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"Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas" kicks off the storytime series this Saturday, Nov. 14

Besides the wonderful opportunity to gather with others to hear "Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas," kids will also enjoy a coloring activity, a raffle with fun prizes including jingle bracelets -- and to top off the hour of "splendiferous" fun, a holiday parade around the store. Since kids are encouraged to attend the party dressed in their holiday best, the event will give parents the opportunity to take some adorable photos of their children enjoying the parade and all of the festivities. Attendees can also sample delicious drinks such as hot chocolate for kids and the Peppermint Mocha Trio coffee drink for adults, as well as a variety of holiday-inspired pastries. Activities may vary by store. Visit Borders.com and click on the Store Locator tab for a participating Borders location.

Upcoming events

In addition, kids and their families can look forward to the following storytime events slated for November and December at Borders:

• "The Polar Express" Pajama Party Holiday Storytime, Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Grinchfest Holiday Storytime, Saturday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m.
• "Beckett the Bear" Holiday Storytime, Saturday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m.
  

Borders will share additional details about these events at a later date.

Additional offerings for kids

Borders recently expanded its Children's Department to include hundreds of high quality educational toys and games that promote discovery, foster creativity and help build cognitive skills in youngsters, all of which are critical to developing good learning and reading habits -- and a lifelong love of reading. The Borders kids' specialist will be on hand to answer questions about all of the toys and games as well as Borders' extensive offering of children's books.

SOURCE Borders

Who doesn't like a great treasure hunt especially when the bounty is free, signed copies of "The Lost Symbol" at Borders.

The retailer has secured 80 copies of the book -- each signed by author Dan Brown -- and will place them in 80 Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide for lucky readers to claim. Borders will deliver the clues to the locations of the books via Twitter at twitter.com/BordersMedia beginning Tuesday Sept. 15 through Thursday, Sept. 24. Each clue will direct readers to the approximate super-secret location of the "Lost Symbol Golden Ticket," hidden somewhere in the 80 stores, which readers must discover and present at the information desk to claim their free, signed copy of "The Lost Symbol."

"There's a rabid anticipation and excitement for the 'The Lost Symbol' -- it's not everyday that a book becomes part of the collective conversation like this particular title has," said Rich Fahle, vice president of Outreach and Entertainment for Borders. "We are going to make 80 Dan Brown fans extremely happy by giving them a rare gem: a free, signed copy of a book they've been waiting years for and will treasure for years to come. It's going to be a lot of fun."

"The Lost Symbol" Twitter promotion is the latest in a series of successful mini-Twitter promotions Borders has been hosting. For example, to commemorate the release of the film "9," Borders gave away nine copies of the collector's edition of the "9" movie book plus 180 free tickets to the movie. Also, in late August, the retailer gave away seven signed copies of "The Hunger Games," the first book in the wildly popular Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with approximately 25,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,000 stores primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/media.

Source: Borders Books

Authors Include the Second Man on the Moon, a Pulitzer Prize-Winner, a Food Network TV Celebrity

Today, Former First Lady Laura Bush announced the authors and revealed the poster art for the 2009 Texas Book Festival, which will take place on October 31 and November 1 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Mrs. Bush, the honorary chair and founder of the Texas Book Festival (TBF), made the announcement at her home during a reception for the organization's supporters. Headlining authors include Buzz Aldrin, Margaret Atwood, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Bryan Burrough, Jeanette Walls, Jonathan Safran Foer, and Taylor Branch.

The TBF is pleased to honor best selling children's writer and San Antonio resident, Rick Riordan with the Bookend Award for his Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, concluded this year with Volume 5, The Last Olympian. The Bookend Award is given to a Texas writer for his or her ongoing and outstanding literary achievement. Past recipients include Cormac McCarthy, Sandra Cisneros, and Horton Foote, among others. Others topping the list of children's authors are Jon Scieszka, Rosemary Wells, Libba Bray, and Judy Schachner. The poster image for the Festival is a photograph, White Owl 2004, by the internationally known, award-winning artist Keith Carter. The full list of Festival authors and poster art is available on www.texasbookfestival.org.

The Texas Book Festival is an organization that has made more than $2.3 million in grants to public libraries since the organization was formed in 1995. In addition, more than 30,000 children in low-income schools have benefited from its literary program, Reading Rock Stars. The two-day Festival is entirely open and free to the public. "The Texas Book Festival is a Texas treasure and one of the premier literary events in the country," said Heidi Marquez Smith, executive director of the Texas Book Festival. This year's list of 210 participating writers reflects the best books in categories ranging from literary fiction to lifestyle titles such as travel and cookbooks. There will be panel conversations mixing the industry's top writers with audience question and answer sessions during every event. In addition, Festival attendees can get their books signed by authors, feast on food from a wide-range of top local eateries, inspire their children with educational author events and activities as well as enjoy live musical entertainment.

