This breakout session helps beginners learn basic astronomy skills.

“This is not your mother’s autism book! Raw, honest with ‘she said what?!’ laughs on every page.”
It reads like pages of a diary, revealing Jeni’s hilarious, inspiring, and downright unbelievable day to day life trying to take care of her children and keep her sanity in the process. Between “poop incidents,” restaurant adventures with a kid whose germaphobia often leads to disaster, chronic hemorrhoids, and the “helpful” advice about parenting from her fellow citizens in line at the grocery store, Jeni lives at her wits’ end.  The book is a collection of tales so frank, you’ll be shaking your head in disbelief or—if you’ve experienced half the wonder, trauma, pride, and joy that can come along with raising an autistic child—nodding along in recognition. “I am the mother of two amazing autistic children on different ends of the autism spectrum,” says Jeni. “And these are our stories.”I Wish I Were Engulfed in Flames also includes poetry from Jeni’s eldest son, Jake, giving readers further insight into a mind that at times baffles even Jeni. Read it and weep, read it and laugh, this book is for modern parents everywhere.  About the Author: Jeni Decker lives on a farm in rural Michigan with her husband, two autistic sons, an Australian Shepherd, and an albino frog named Humbert Humbert. In between kid-wrangling and writing, she is also an independent filmmaker. You can find her at: closetspacemusings.blogspot.com.

Grab your axe and work through the writing process with other area songwriters.

We are honored to welcome Naomi Benaron, winner of the 2011 Bellwether Prize for Fiction, an award established by Barbara Kingsolver to honor fiction that addresses issues of social justice.

Running the Rift follows Jean Patrick Nkuba, a gifted Rwandan boy, from the day he knows that running will be his life to the moment he must run to save his life, a ten-year span in which his country is undone by the Hutu-Tutsi tensions. Born a Tutsi, he is thrust into a world where it’s impossible to stay apolitical—where the man who used to sell you gifts for your family now spews hatred, where the girl who flirted with you in the lunchroom refuses to look at you, where your Hutu coach is secretly training the very soldiers who will hunt down your family. Yet in an environment increasingly restrictive for the Tutsi, he holds fast to his dream of becoming Rwanda’s first Olympic medal contender in track, a feat he believes might deliver him and his people from this violence. When the killing begins, Jean Patrick is forced to flee, leaving behind the woman, the family, and the country he loves. Finding them again is the race of his life.

Bring your original poetry and share it with the crowd!

While new to Chicago, Phillip-Michael Scales is no stranger to the Midwest nor to packing up a van and playing original music to a crowd. He is the man-behind-the-curtain of Briar Rabbit. Raised in a suburb of Detroit, Scales began playing music at a young age. By high school he was self-releasing records, fronting bands, and went on to formally study music at college in Boston. A return to the Midwest allowed time to process his stay on the east coast resulting in the debut release "Briar Rabbit & The Company You Keep." Using his powerful, yet dynamic voice, Rabbit delivers a lyrically sharp, self-analytical collection of songs that chronicle leaving one place for another.  The sound is best described as well-thought indie-pop that draws its influence from folk, blues, and rock.

Knit one, purl two.  This monthly knitters group meets by the fireplace.  Bring your needles and a skein and work on projects with others.

The Sleepwalkers is a chilling and masterfully crafted teen horror novel guaranteed to keep the pages turning, the mind reeling, and the lamp on any reader's bedside table on long after midnight. Privileged and popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation when he receives a mysterious, disturbing letter from his long-lost childhood playmate, Christine. Caleb and his jokester friend Bean decide to travel to his tiny hometown of Hudsonville, Florida, to find her. Upon arrival, they discover the town has taken a horrifying turn for the worse. Caleb's childhood home is abandoned and his father has disappeared. Children are going missing. The old insane asylum has reopened, and Christine is locked inside. Her mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine's long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an a.m. radio. The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will bring about the end of the world. As Caleb peels back layer after layer of mystery, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

J. Gabriel Gates is the author of Dark Territory: The Tracks, Book 1 and The Sleepwalkers. He currently lives in Southwest Michigan.

Love to read? Love to talk? Love to get together with friends at the mall? Join the Girl Scout Book Club, open to all girls in the greater Lansing area, grades 6-8. Already a registered Girl Scout? Excellent! Still need to register? No problem, we’ll help get you started.

Join your friends every third Wednesday through May. Help choose the books that interest you and be a voice in the topics that matter. Also, enjoy all of the perks that being a Girl Scout offers like Camp and the Cookie Program.
This month’s book is The Hidden by Jessica Verday.

When Rachael Davis first opened her mouth to sing she had clear tone, sharp control, an extensive range and a keen understanding about the nature of a tune, which were all unusual for a two-year-old.  Her parents as her early muses encouraged her to sing, play and write music.  Her varied instrumental accomplishments make a show with Rachael a must-see.  Her folksy-blues style is reminiscent of mountain music, and her pure voice is like the stream that cuts through it.

