. Following right on the
heels of Wild… Tiny Beautiful Things, Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar is
a collection of her eloquently written columns on everything from love to the
agonies of bereavement. As a columnist
for the literary website, Rumpus, Strayed developed a huge following of fans
who love her for her “tender, frank, uplifting and unrelenting” advice and
commentary.
Mark Shriver honors his father in A Good Man: Rediscovering
My Father, Sargent Shriver. A Good Man
is an intimate portrait of a father-son relationship and a candid reflection on
the moral principles that guided his father’s life. Shriver delves deep into his father’s make-up
by looking back at speeches, personal letters and accomplishments, including his
launching of the Peace Corps and Head Start. In the act of writing this powerful book, Mark Shriver discovers much
about himself as a father, a husband and a social justice advocate.
Gillian Flynn is anything but a Gone Girl…her newest mystery
shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list within a week of its publication and
Reese Witherspoon’s production company immediately snapped up the rights to
film the breakout novel. Gone Girl is
described as an “unputdownable
masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong.” Amazon writes “Gone Girl’s toxic mix of
sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller
that confounds you at every turn.”
Pulitzer Prize winner, Richard Russo, and his daughter, Kate Russo, have teamed up to produce an homage to the printed book. Interventions is four individually-bound volumes written by Richard and gathered in a slipcase – with original artwork by Kate. The set is described as being “as lovely to hold in your hand as it is to read – with the four stories positively crackling with Russo’s piercing and understated insight into the lives of ordinary people.”
Background
In ten short years, Opus and Olives has become one of the premiere literary evenings of the Twin Cities. This light, fun event has grown in attendance to 800 community leaders and guests from the business, political and social worlds.
The evening begins with a (sometimes raucous) reception 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 wonderful, chef-prepared, 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.
Individual tickets are $150. Receive priority seating by purchasing a table of ten. Tables are available at the $1,500, $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 a complete list of sponsors and supporters of last year's Opus & Olives
The chance of a lifetime!!!
Delta Air Lines, Opus & Olives sponsor, has very generously
donated two round-trip BusinessElite™ tickets to anywhere in the world Delta flies! Raffle ticket price is $100 and only 400 tickets will be sold. This is truly an amazing opportunity for you to take the trip of your dreams! Don't delay—with just 400 chances to win, tickets will go fast. To purchase yours, call The Friends at 651-222-3242 or email sue@thefriends.org.
Click here for the fine print from Delta Air Lines.
Opus & Olives Reservations
TICKET OPTIONS:
Purchase individual tickets or receive priority seating by purchasing a table of ten at this year's Opus & Olives. Tables are available at the $1,500, $2,500 and $3,500 levels. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Bookplate Table Seats - $150 per person
Bookplate Table - $1,500
— • —
Recommended Read Table Seats - $250 per person
(Includes preferred seating)
Recommended Read Table - $2,500
(Includes preferred seating)
— • —
First Edition Table Seats - $350 per person
(Includes preferred seating and recognition in Friends publications)
First Edition Table - $3,500
(Includes preferred seating and recognition in Friends publications)
After you have made your ticket reservations, please email THE FRIENDS the additional information:
If you have purchased more than 1 ticket, please provide the names and address of the other people who will be attending. If you would like to be seated at a table with particular people who are purchasing their tickets separately, list these other individuals. (Please note: every effort will be made to honor your seating preferences, but we cannot guarantee seating for individual ticket purchasers. Tables seat 10.)
ARE YOU PURCHASING A TABLE OF TEN? Please fill out the table attendee information form and return it to The Friends’ office by October 1, 2012. Thank you!
SUPPORTING OPUS & OLIVES IS GOOD BUSINESS. Sponsored tables (which include recognition in various venues as well as priority seating) are available beginning at the $2,500 level. For more information, please contact Wendy Moylan at 651-366-6484 or by email at wendy@thefriends.org.
Opus & Olives Sponsors
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of the ninth annual Opus & Olives: Fine Print & Fine Food. While there's still time, get your name on the list! We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 14, 2012.
2012 Presenting Sponsor:
Co-host and Media Sponsor:
Bestseller Partners:
Recommended Read Partners
Additional Sponsors
AMR
BankCherokee
Bremer Bank
Comcast
Cuningham Group
District Energy
Drake Bank
Ergodyne
Frauenshuh HealthCare Real Estate Solutions
Goff Public
Guy Carpenter and Company, LLC
Larkin Hoffman Attorneys
Leonard, Street & Deinard
Metropolitan State University Foundation
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney - Waterbury Group
Nelson,
Tietz & Hoye
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP
St. Paul Radiology Foundation
Saint Paul Restaurants:
O’Gara’s Bar & Grill, Mancini’s, Skinner’s, Cossetta’s, Bennett's Chop and Railhouse, and McGovern’s
UBS Financial Management
United Hospital
US Foods
Wellington Management, Inc.