Incredible writers such as Sandra Brown, Oscar Casares, Kurt Eichenwald, Blake Bailey, Colson Whitehead, David Wroblewski, and Amanda Eyre Ward will appear at this year's Festival. Other prominent authors attending are Luis Alberto Urrea, Jane Smiley, Harold Evans, Kati Marton, Julia Glass, Gail Collins, and Harold Kushner.

News and political junkies will enjoy Douglas Brinkley, Howard Campbell, Bryan Carlile, and Dave Cullen. Cooking enthusiasts will be inspired by authors Rebecca Rather, Lidia Bastianich, Ellie Krieger, and Guiliano Hazan, who will be demonstrating their skills and talking about their new cookbooks. Lovers of all things Texan will be drawn to Jane Clements Monday, Gary Clark, Wyatt McSpadden, and Michael Marvins. Dr. Cara Natterson and Po Bronson dispense current views on child-rearing, while Katherine Brooks helps those looking to map their career. Hollywood enthusiasts can hear from three Texans who made it big working in the City of Angels: Robert Hinkle, Billy Taylor, and Gary Kent.

Approximately 1500 books were considered, and those chosen are the preeminent titles of 2009. "This is a very literary year in publishing," said Clay Smith, literary director of the Texas Book Festival. "For example, four authors have amazing literary biographies and we are thrilled to have all of them in one panel at the Festival." Book lovers travel from across the country year after year to witness and participate in the extraordinary discussions that are borne from the collaboration of these brilliant authors.

About the Texas Book Festival:

Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush and a group of interested volunteers, the Texas Book Festival (TBF) is held every year on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. It features readings and discussions from more than 200 of the most accomplished Texas and national authors. With the help of the Austin community, a statewide advisory committee and more than 900 volunteers, the organization has grown each year. In addition to being one of the most prestigious literary festivals in the nation, the TBF develops and manages year-round programs that foster literacy statewide.

TBF Facts:

• has surpassed the $2.3 million mark in total grant awards to Texas public libraries since its inception through its Library Grant program
• has reached more than 30,000 children in economically disadvantaged Central and South Texas Schools, providing for many the first book they've ever owned through its Reading Rock Stars program
• with the University Interscholastic League sponsors a Middle and High School Fiction writing contest
• entertains and informs approximately 35,000 festival attendees, adults and children alike, free of cost, with engaging author events, local foods and music
• Sponsors include: Austin American-Statesman, AT &T, Barnes & Noble, Brigid Cockrum & Family, Central Market , HEB, KLBJ-AM/KGSR-FM, KLRU, KUT 90.5, The Meadows Foundation, Texas Monthly, Republic National Distributing Company, Pearson Education, Sibley Peteet Design, and T.L.L. Temple Foundation
  

 Source: Texas Book Festival

The 2009 London Book Festival has issued a call for entries to its annual competition honoring the best of international publishing.

The 2009 London Book Festival will consider entries in general non-fiction; fiction; biography/autobiography; children's books; cookbooks; compilations/anthologies; e-books; genre-based; how-to; photography/art; spiritual; music; teenage/young adult; unpublished stories and the wild card (anything goes!) categories published on or before Jan. 1, 2005.

All entries must be in English and can be published, self-published or issued by an independent publishing house.

Our grand prize for the 2009 London Book Festival is $1500 cash and a flight to London for our gala awards ceremony.

Submitted works will be judged by a panel of publishing industry experts using the following criteria:

1. General excellence and the author's passion for telling a good story.
2. The potential of the work to gain a wider audience in the worldwide market.

ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories. Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

    1)  General Non-fiction
    2)  General Fiction
    3)  Children's books
    4)  How-to
    5)  E-books (word or .pdf file acceptable)
    6)  Photography/Art
    7)  Poetry
    8)  Audio/Spoken Word
    9)  Teenage/Young Adult
    10) Biography/Autobiography
    11) Best Unpublished Short Story (all manuscripts welcome)
    12) Cookbooks
    13) Compilations/Anthologies
    14) Spiritual
    15) Wild Card
    16) Music

In addition to honoring the top selections in the above categories, The London Book Festival will award the following chosen from submissions:

1. London Book Festival Author of the Year - Honors the outstanding book of the competition.
2. London Book Festival Book Design of the Year - Honors outstanding and innovative design.
3. London Book Festival Publisher of the Year - Honors the top publisher based on materials displaying excellence in marketing and promotional materials, as determined by our judges.

FESTIVAL RULES: London Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries on our web site (www.diyconvention.com). Because of the anticipated high volume of entries, we can only respond to e-mail inquiries.

Deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on Nov. 25, 2009. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail shortly after the final entry deadline and the results will be posted at www.Londonbookfestival.com. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions at our meetings.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at www.Londonbookfestival.com or www.diyconvention.com or may be faxed/e-mailed to you. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee via check, money order or PayPal online payment of $50 in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.

Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We're sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.