Join us as we welcome department store historian Bruce Allen Kopytek as he talks about Jacobson’s: I Miss it so. Reenter the marvelous stores and meet the personalities who transformed Jacobson's from its humble Reed City origins to a staple of sophistication throughout Michigan and in Florida. The brainchild of a retail genius, this deluxe specialty store gave customers a peerless social, shopping and dining destination. Experience anew the refined beauty of its Williamsburg-style Grosse Pointe store, the chic designer world of its Birmingham ensemble or the charm and allure of its original Florida branch in Sarasota revealing along the way, secrets that made Jake's the dazzling store it was and why it remains so profoundly missed by anyone who entered through its solid wooden doors.

Terry Hancock, a highly accomplished astro-imager, will present “Canvas of the Sky,” in which he will illustrate his passion with a description of equipment and processing techniques used and the stunning visual results of that effort.  Terry did his early work from a backyard observatory in Australia and more recently here in Michigan as a member of the Newaygo Dark Sky Observers.    He is constantly striving for greater perfection, and shares his work at:  www.downunderobservatory.com and at www.flickr.com/photos/terryhanckock/   Check it  out beforehand and you surely will not want to miss this presentation. 

This group is hosted by Mayumi Balfour of Sister Cities International. The group learns about the Japanese language and culture in a casual setting.

It is so excellent to welcome NYT-Bestselling Michigan author Kim Harrison back to Schuler to launch A Perfect Blood, the next book in her beloved Rachel Morgan series! There’s nothing more darkly satisfying than time spent in the Hallows—Harrison’s alternate urban fantasy Cincinnati where vampires, pixies, and werewolves roam free. Harrison takes us back in A Perfect Blood, as former bounty hunter witch-turned-reluctant daywalking demon Rachel Morgan investigates a series of ritual murders, only to discover to her horror that whomever—or whatever—is responsible is actually seeking her blood. Rachel’s sexy, supernatural adventures have consistently landed atop bestseller lists from coast-to-coast, and A Perfect Blood is no exception—another supremely satisfying excursion to a deliciously eerie fantasy realm that’s certain to delight Kim Harrison’s voracious army of fans…not to mention Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, and Stephanie Meyers aficionados… any reader who craves a walk on the wild, dark side.

Tickets Available at the Eastwood Towne Center Schuler location on Wednesday, February 1.

Bring your favorite sewing project and join us for a fun night with Diana Rupp, founder of the Make Workshop in New York City, on tour for the release of the Embroider Everything Workshop! Rupp’s newest book is a spirited guide packed with everything you need to know to embroider like a pro and transform any plain piece of fabric or fabric surface into a work of art. Combining attitude and instruction, projects and inspiration—plus iron-on transfer pattern sheets and a die-cut practice stitch card— Embroider Everything Workshop is a complete how-to. It covers all the major embroidery stitching techniques: freehand embroidery, appliqué, smocking, needlepoint, beadwork, cross-stitch and blackwork. Then come the projects: 40 hip, clever, stylish, and useful patterns that give readers a real taste of embroidery’s possibilities.

About the Book: In Through the Eyes of a Child:  The Story of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, you will read about children and families whose stories reveal what it’s like for a child to be seriously ill or injured and the difference it makes to have quality lifesaving health care, close to home.  You will meet inspiring heroes of all ages -  children, their families, community leaders, donors, physicians, nurses and volunteers.  All profits from the sale of this book will help support Spectrum Health’s Center for Child Protection at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

Influenced by indie rock as well as ethereal, beat-driven electronic music, Molly Bancroft's soaring voice and catchy melodies are her calling card. Internationally known for collaborations with DJs, Molly has released critically acclaimed recordings with her Atlanta band Lift in the late '90s, and three solo albums as well as dozens of hits as a songwriter and vocalist with some of the world's top DJs.  Molly will perform an intimate stripped-down solo show love on the Steketee Stage.

Jen Sygit’s a singer/songwriter with an indie-folk style that has been evolving since she was a toddler. It came naturally to her. It was this affinity for music that led her parents to encourage Jen to audition for the Interlochen Fine Arts Camp which she attended for several years during her adolescence studying voice, trombone, piano and visual art. 

Sam Corbin: With heart, soul, and determination, Sam Corbin has traveled and performed for the last decade, with no signs of slowing down. Touring around the USA and just about everywhere within his home state of Michigan, he plays music with hints of Americana, Blues, and Folk. His songwriting is strong and honest drawing inspiration from personal experiences of love, loss, traveling, and Michigan, from its beautiful countryside to it's struggling economy.