Western Bank
Wilkerson Associates
Winthrop & Weinstine
Printing support provided by Modern Press
For more information on any of The Friends' giving opportunities, please contact
The Friends at 651/222-3242 or friends@thefriends.org.
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 Emcee. 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.
2008's Opus & Olives author line-up had a distinctly "thrilling" flavor! We were pleased to have as our Master of Ceremonies the perennially bestselling author of political thrillers, Vince Flynn - lauded for his research and prescient warnings about the rise of Islamic Radical Fundamentalism and terrorism. Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War historian, James M. McPherson (Battle Cry of Freedom) discussed 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 general public. One-half of the writing team known as Jefferson Bass, Jon Jefferson came to share the story behind The Body Farm, which was created by his partner, Dr. Bill Bass, and 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—a page-turning, nail-biting thriller. We also welcomed the "Tartan Noir" 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. The internationally acclaimed McDermid's books have been translated into 30 different languages. And finally, we closed out the evening with a funny and engaging presentation by Brad Meltzer, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate, and The Tenth Justice. His latest thriller, The Book of Lies, was published just before Opus & Olives. Meltzer is also the author of several comics, including the the murder-mystery, Identity Crisis, a critically acclaimed and all-too-human look into the lives of DC superheroes, and the terrible price they pay for doing good.
2009 provided our first official "sell out" as nearly 800 VIPs, business leaders and their guests joined us for the sixth annual Opus & Olives. We welcomed the New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly author of The Scarecrow, featuring crime-beat reporter Jack McEvoy, and his then-latest, Nine Dragons, featuring detective Harry Bosch, which debuted days before our event. "9 Dragons is a gritty, coffee-and-cigarettes crime thriller full of smart twists and generous helpings of suspense. Fans of Michael Connelly can expect another exceptional thrill ride, while newcomers will be immediately engaged by the tortured and unrelenting Bosch." — Dave Callanan, Amazon.com Jeffrey Toobin presented The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, which presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin called, “...a remarkable, riveting book. So great are Toobin's narrative skills that both the Justices and their inner world are brought vividly to life.” He was remarkably candid and timely, with a new Supreme Court Justice - Sonia Sotomayor - having just been confirmed weeks before. National Book Award-winner Julia Glass (Three Junes) talked about her love of libraries and her latest book, I See You Everywhere, which the New York Times hailed as “rich, intricate and alive with emotion.... an honest portrait of sister-love and sister-hate—interlocking, brave and forgiving—made whole through art.” John Grisham said, "Few stories of wrongful convictions have happy endings, but the one told by Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Cannino is far different. It is the powerful account of violence, rage, redemption, and, ultimately, forgiveness." Jennifer Thompson-Cannino & Ronald Cotton, co-authors of Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption held the room spellbound and emotionally riveted as they told their story of a rape, a wrongful identification and conviction, and years later, the exoneration and ultimate friendship they shared. Our Emcee, Mike Walsh, the author of Bowling Across America: 50 States in Rented Shoes, showed that being an 'ad man' is great practice for keeping a group of disparate writers on a seemingly cohesive and similar groove. And it just may be the best foundation for finding the humor in every situation and being able to write about a quirky journey with wry wisdom and heart.
In 2010 we had Stanley Trollip as our Master of Ceremonies. Trollip is one-half of the writing team known as Michael Stanley, author of the award-winning "Detective Kubu" mystery series, set in modern-day Botswana. The memorable detective made his debut in the gritty, mesmerizing thriller, A Carrion Death. Now he's back in The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu. Trollip's writing partner, Michael Sears, was also able to join us to autograph books and chat with Opus & Olives guests. Roy Blount Jr. is the author of twenty-one books, about a wide range of things, from the first woman president of the United States to what barnyard animals are thinking. His latest title, Hail, Hail, Euphoria! was released in October - just in time for O&O. With many in the audience already established fans of Blount's from his regular appearances on the NPR current events quiz show, "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!", his trademark sense of humor and style didn't disappoint. We also welcomed Joshilyn Jackson, the New York Times bestselling author of gods in Alabama and The Girl Who Stopped Swimming. Her latest, Backseat Saints, tells the story of Rose Mae Lolley, a fierce, tiny ball of war wounds who was a minor character in gods in Alabama. Jackson put her background in theater to good use, presenting her material with warmth, wit and a great sense of timing, and she had some of the nicest things to say about libraries! Next, we presented Dave Kindred, sports journalist and author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post - A Great Newspaper Fights for Its Life. In it, he tells the story of old-school newspaper journalism and deeply reported public affairs coverage, the kind that can make a difference in people’s lives. Kindred painted a vivid picture of the paper, its people, its triumphs and its struggle to survive in a media landscape being transformed profoundly and inexorably by the Internet. Despite his serious subject matter, Kindred entertained the audience with some funny anecdotes picked up over many years in the news business. Adriana Trigiani, beloved by millions of readers around the world for her hilarious and heartwarming novels including Big Stone Gap; The Queen of the Big Time; Milk Glass Moon, Viola in Reel Life and Very Valentine, finished the evening. Trigiani's latest blockbuster, Brava, Valentine debuted at number seven on the New York Times bestseller list following its February 2010 debut. In it, Valentine Roncalli juggles her long-distance romance as she works to better the family's struggling business. Trigiani was a wonderful choice for closing out the evening's presenters - she had the entire room laughing to the point of tears before ending with some important wisdom and words of encouragement about supporting libraries.
