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Book Expo America Convention Roundup
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By Daniel Goldin
dgoldin@schwartzbooks.com
 Some of us have just returned from the annual Book Expo America convention in Los Angeles and there's no doubt that the buzzword in the industry is the same rallying cry that we're hearing on the presidential campaign trail: "Change!"
Sure there were the big names in force. Literary stars like Toni Morrison, Philip Roth and Dennis Lehane have major new novels coming out. Celebrities such as Prince and Ted Turner harnessed their names to new lifestyle and business books, (but really, is the public interested in Alec Bladwin's take on divorce law?) Their soirees were the highlight of a convention that, due to its location, was long on celebrities but a bit shorter on attendees. The 2 a.m. Prince concert was the talk of the show, and if you run into Nancy Quinn at one of our shops, she can tell you all about it.
 Gift books in general had a lower profile this year, but I'm glad to say we found some real sleepers that you'll be hearing about from us come this fall. There were new nonfiction books from Malcolm Gladwell and Thomas Friedman, and crowd pleasers from Wally Lamb and Anita Shreve. The industry talked of possible fiction breakouts from unknowns Brunonia Barry, Steig Larsson, and the writing team of Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and major nonfiction works from historians Philipp Blom and Annette Gordon-Rice.
But to me, the real story to me was not about the titles but the industry.
There were rumors of troubles at a major chain, which came to pass immediately
after the show closed. There was talk about video author tours and
the move to digital catalogs from hard copy. Everywhere I went,
booksellers, publishers and authors were looking for new ways to do business
in the face of increasing costs, flat business, and major competition.
 Change is definitely in the air. Some innovations will be flashes in the pan, while others will become standard. There's talk of nonreturnable discounts (which will make it harder for us to take a chance on new writers) and the dismantling of the cooperative advertising system (which will make it harder for us to tell you about them). And I don't even need to tell you about the competing e-book systems-the media can't stop talking about them.
There is no question that we live in interesting times, and I'm not sure whether that is a curse or a blessing. But one thing that I'm grateful for is the advent of the email newsletter. It allows us to connect with you more than ever, and keep you posted as we face the changes in the industry together. Please forward a copy of this newsletter to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. We've got great books to tell you about and wonderful events that you won't want to miss, and of course every now and then, great insider information.
Here are the titles mentioned in this article. You can pre-order any of these titles at our shops, or do so via our website. When it arrives, we'll let you know. We can hold it at our shops for perusal, or send it off via our convenient direct-to-home program.
21
Nights by Prince
Call
Me Ted by Ted Turner
The
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The
Given Day by Dennis Lehane
The
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
and Annie Barrows
Hot,
Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
The
Lace Reader by Brunomia Barry
Indignation
by Philip Roth
A
Mercy by Toni Morrison
Outliers
by Malcolm Gladwell
A
Promise to Ourselves by Alec Baldwin
Sea
of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
Testimony
by Anita Shreve
The
Vertigo Years by Philipp Blom
The
Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed
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New Releases
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A
selection of this week's new releases from our friends at Shelf
Awareness:
 The
Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst examines an intricate game of espionage
in 1937 Warsaw. Furst will be reading at our Shorewood
shop on Thursday, June 12.
Mistress
of the Sun by Sandra Gulland tells the story of King Louis XIV's
first mistress. Gulland will be reading at our Mequon
shop on Wednesday, June 18.
When
You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris is a collection of humorous
essays. - Schwartz
Bestseller - 30% off
Plague
Ship by Clive Cussler is the fifth in the series about the covert
ship Oregon - Schwartz
Bestseller - 30% off
The
Other by David Guterson follows the different life choices of two
Seattle friends.
Death
and Honor by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV is the
newest in the Honor Bound series, a saga of World War II spying in Germany
and Argentina.
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Schwartz News Roundup
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Pecha Kucha Comes to Milwaukee
Our sister company, 800-CEO-READ, is pleased to present Pecha Kucha in Milwaukee at the newly remodeled Hi Hat Garage on June 17, at 8:00 p.m. Nine people will take turns presenting their ideas through a unique format using 20 slides that automatically change every 20 seconds. Pecha Kucha is an opportunity for people to discover the ideas of fellow community members and experience a new form of creative presentation that uses images, sound and words within the restriction of the "20 x 20" format.