Join us for an exciting Girls’ Night Out event with Eleanor Brown, author of debut novel The Weird Sisters, the  New York Times bestseller that People Magazine called "delightful," and that has earned raves from Sarah Blake, Helen Simonson, and reviewers everywhere — the story of three sisters who love each other, but just don't happen to like each other very much...

The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father, a renowned Shakespeare professor who speaks almost entirely in verse, has named his three daughters after famous Shakespearean women. When the sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from—one another, their small hometown, and themselves—might offer more than they ever expected.

This breakout session helps beginners learn basic astronomy skills.

Join us for a Girls’ Night Out encore talk and signing with Lucy Ferriss! Her most recent novel, The Lost Daughter, has been earning raves from literary contemporaries like Wally Lamb, who said, “from its harrowing prologue to its final sentences, I was emotionally engaged with this fine novel. Ferriss is a masterful storyteller.”
 
The Lost Daughter, is the haunting story of a long-buried secret finally come to light. Illustrating the profound ways that guilt can not only derail lives but also sometimes redeem them, Ferriss’ compassionate yet relentless exploration of the darkest recesses of the human heart and mind produces an evocative story that no reader will easily be able to put down or forget.

The Schuler horror reading group is meeting on a special day this month, and looking at Lovecraft Goes to the Movies, a collection of stories by H.P. Lovecraft. Each monthly selection is 20% off.

About the Author:  Gary Eberle, MA, professor of English, is the author of several books, including The Geography of Nowhere: Finding One's Self in the Postmodern World (Sheed & Ward, 1994); Angel Strings, a novel (Coffee House Press, 1995); A City Full of Rain, short stories (Xlibris, 2001), and Sacred Time and the Search for Meaning (Shambhala, 2003). His newest book is Dangerous Words: Talking About God in the Age of Fundamentalism (Boston: Shambhala/Trumpter, 2007). Eberle has twice been selected by the Student Senate as Outstanding faculty member of the year, and in 1994 he received an award from the Aquinas College faculty for outstanding scholarship.  He developed the Insignis Program for Honors Students in 1985 and directed it for 12 years.  His journalism and fiction have won awards locally and nationally, and his novel Angel Strings was named a “best book” by the New York Public Library in 1997. Active professionally, he has been president of the Mid-East Honors Association, the Michigan Honors Association, and has been an officer of the Michigan Association of Departments of English. Eberle is the author of Aquinas College: The First 125 Years, a detailed history of the college.

This monthly writers group focuses on faith-based writing.  Meets  monthly.  
AUTHOR: Sharon Garlough Brown – Sensible Shoes.

Schuler is celebrating Read Across America with a Dr. Seuss story-time and special photo opportunity with the Cat in the Hat! The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2—Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and bookstores participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books. At Schuler we’ll have a reading of  The Cat In the Hat and The Lorax in honor of the movie release, and an in-person appearance by the Cat in the Hat! All Dr. Seuss titles will be buy 2 get 1 free (this offer is valid from March 1-March 5, 2012), and you can bring a camera and catch your little one in a shot with Dr. Seuss’s favorite character!

Come help us celebrate Dr. Seuss Read Across America with a exciting day of storybook adventures! Meet and enjoy a visit and story time with The Cat in the Hat! We’ll also have award-winning children’s author Janet Halfmann on hand to answer questions about being an author and she’ll read from her newest book, Home in the Cave! We’ll have yummy fruit and cookie refreshments, photo time with The Cat in the Hat, and book giveaways! All Dr. Seuss titles will be buy 2 get 1 free (this offer is valid from March 1-March 5, 2012), and Janet Halfmann’s award winning works will be 20% off (March 3 only)! Don’t miss this fun day of literary love!

About Janet Halfmann and Home in the Cave:
Baby Bat loves his cave home and never wants to leave it. While practicing flapping his wings one night, he falls, and Pluribus Packrat rescues him. The two then explore the deepest, darkest corners of the cave where they meet amazing animals that don't need eyes to see or colors to hide from enemies. Baby Bat learns how important bats are to the cave habitat and how other cave-living critters rely on bats for their food. Will Baby Bat finally venture out of the cave to help the other animals?

Janet Halfmann is the award-winning author of more than thirty fiction and nonfiction children’s books, including Good Night Little Sea Otter, Fur and Feathers, and Little Skink’s Tail. Before becoming a children’s author, Janet was a daily newspaper reporter, children’s magazine editor, and a creator of coloring and activity books for Golden Books.

Join us for an exciting Multi-Author Panel featuring award-winning Regency romance authors Katharine Ashe (When a Scot Loves a Lady), Caroline Linden (Blame It On Bath), Sarah MacLean (A Rogue By Any Other Name), Sophia Nash (Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea), and Maya Rodale (The Tattooed Duke). This incredible panel represents a font of fresh voices in the popular British Regency sub-genre (early 19th century settings) giving us an event that is Not To Be Missed!