Let’s All Wine and Dine with the Authors

Septemebr 2017

Writer // Janelle Morrison Photos // Submitted

If you love books, authors, food and wine, then you have to purchase tickets for this year’s

Writers at the Pavilion and the 13th Annual Guilded Leaf Book and Author luncheon next month at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. The events are presented by the Guild of the Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) and are the primary fundraising events that support the programs offered by the library.

The annual Writers at the Pavilion will be held the evening before the luncheon and offers an opportunity for attendees to network and engage in conversation with the authors and other attendees in a more casual environment. The authors will also be available for book signings at the evening event at the luncheon the following day. The Guilded Leaf Book and Author Luncheon is a popular and engaging event that features six nationally known bestselling authors who share their stories about life, writing and books.

The CCPL’s Young Professionals Committee has been diligently planning and organizing the evening event, the Writers at the Pavilion, since officially forming the group earlier this year. The committee’s founder and president, Hadley Moore, shared the committee’s goals and what guests can expect at this year’s event.

“What’s been the most fun about planning this event is that we are learning how to work together,” Moore said. “The fact that we get to work on an established event gives us a solid foundation and direction in which to go. The ladies who originally organized this event did a fantastic job, so we don’t want to reject anything that’s been done that has worked. We just want to put our own stamp on it.

“One of the biggest pieces of feedback that the event has received was that attendees were wanting more food selections and opportunities to socialize, so this year, we are adding a taco bar and other things that appeal to a savvy socializer. We are ensuring that while the authors speak about their books, the evening won’t be structured as a lecture but as a social event. The Guild always does a wonderful job choosing an array of authors from diverse backgrounds and genres, and I really think that there is something for everyone in this particular lineup. We are excited to share this experience with our neighbors and peers and show them a good time. It is one of the main goals of the YP committee to create more activities that appeal to a younger demographic.”

The following day, guests of the 13th Annual Guilded Leaf Book and Author Luncheon will be introduced to this year’s luncheon moderator, Lori Borgman, a popular columnist, author and speaker.

Borgman’s column touches on a wide array of topics, ranging from the myth that women nag to the hazards of upper arm flab. She is distributed to more than 400 newspapers and media outlets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Borgman offers wit and insight on family and culture and has been described as “Mark Twain without the cigar.”

Borgman is the author of six books including her most recent, “My Memory is Shot; All I Retain Now is Water.” She is also the author of “The Death of Common Sense,” an essay that has gone viral, having been published in 11 countries and translated into seven languages.

A frequent speaker for lecture series, libraries, corporate groups and church groups, Borgman counts two of her greatest privileges to include addressing a Spouses of Congress event at the Capitol and delivering the commencement address to college graduates at the Indiana Women’s Prison.

“Meeting new authors is always fun, and it’s actually a privilege,” Borgman stated. “Some of these authors are extremely successful, and just doing the research on them to introduce them has been fun. It’s always interesting to me as a writer to know some of the methods or
requirements that other people have for writing. I’ve taken the opportunity to get in touch with some of the authors to see if I can find out things about them, such as do they have a dog curled at their feet? Do they have to be by a window, or can they write while in an airport? I like these kinds of details. I had fun reading extensively on who this year’s guest authors are.”

Borgman mentioned a couple of the authors and some interesting points about them. “One of this year’s authors, Laura Martin, who wrote ‘Edge of Extinction #2: Code Name Flood,’ describes herself as a ‘mom by day and a writer by night.’ One of her rituals is that she turns her cell phone over to her husband, and I thought, ‘How brilliant!’ Why do I write with my cell phone right next to my laptop? It’s such a distraction. Another author, Amy Stewart, is also a fascinating woman and is a botanist. She and her husband own a vintage bookstore, and it’s just interesting to see how all of the pieces come together and what fuels some writers.”

Attendees of these two events will enjoy hearing from all six authors and learning about their individual writing habits, processes and the journeys that led them to their published works.

Carmel Clay Public Library Young Professionals Committee
Hadley Moore Sarah Turner John Boss Tory Schmitz
Michael Schmitz Stacy Doane Tory Purvis
Laura Crockett – Library Representative

October 18
7 p.m.
Writers at the Pavilion at the Ritz Charles Garden Pavilion features short talks and book signings by the Guilded Leaf authors.

The ticket price of $70 includes appetizers, wine and craft beer. Call 317-814-3984 to reserve your spot.

October 19
11:15 a.m.
13th Annual Guilded Leaf Book and Author luncheon at the Ritz Charles features a raffle and silent auction and the opportunity to purchase the authors’ books for personalized signings.

A portion of the book sales directly benefit the Carmel Clay Public Library. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with the luncheon and program starting at 11:15 a.m.
Individual tickets are $70. Corporate tables are also available. Call 317-814-3984 to reserve your spot.

To learn more about the Guild, contact Liz Hamilton at 317-814-3905 or ehamilton@carmel.lib.in.us. Visit carmel.lib.in.us/foundation/foundation.cfm

Read Lori Borgman’s columns at loriborgman.com