An international sensation, Pecha Kucha presentations have included mothers talking about their children, designers discussing architecture, musicians examining life on the road, and mayors commenting on their cities. The presentations are provocative, while the event is relaxed and includes a "beer break," where the presenters and the audience meet and discuss topics further over the beverage of your choice.
Pecha Kucha, (Japanese for "the sound of conversation"), was conceived in 2003 by Astrid Klein and Mark Dythem of Klein and Dytham architecture in Tokyo as a place for young designers to meet, network and show their work in public. It is now held in over 100 cities around the world. Join us for the first in an ongoing series of Pecha Kucha in Milwaukee!
Presenters and topics for our first event are:
Corey Canfield-"Milwaukee Recycles (Kind Of)
Erica Conway-"How a Woman Runs a Business"
Tom Crawford-"Kaszube Ornithological Concern International"
Peter Exley-"Growing Up in a Black and White World"
Daniel Goldin-"Dead Department Stores"
Nicolas Lampert-"Meatscapes: A Travel Log"
Faythe Levine-"Craftivism & Community"
Aaron Schleicher-"The Making of a True Amercian Record"
Jolynn Woehrer-"Unwrapping Chocolate for its (Dis) Contents: A Feminist Analysis of its Fetishisms and its Fair Trade"
Record spin by Jim Schoenecker
For more information and to find out how to request to be a future presenter, visit the Milwaukee Pecha Kucha site.
A Book and a Movie: Then She Found Me
 The film adaptation of Elinor Lipman's Then She Found Me hits Milwaukee movie theatres this week. It's the story of a high school teacher whose quiet life is disrupted by Bernice Graverman, designer label wearing, gaudy jewelry-sportin' host of the tacky TV talk show Bernice G! The film, directed by and starring Helen Hunt, also features Colin Firth, Better Midler and Matthew Broderick. Will the movie live up to the book? You won't know unless you read it so why not get those pages turning before you hit the theaters and double your movie-going fun!
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| Live at Schwartz: Calendar of Events
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Here
is a list of the authors coming soon to the Schwartz Bookshops. For a complete list of upcoming author appearances visit
our events page.
Lori Tharps
Kinky Gazpacho
Friday, June 6 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Shorewood
Born and raised in the comfortable but mostly white suburbs of Milwaukee, Lori Tharps (Hair Story) always dreamed of making her home in Spain, a place where, she thought, race wouldn't matter. But when she arrived as an optimistic college student her dreams were shattered. That might have been the end of her story, but she met and married a Spaniard, that when her adventure really began.
Daniel C. Maguire
Whose Church?
Tuesday, June 10 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Downer Ave.
In his guide to progressive Catholicism, Marquette University Professor of Moral Theological Ethics Daniel Maguire shows how far some conservative Catholics have strayed from Catholic social preaching. With humor, passion and an intolerance for injustice, Maguire offers informed and insightful theological arguments for gender equality, affirmative action, opposition to war and the fight against poverty, and shows a way forward at a critical juncture in the U.S. Catholic Church.
Shauna Singh Baldwin
We Are Not in Pakistan
Tuesday, June 10 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Shorewood
Critically acclaimed Milwaukee author Shauna Singh Baldwin returns with an outstanding collection of ten stories featuring an unforgettable cast of characters. From Central America to the American South, from Metro Toronto to the Ukraine, each story, marked by indelible images, contains a world all its own. She is also the author of What the Body Remembers.
Carole Barrowman
Anything Goes
Wednesday, June 11 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Downer Ave.
If you've seen the movies The Producers or De-Lovely, then you've seen the award-winning actor John Barrowman, currently starring in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. He also happens to be Alverno College English Professor Carole Barrowman's brother, with whom he collaborated to write his memoir. Carole Barrowman traces John's life and career with heart and charm.
Alan Furst
The Spies of Warsaw
Thursday, June 12 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Shorewood
The bestselling author of The Foreign Correspondent offers a new spy novel set in World War II-era France and Poland.Twenty-one spies are at war on the espionage-filled battlefront that was Warsaw, 1937. Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier is drawn into a world of betrayal and intrigue in the city's drawing rooms and back alleys. At the same time, he's drawn into a love affair with a lawyer for the League of Nations.