Returning as emcee for 2011 was the very charming and erudite Frank Delaney. As well as being a bestselling author himself (of more than 21 books, including Ireland and Shannon), he has interviewed more than 3,000 writers for the BBC and international television and radio shows. Delaney brought his newest book, The Matchmaker of Kenmare. Erik Larson is the bestselling author of the National Book Award finalist and Edgar Award–winning The Devil in the White City. He brought his brand latest release, In the Garden of Beasts, a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power. Karin Slaughter also joined us, and brought her most exhilarating novel yet, Fallen – a thrilling journey through the heart and soul, where the personal and the criminal collide, and conflicted loyalties threaten to destroy reputations and ruin lives. In addition to being an internationally bestselling author, Slaughter is also the chair of the campaign, Save the Libraries, where she writes, "We need to shift our national view of libraries not as luxuries, but as necessities.” Mitchell Zuckoff is the author of Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II. Zuckoff is a professor of journalism at Boston University. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Fortune, and other national and regional publications. He was formerly with The Boston Globe, where he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for investigative reporting. The selection of a Muslim architect for a 9/11 memorial stirs a media circus in Amy Waldman’s poised and commanding debut novel, The Submission in which she skillfully presents the perspectives of a handful of major characters, but her keenest observations are of the media. She has a canny understanding of how a New York Post front page can stoke right-wing rage, or how a New York Times article can muddy the waters.
For more information on any of The Friends' giving opportunities, please contact
The Friends at 651/222-3242 or friends@thefriends.org.
Delta Air Lines Raffle Terms & Conditions (the "Fine Print"):
Air Travel: Ticket prizes will be awarded in the form of Certificates that must be redeemed by October 12, 2013. Travel must be between October 12, 2012 and October 12, 2014. Certificates may be redeemed for round-trip BusinessElite® class travel on Delta from the winner’s home gateway to anywhere Delta flies. Any transportation that is unclaimed, is not awarded or is otherwise not used by the travel completion date specified will be forfeited.
Certificate seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Certificates are non-transferable, are not redeemable for cash and are void if sold or bartered. The sale or barter of tickets obtained through redemption of Certificates is also prohibited. Any tickets obtained through such sale or barter are void and will not be honored for travel. After ticketing, date, time and routing changes are permitted (subject to availability in applicable fare class) for a fee of $150. For travel within the US/Canada, based on availability, passengers holding confirmed reservations and tickets may confirm earlier/later same day flight within 3 hours from scheduled departure time between same origin/destination for a non-refundable fee of $50 USD/$61CAD.
Certificates do not include a $3.80 Federal Excise Tax and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger’s ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. For travel to/from Hawaii/Alaska, U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $8.40 is not included. Certificates used for international travel do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $16.70 and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $349 [if Business Elite, $600], depending on itinerary. Baggage fees of up to $25 USD/CAD* fee for first checked bag, $60 USD/CAD/EUR* fee for second checked, and additional $15 USD/CAD* surcharge for the second bag, when checking bag via ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside, may apply, depending on itinerary. Allowances subject to size and weight limits. *Fees are CAD exit Canada, EUR exit Europe. These taxes and fees are subject to change, are the responsibility of the passenger and (except for bag fees) must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Any taxes, fees, or changes paid at the time of ticket issuance will be refunded if ticket is not used. However, once redeemed, Certificates are void and will have no further value.
Certificate travel will not qualify for SkyMiles mileage. Stopovers/Upgrades/Waitlisting/Open Returns are not permitted for tickets booked with Certificates. Lost, stolen or otherwise destroyed Certificates will not be replaced. Schedules are subject to change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. It is the responsibility of the passenger to be in possession of all necessary documentation (e.g., valid passport, visa where applicable) at the time and place of departure. Delta reserves the right to deny boarding to any passengers without proper documentation.
