Monday, February 24, 2014

My Coffee with Andre


Pat Gorton, Dndre Dubus, and Pam Jacobson February 22, 2014 "My Coffee with Andre"
Patricia Gorton (AAUW) and Pam Jacobson (Rowley Library)
with Andre Dubus III at recent author event they organized
"What a great event! I am so pleased with how everything went, the turnout was awesome, the refreshments were perfect, just a great day." [Pam]

The "Coffee With Andre Dubus" author event with Andre Dubus III, held on Saturday, February 22, at the Rowley Public Library, was a huge success. There was a great article about Andre Dubus on the front page of the Georgetown Record written by the editor of the Ipswich Chronicle, who had a long telephone interview with Andre. Many attendees came because they had read about the talk in the newspaper.

We had just fifty reservations before the event, but we set up seventy chairs and most, if not all, were occupied for the talk. We sold all the books we had and could have sold more. As this was a fund-raiser for the North Shore and Newburyport Branches of the American Association of University Women and the Friends of the Rowley Public Library, we are very pleased with the results.

Andre’s talk was one of his best. The audience applauded him long and loud. He did not talk about his new book “Dirty Love” but he read a short story which he wrote about knitting, written at about the time he had his first girlfriend and about his love for his aunt, his mother’s older sister, for whom he learned to knit a scarf. He inspired us.

He spoke about family being so important in his life and that both sides of his extended family lived in Louisiana. They visited Louisiana each summer, driving down in an old car.

We know form “Townie” that he learned to fight with his fists while growing up. He later turned to boxing, a legitimate sport. Interestingly, the guys with whom he spent most of his youth, have all passed away.

There were many young women in attendance on Saturday. That was a nice surprise.

Andre held an individual conversation with each of us as he signed copies of his books after the talk. 

Event Announcement: Coffee With Andre Dubus III on Saturday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m., at the Rowley Public Library, 141 Main St., Rowley ADMISSION $15, not including book purchase

Coffee With Andre Dubus III is a fund-raiser for the North Shore and Newburyport Branches of the American Association of University Women and the Friends of the Rowley Public Library. Refreshments will be served, including homemade muffins and coffee cakes, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. AAUW funds will go to its Educational Opportunities Fund, which provides more than $4.5 million in funding for more than 250 fellowships, grants and special awards to outstanding women and groups, and the funds raised for the library will go to library programs that serve the public.

Dubus will talk about his newest book, a best seller, "Dirty Love." The books may be bought either before the event or at the event and will be signed by the author. A 10 percent discount will be given to those who purchase the book before the event. Reservations and book purchases can be made by contacting Pamela Jacobson, director of the Rowley Public Library, at 978-948-2850 or online at rowleylibrarydirector@gmail.com . Mail a check made out to Friends of the Rowley Public Library, to the library at 141 Main St., Rowley, MA 01969. The discounted book charge is $23.35.

The national website address for the AAUW organization is www.aauw.org.