VITAL Source
Short Fiction Contest Winners Reading
Thursday, June 12 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Downer Ave.
Join the winning authors of VITAL's annual short fiction contest for a special reading. Enjoy complimentary appetizers by Times Square Pizza and Bistro and register to win Super Passes to both screenings of the 48 Hour Film Project June 25 at the Oriental Theater. Sponsored by VITAL Source Magazine and Schwartz.
John Gilman
representing Love, Loss and Longing
Friday, June 13 ˇ
7:00 p.m. program ˇ
Shorewood
Love, Loss and Longing, published by the Latin America Working Group and Washington Office on Latin America is a photo exhibit highlighting the affect of the travel ban on Cuban Americans. John Gilman, a representative of LAWG will join us to discuss the book and the travel ban.
Cathy Sultan
Tragedy in South Lebanon
Monday, June 16 ˇ
7:00 p.m. ˇ
Shorewood
Catherine Sultan combines compelling history and vivid personal interviews to relate the lives of the oft-ignored civilians of southern Lebanon and northern Israel during the July war of 2006. Their stories are intertwined with Sultan's take on the media treatment of the war, and her urgent call for government officials on all sides to act with foresight, compassion and responsibility.
David Sirota
The Uprising
Tuesday, June 17 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Downer Ave.
Political organizer and syndicated columnist David Sirota traveled the country for a year witnessing firsthand the growing unrest caused by the takeover of government by big money.He reports on this political discontent found on both ends of the political spectrum as wages stagnate, health care costs rise, and personal debt skyrockets, and asks, "Will a popular movement emerge from all this rage?"
Rebecca Stott
Ghostwalk
Tuesday, June 17 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Brookfield
If you like your novels with a healthy dose of history, you won't want to miss our event with Rebecca Stott. Her debut novel is at once a ghost story, mystery and love story that explores the unexplainable connections between friends, lovers and family. In 2002, a Cambridge student studying Sir Isaac Newton is found dead. Is her death linked to the mysterious deaths of three of Newton's fellow students in 1667?
Sandra Gulland
Mistress of the Sun
Wednesday, June 18 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Mequon
Sandra Gulland's novel is set against the magnificence of the seventeenth-century court of the Sun King, France's King Louis XIV, where Louise de la Vallierie reigns unrivaled as the king's mistress. Too poor to join a convent,she joined the court as a maid-of-honor as a young woman. The king was captivated by her, but now, despite having borne his children and being his confidant, intrigue threatens her position at court and in his heart. Gulland is also the author of The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., about Josephine Bonaparte.
Stephen Hren
The Carbon-Free Home
Wednesday, June 18 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Shorewood
You probably know that energy used in your home produces more global-warming pollution than your car, but what can you do about it? Find out how you can turn your home into an environmental asset through gradual changes anyone can make from renewable resources, and more from Stephen Hren.
David Wroblewski
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Thursday, June 19 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Mequon
Born mute and speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his family on their farm in northern Wisconsin where they breed dogs. But his peaceful life is disrupted when his father dies and an uncle appears at the farm to take his place. Wroblewski explores language, love and loyalty in this modern, epic retelling of Hamlet.
Johan Bruyneel
We Might as Well Win
Thursday, June 19 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Downer Ave.
Go on the tour and inside the mind of the winningest team director in cycling history. In 1998 the former pro-cyclist looked a struggling rider and cancer survivor in the eye and said, "if we're going to ride the tour, we might as well win." In that phrase a dynasty was born. With Bruyneel as director, Lance Armstrong won a record seven straight Tour de France victories.
 Doris Green
Explore Wisconsin Rivers
Mary Lou Santovec
Wisconsin Gardens and Landscapes
Thursday, June 19 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Shorewood
Make the most of your outdoor time this summer! Gain a deeper understanding of the history and geography of Wisconsin's rivers and discover many ways to enjoy the water and shoreline from Doris Green. Mary Lou Santovec will introduce you to the gorgeous public gardens, landscapes, nature preserves and nurseries through out the state you can visit this season.
