KISS co-founder, wife of vice president coming to Naperville

Let's say you owned a book store and wanted to invite three high-profile - but very different - authors to town in the same month.

You'd be hard-pressed to top the diversity of the lineup Naperville's Anderson's Bookshop has put together for May.

First, patrons can meet '80s pop star and heartthrob Rick Springfield talking about his novel "Magnificent Vibration."

About a week later, Lynne Cheney, wife of the former vice president, will be discussing her new book, "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered."

And just one day later, Paul Stanley, co-founder of KISS, will go behind the scenes of the rock band with his book, "Face the Music."

For details on all three appearances, call Anderson's Bookshop at (630) 355-2665 or visit andersonsbookshop.com. For each event, numbers for priority spots in line are available with the purchase of the author's book from Anderson's.

Meanwhile, Anderson's spokeswoman Candace Purdom tells us about the three appearances:

Paul Stanley

The makeup. The larger-than-life persona. The Starchild. Now Stanley, co-founder of one of the biggest bands in rock 'n' roll, is ready to tell his story - and with it, the behind the scenes tale of his band, KISS, a group recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Stanley will share his new book, "Face the Music," at 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Anderson's, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. He will greet fans, distribute his pre-signed book and pose for fan photos - but he will not sign memorabilia of any kind.

In the book, Stanley reveals what it was like to rock every night and party every day.

With his trademark wit and candor, he takes readers on a journey of his and the band's incredible highs and equally incredible lows - from his own rough-and-tumble childhood in New York City and his first meeting with Gene Simmons, to the band's record-shattering (and infamous) Alive! World Tour, its dramatic breakup and surprise reunion, and its 2014 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A gripping blend of personal revelations and gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army, "Face the Music" is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational and I-can't-believe-it's-true story of one of rock's most enduring frontmen and the band he helped create, define and immortalize.

Stanley and his bandmates were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. A painter with art sales reaching $2 million; a solo musician; a musical stage performer; founding partner in Rock & Brews restaurants; and co-owner of the Arena Football League's L.A. KISS, Stanley supports Wounded Warrior Project organizations.

Rick Springfield

Springfield, a 1980s pop star, actor and heartthrob, will discuss "Magnificent Vibration" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at Anderson's.

This is Springfield's second visit to an Anderson's event. In 2010, he shared his memoir, "Late, Late at Night." During this visit, he will sign books but not memorabilia.

A second opportunity to meet Springfield occurs at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago. A limited number of reservations are available through Anderson's.

Springfield's book explores what happens when a man discovers a direct line to God and begins an unlikely quest.

After stealing a mysterious self-help book called "Magnificent Vibration: Discover Your True Purpose" from a bookstore, Bobby calls the 1-800 number scrawled inside the front cover, only to discover he has a direct line to God.

Bobby, accompanied by a sexy and sharp travel companion named Alice, sets out to find some combination of spiritual and carnal salvation - and save the planet.

In the 1980s, Springfield was celebrated for his megahit single "Jessie's Girl," sold-out concert tours, follow-up hits that sold more than 17 million albums, and by his 12 million viewers who tuned in daily to "General Hospital" to swoon over his portrayal of Dr. Noah Drake.

Springfield has been writing and performing music for more than four decades. He has performed on Broadway, headlined in Las Vegas, and starred in numerous movies and television series, most recently Showtime's "Californication."

Lynne Cheney

The author or co-author of a dozen books, Cheney is the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney. She'll be in Naperville to share her new book, "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered."

Before her arrival in Naperville, she'll be at a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 15, with her husband at Chicago's Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. Reservations are $45 per person and are available by calling Anderson's Bookshop.

She'll be at Anderson's Naperville store at 7 p.m. She will not make a presentation in Naperville but will greet fans and sign their books.

Outwardly reserved, Madison was the intellectual driving force behind the Constitution and crucial to its ratification. His political philosophy and rationale for the union of states - presented in The Federalist papers - helped shape our country.

Along with Thomas Jefferson, Madison would found the country's first political party - the Democratic Republicans. As Jefferson's secretary of state, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States.

As president, Madison led the country in its first war under the Constitution, the War of 1812. Without precedent to guide him, he would demonstrate a republic could defend its honor and independence - and remain a republic still.

Cheney has written six best-selling books about American history for children. Her most recent is "We the People: The Story of Our Constitution."

She is the former chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.