Author events: Meet Robert Kurson, Jesmyn Ward, Allison Pataki
Jenelle Hanchett: 7 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Anderson's Bookshop, 26 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, (708) 582-6353 or andersonsbookshop.com/. Known for her "Renegede Mothering" blog, Janelle Hanchett presents and signs her new book, "I'm Just Happy to Be Here." Free. To join the signing line, purchase the book from Anderson's Bookshop.
Jesmyn Ward: 7 p.m. Monday, May 14, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 5815 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago, tickets.chicagohumanities.org/. Jesmyn Ward discusses "Sing, Unburied, Sing" with Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation, during the Chicago Humanities Festival. Tickets cost $15 and $10 for students and teachers.
Allison Pataki: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka, (847) 446-8880 or thebookstall.com/. Pataki will discuss her new nonfiction book, "Beauty in the Broken Places: A Memoir of Love, Faith, and Resilience."
Carter Cast: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka, (847) 446-8880 or thebookstall.com/. Carter Cast, a professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a venture partner at Pritzker Group Venture Capital, discusses his new book, "The Right - And Wrong - Stuff: How Brilliant Careers Are Made and Unmade," with Roger Hochschild, president and CEO of Discover Financial Services. This event is part of the new Book Stall Talks Business series.
Dave and Amy Freeman: 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods. The Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods and the Lake Forest Book Store host the Freemans in support of Pedal to DC: A Book Tour to Save the Boundary Waters (the Freemans will tow a canoe while bicycling 1,750 miles from Ely, Minnesota, to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of the threat from sulfide-ore copper mining proposed in the Boundary Waters watershed) and the release of their book, "A Year in the Wilderness: Bearing Witness in the Boundary Waters." There will be a presentation, an audience Q&A, a book signing and a chance to sign their canoe to show your support. Books will be available for purchase and signing. It's $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers and free for students. Registration is required.
Jason Mott: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Anderson's Bookshop, 26 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, (708) 582-6353 or andersonsbookshop.com/. New York Times best-selling author Jason Mott will discuss and sign his new fantasy novel, "The Crossing." Free. To join the signing line, purchase the book from Anderson's Bookshop.
Kathleen Rooney: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com/. Rooney will talk about and sign her novel, now in paperback, "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk." Free. To join the signing line, purchase the book from Anderson's Bookshop.
Robert Kurson: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka, (847) 446-8880 or thebookstall.com/. Chicagoan Robert Kurson discusses his new book, "Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon."
Michael Zadoorian: 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the Lake Forest Book Store, 662 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, (847) 234-4420 or lakeforestbookstore.com/. Michael Zadoorian, author of "The Leisure Seeker," which is currently a major motion picture, celebrates the release of his new novel, "Beautiful Music." Books will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is required.
Diana Butler Bass: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 222 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth. Author, workshop leader and independent scholar Diana Butler Bass leads a forum based on her new book, "Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks." Lunch is included. Registration is required at holycomforter.org/calendar/diana-butler-bass. For details, call sponsor The Book Stall at (847) 446-8880 or see thebookstall.com/.
Matt Cordell: 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee, (847) 244-5150 or wnpl.info/. Gurnee's Matthew Cordell, winner of this year's Newbery Medal for "Wolf in the Snow," will discuss how the book was created and share the process of turning ideas into a complete work. Cordell will sign books (he draws a wolf in each copy he signs). Registration is required.
Michael Moreci: 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Anderson's Bookshop, 26 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, (708) 582-6353 or andersonsbookshop.com/. StarWars.com writer Michael Moreci will present and sign his space adventure novel, "Black Star Renegades." Plus, he'll have trivia and prizes. Free. To join the signing line, purchase the book from Anderson's Bookshop.