Karen Abbott
Sin in the Second City
Friday, June 20 ˇ
7:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Brookfield
Step into the perfumed parlors of the Everleigh Club, the most famous brothel in American history and the catalyst for a culture war that rocked the nation. Operated by two aristocratic sisters, the club welcomed actors, senators and foreign dignitaries into their stately double mansion. But their foes hurled lurid accusations at the club and its girls. Karen Abbott provides a vivid snapshot of the clash between our nation's hedonistic impulses and puritanical roots. Paperback
N. M. Kelby
Murder at the Bad Girl's Bar & Grill
Saturday, June 21 ˇ
2:00 p.m. reading ˇ
Mequon
Kick your summer reading fun into high gear! Take some "surf's up" magic realism, a dead body, a little Buddhist philosophy, a Barry Manilow impersonator, and Danni Keene, the unflappable goddess of horror films, set it all in a retirement community in Laguna Beach and you've got a mystery nobody wants to solve. Except for Brian Wilson.
Jeremy Scahill
Blackwater
Monday, June 23 ˇ
7:00 p.m. talk ˇ
Downer Ave.
Blackwater USA has been in the news a lot since Jeremy Scahill visited us last year to discuss his in depth expose on the secretive company based in the wilderness of North Carolina. He'll help you decipher the scandal and provide new information about the fastest growing private army on the planet. His George Polk Award-winning book, now available in paperback, has been updated with more information about Blackwater.
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| Schwartz
Bestseller-30% OFF |
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Nothing
to Lose
Lee Child
Fan favorite Jack Reacher is back in a gripping novel that sets him
off on his most hard driving quest for justice yet. Reacher is a man
with no fear, no illusions, and nothing to lose, but he's never
taken on an entire town-one that wants him not only gone but dead.
Within hours of his arrival in Despair, Colorado, he's begun to
crack the secrets of the town's sinister connection to a war that's
killing Americans thousands of miles away. Now, between a town and a
man, something has to give-and Jack Reacher has never given an
inch.
Publisher: $27.00 Schwartz: $18.90
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Select: Fiction |
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Staff Pick
No
One Belongs Here More Than You
Miranda July
"Fans of Miranda July's films will be thrilled to learn that her
painfully sweet vision translates beautifully to the page in this new
collection of stories. Her characters are misfits found in the most
awkward and agonizing situations. Although her characters can be jaw-drop
outrageous, they are true to themselves and have an innocence that leaves
the door open for their (our) redemption. Ultimately, July shows us
a tenderness and beauty in the very traits that could condemn these
characters in anyone else's world"
-Joe Lisberg, Downer Ave.
Paperback
$14.00
Staff Pick
Coal
Black Horse
Robert Olmstead
"Robert Olmstead brings to life the bloody, horrific details that
make up the people and land of the Civil War while illuminating the
journey of a boy's powerful, starkly honest path leading to manhood.
The graphic, violent images are both prosaic and poetic, but the lessons
are only of hope and promise. Wow!"
-Stacie Williams, Downer Ave.
Paperback
$13.95
 Blood
Trail
C.J. Box
It's elk season in the Rockies, but this year a different kind
of hunter is stalking a different kind of prey. When the call comes
in on the radio, Joe Pickett can hardly believe his ears: game wardens
have found a hunter dead at a camp in the mountains-strung up,
gutted, and flayed, as if he were the elk he'd been pursuing.
A spent cartridge and a poker chip lie next to his body. Pickett is
put on the case to track the murderous hunter, as more bodies and poker
chips turn up.
$24.95
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| Schwartz
Select: Nonfiction |
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Along
Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail
Photographs by Bart Smith
Edited by Eric Sherman and Andrew Hanson III
Foreword by Congressman David Obey
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a thousand-mile footpath-entirely
within the state of Wisconsin-that courses like a river through a varied
landscape. Walk the Ice Age Trail to witness hundreds of crystal lakes,
thriving prairies and farmlands, towering white pines and diverse wetlands,
ancient Native American effigy mounds, remnant oak savannas, charming
villages and cities, and many of the world's finest examples of the
effects of continental glaciation. Photographer Bart Smith hiked the
Ice Age Trail in four seasons, capturing stunning images for this book.
Adding depth to his images are essays by notable and knowledgeable writers,
telling you more about the natural history of this remarkable landscape
and their personal engagement with it.
