The Willow Glen Resident

Willow Glen Books will host author appearances

Owner plans more if initial events prove successful

By Cecily Barnes

Keeping up with a burgeoning Lincoln Avenue, Willow Glen Books owner Cathy Adkins has decided to step up the number of authors she invites to her store for readings and book-signings. As long as people continue to come, Adkins says, she will continue to host the events.

"It provides something for the community that people are really missing," Adkins said. "A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books used to do a lot of appearances before they closed. It would be nice if I could become more established as a place where people would come for author appearances."

Community members say that author appearances are something they would definitely attend, especially since there are few events in downtown Willow Glen.

"I think it would be wonderful," Willow Glen resident Esther Rechenmacher said. "I think we need more things to stimulate our interest in reading."

Three authors have already been scheduled to come to Willow Glen. The first is Iranian author Susanne Pari, presenting her new book, The Fortune Catcher. Pari was raised in Iran until her family was exiled during the Islamic Revolution. Her book is based in Iran and draws from her life experience and multicultural background.

In Pari's novel, main characters Dariush and Layla return to a turbulent, post-revolutionary Iran, where they secretly marry. However, Dariush's fundamentalist grandmother discovers what happened and has her grandson arrested and sent to the war's front lines the morning after the young couple is married. Layla is left alone to search for her husband in a city changed by the Islamic Revolution three years earlier.

"I've been reading the book, and I am really liking it," Adkins said. "I have read some other books with themes around what she's doing, but [this is] her own story."

Pari contacted Adkins after reading that Willow Glen Books was one of the few surviving independent bookstores in the South Bay.

"She contacted a bookseller that she knows and said, 'I'd really like to support that independent bookseller,' " Adkins said.

One month after Pari's appearance, Bill Devine will read from his book Women, Men and Money, which tells individuals how money can be used to nourish not only their bankbooks but their relationships and spirituality. Devine holds workshops for companies and couples, teaching the same principles that are in his book.

A few weeks after Devine, Carl Goldman will present his book Souls and Silicon: Spirits in a High Tech World. Goldman collected reports and reflections from wealthy Silicon Valley residents who take time out of their high-speed, high-rolling lifestyle for God.

"He talks to people who've decided there's more to life than money, the big house and the big car," Adkins said. "I thought, 'This is really going to speak to people.' "

If people turn out for these author appearances, Adkins plans to organize more and possibly have a regular author appearance night.

"Someday I'm going to be a successful enough bookstore that I'll have someone on my staff that can help me with these things," Adkins said. "I think it might be this year."

Susanne Pari will be at Willow Glen Books Friday, Jan 30, at 7:30 p.m. Bill Devine will present his book on Feb. 26, and Carl Goldman will be appearing Feb 27 at 7:30 p.m.

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