May brings us a bouquet of fresh Online Author Talks. Dr. David H. Rosmarin, Author of Thriving with Anxiety, gifts us a constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach empowering us to use anxiety to thrive. Liann Zhang chats with us about her debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead in a propulsive online conversation that will make you want to grab your popcorn and a friend. And Rachelle Bergstein shares her newest book, The Genius of Judy, taking an expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work, and cultural impact.
Whether you join us for the live-stream or go back to watch the recording, you can submit questions for our presenters when you register ahead of time for the talks! All registered participants will receive a link to attend the live event in their email and will receive a link to the recording the day after the live event is completed.
How to Use Anxiety to Thrive with Dr. David H. Rosmarin, Wednesday, May 7
Let’s face it: Everyone has anxiety. Furthermore, our incessant quest to rid ourselves of this ubiquitous human emotion worsens it. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? In this enlightening online webinar, you will learn how to use anxiety to become more self-accepting, connected to others, and resilient. Author of Thriving with Anxiety, Dr. Rosmarin’s constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach will not make you less anxious. Instead, it will empower you to use anxiety to thrive.
You will learn:
- To rethink anxiety from being a “disease” to being a normal human emotion;
- How to use anxiety to increase our self-compassion;
- How to harness the power of anxiety to enhance emotional intimacy; and
- How can anxiety help us accomplish what we truly want in life?
On Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller with Author Liann Zhang, Wednesday, May 14
Grab your popcorn, grab your friend, and join us for an propulsive online conversation with author Liann Zhang as she chats with us about her debut thriller Julie Chan is Dead.
Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse. When Julie discovers her identical twin Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live a life she’s always envied.
Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but perfect.
Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.
Julie Chan is Dead is the brilliant, dark, and diabolical debut thriller we’ve all been waiting for. Register now for a wildly fun conversation!
How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us with Author Rachelle Bergstein, Wednesday, May 21
You’re invited to an online intimate conversation with bestselling author Rachelle Bergstein as she chats about her newest book The Genius of Judy. This book takes an expansive look at Judy Blume’s life, work, and cultural impact, focusing on her most iconic—and controversial—young adult novels, from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret to Blubber. Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century?
In The Genius of Judy, her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular children with genuine thoughts and problems. But behind those deceptively simple tales, Blume explored the pillars of the growing women’s rights movement, in which girls and women were entitled to careers, bodily autonomy, fulfilling relationships, and even sexual pleasure. Blume wasn’t trying to be a revolutionary—she just wanted to tell honest stories—but in doing so, she created a cohesive, culture-altering vision of modern adolescence.
Blume’s bravery provoked backlash, making her the country’s most-banned author in the mid-1980s. Thankfully, her works withstood those culture wars and it’s no coincidence that Blume has resurfaced as a cultural touchstone now. Young girls are still cat-called, sex education curricula are getting dismissed as pornography, and entire shelves of libraries are being banned. As we face these challenges, it’s only natural we look to Blume, the grand dame of so-called dirty books. This is the story of how a housewife became a groundbreaking artist, and how generations of empowered fans are her legacy, today more than ever.
Register now for a conversation you don’t want to miss!