$24.95
Métro
Stop Paris
An Underground History of the City of Light
Gregor Dallas
By way of twelve metro stops, Métro Stop Paris recounts
the extraordinary and colorful history of the City of Light. At each stop
a Parisian building, street, tomb, or landmark sparks a story that holds
particular significance for that area of the city. This book is a thinker's
guide to Paris made up of slices of life-little vignettes-drawn
from Paris's two thousand years of history.
$24.99
Boots
on the Ground by Dusk
The Remarkable Life and Death of Pat Tillman
Mary Tillman and Narda Zacchino
Forgoing his multi-million dollar NFL contract to serve in the Army
after the 9/11 attacks, Pat Tillman was revered by many as an American
hero. In 2004, Tillman lost his life in what was first described as
a dramatic gun battle with the enemy. But disturbing facts emerged.
Pat was actually killed by his fellow Army Rangers. Revealing explosive
new facts about the tragedy, Mary Tillman shares the story of her efforts
to uncover the truth about her son's death in Afghanistan at the
hands of his fellow soldiers.
$25.95
Call
of Duty
My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers
Lt. Lynn "Buck" Compton
As part of the elite 101st Airborne paratroopers, Lt. Lyn "Buck"
Compton fought in critical battles of World War II as a member of Easy
Company, immortalized as the Band of Brothers. Here, Buck Compton tells
his own story for the first time. From his years a sports star at UCLA
who played baseball with Jackie Robinson, through his legendary post-World
War II legal career as a prosecutor, in which he helped convict Sirhan
Sirhan for the murder of Robert F. Kennedy, Compton embodies the American
Dream.
$24.95
Beyond
Band of Brothers
The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
Major Dick Winters
They were called Easy Company-but their mission was never easy.
Immortalized as the Band of Brothers, they suffered 150% casualties while
liberating Europe-an unparalleled record of bravery under fire.
Winner of the Distinguished Service cross, Dick Winters was their legendary
commander. This is his story-told in his own words for the first
time.
Paperback
$15.00
 Step-By-Step
Ultimate Yard & Garden
Better Homes and Gardens
With the easy-to-follow instructions and expert advice, you will be creating
a yard that is both functional and great looking in no time. The colorful
plant guide explains in detail the best perennials, ferns, and ornamental
grasses to enhance the color and fragrance of your garden.
Paperback
$24.95 |
| Schwartz
Select: Children's Books |
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 Ella
Sets Sail
Carmela and Steven D'Amico
The annual Elephant Island Carnival is in town, and Ella can't
wait to go on rides, eat candy, and have fun with her friends. But when
a storm rolls in and wind carries away her lucky hat, Ella learns that
being lucky isn't about having a special hat, it's about
being surrounded by people who love you.
For Young Readers
$16.99
 The
Boxer and the Spy
Robert B. Parker
When a shy high school student's body is found washed up on the
shore of a quiet New England beach town-an apparent suicide-fifteen-year-old
Terry Novak doesn't know what to think. Something just doesn't
add up, so he decides to do some investigating of his own with the help
of his best friend, Abby. It doesn't take long before they learn
that asking questions puts them in grave danger, and surviving is going
to be a fight. For Teens.
$17.99
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Great Books at Bargain Prices
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This is a sampling of the terrific deals we have on good books. Stop in to
any of our shops to pick up any of these titles or browse our bargain section.
 
The
Silenced
James DeVita
Publisher $17.99
SCHWARTZ: $7.99
The
Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous
Suzanne Crowley
Publisher $16.99
SCHWARTZ: $7.99
Stern
Men
Elizabeth Gilbert
Publisher $13.95
SCHWARTZ: $6.99
If
the Gods Had Meant Us To Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates
Jim Hightower
Publisher $14.00
SCHWARTZ: $4.99
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Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops
Milwaukee's Very Own Independent Bookshop Since 1927
Downer Ave., 2559 N. Downer Ave., 414-332-1181, ondowner@schwartzbooks.com
Brookfield, 17145 W. Bluemound Rd., 262-797-6140, brookfield@schwartzbooks.com
Mequon, 10976 N. Port Washington Rd., 262-241-6220, mequon@schwartzbooks.com
Shorewood, 4093 N. Oakland Ave., 414-963-3111, shorewood@schwartzbooks.com
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