Entry packages should include one copy of the book; any relevant marketing material; your official entry form or a copy; and the entry fee or receipt. Entries should be mailed to:

    JM Northern Media LLC
    attn: London Book Festival
    7095 Hollywood Boulevard
    Suite 864
    Hollywood, CA 90028-0893
    Phone: 323-665-8080

AWARDS: Winners of the London Book Festival will be honored at a gala ceremony held in London this Fall You do not need to be present to accept your award or accompanying prizes.

The 2009 London Book Festival is part of the JM Northern Media family of festivals, which includes the DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books, New York Book Festival and Hollywood Book Festival. The 2009 London Book Festival is sponsored by eDivvy, the Larimar St. Croix Writers Colony, Shopanista; Westside Websites and the DIY Reporter.com.

SOURCE London Book Festival

Be chilled, thrilled, and spooked on a 5-night adventure aboard Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas roundtrip Boston. Mark Nesbitt, author of the best-selling "Ghosts of Gettysburg" series, will headline this unique cruise of New England and Canada October 17 -22, 2009. Onboard, Nesbitt will host some spooky story telling, bringing to life his many adventures that have convinced him that ghosts do indeed walk among us.

Ports include Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. At each port, Nesbitt has planned particularly haunting experiences: a spooky tour of Portland; a haunted trolley tour of Bar Harbor, and a ghost walk of Halifax. Guests can top off their adventure with an overnight at Boston's haunted Park Plaza Hotel, and a Nesbitt-lead tour of Boston, home of such notorious characters as the Boston Strangler and Lizzie Borden, the only suspect in the hatchet murders of her father and step mother.

Mark Nesbitt is a former National Park Service Ranger/Historian. He started his own research and writing company in 1977 and did research and advertising copy for some of America's best historical artists. Beginning in 1978 he began writing books, including If the South Won Gettysburg (1980), 35 Days to Gettysburg (1992), Rebel Rivers (1993), Saber and Scapegoat: J.E.B. Stuart and the Gettysburg Controversy (1994), Through Blood and Fire (1996), and the best selling Ghosts of Gettysburg Series (1991- present). Many of his stories have been seen, and/or heard, on The History Channel, A&E, The Travel Channel, Unsolved Mysteries, Coast to Coast AM, and numerous other local television programs and specials. In July of 2004, his Ghosts of Gettysburg Series received the National Paranormal Award for "Best True Hauntings Collection" and "Best 'Local Haunt' Guidebook."

Cruise only rates are $514.39 interior, $664.39 ocean view, and $794.39 balcony, inclusive of taxes and port charges. All rates are based on double occupancy, and subject to availability at the time of booking. The bundle of excursions in Portland, Bar Harbor, and Halifax are just $65 per person, and the extension in Boston, including overnight stay at the Park Plaza hotel and the Nesbitt-led tour of haunted Boston, is just $120 per person, double occupancy.

Book with a $250 per person deposit, refundable until one day prior to final payment. Booking must be made through Cruise Holidays of Alexandria by calling (866) 368-7327. Additional information available at Cruise Holidays' website.

SOURCE Cruise Holidays of Alexandria

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's oldest and largest children and families' literacy nonprofit organization, hosted The Gift of Reading Gala to raise awareness of their mission and generate essential funds to enhance the quality and impact of their work in every U.S. state and territory. In total, RIF raised $430,000 from the gala on June 2, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington D.C.

"Our annual Gift of Reading Gala is a way for Reading Is Fundamental to acknowledge those who have committed themselves to improving children's literacy throughout this country," commented Carol H. Rasco, CEO and President of Reading Is Fundamental. "RIF is pleased to honor Macy's with the Legacy of Literacy Award for their significant contributions to helping children experience the joys of reading."

Macy's was presented with the Legacy of Literacy award for their outstanding commitment to children's literacy. Through Macy's multiyear support and commitment to helping all children discover the joy of reading, RIF has been able to serve more children, provide more books, develop new initiatives, and improve the quality of books that children receive.

The gala brought together distinguished policymakers, as well as corporate and community leaders who shared RIF's vision of a literate America. Award-winning children's book author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds was Master of Ceremonies at the gala and Grammy Award-winning musician Terence Blanchard performed for those in attendance.

Other special guests in attendance included:

• Megan Beyer, journalist and commentator on the PBS talk show, To the Contrary
• Senator Roger Wicker, Mississippi
• Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, Texas
• Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia
• Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao, Louisiana
• Congressman Chris Lee, New York
• Jack Remondi, Vice Chairman and CFO of Sallie Mae
• Martine Reardon, Executive Vice President of Macy's Corporate Marketing
• Anne Holton, First Lady of Virginia

RIF also honored its 2009 Anne Richardson Volunteer of the Year Award winners, Jalonda Smith of the Volunteer Center of Morgan County in Decatur, Ala.; Elrene "Elke" Davis of the Estill County Schools in Irvine, Ky.; and Barbara Sovereign of the Delta Lambda chapter (Monterey, Calif.) of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

Source: Reading is Fundamental