Authors! with Viola Shipman

The Toledo Lucas County Public Library welcomes Wade Rouse to Toledo!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos in this sharp, witty and entirely delightful family drama for fans of Elinor Lipman and Jennifer Weiner.

Emma Page grew up the black sheep in a bookish household, raised to believe that fine literature is the only worthy type of fiction. Her parents, self-proclaimed “serious” authors who run their own vanity press, The Mighty Pages, mingle in highbrow social circles that look down on anything too popular or mainstream, while her sister, Jess, is a powerful social media influencer whose stylish reviews can make or break a novel.

Hiding her own romance manuscript from her disapproving parents, Emma finds inspiration at the family cottage among the “fluff” they despise: the juicy summer romances that belonged to her late grandmother. But a chance discovery unearthed from her Gigi’s belongings reveals a secret that has the power to ruin her parents’ business and destroy their reputation in the industry—a secret that has already fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous publishing insider with a grudge to settle. Now Emma must decide—as much as she’s dreamed of the day when her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?

Whisking you from the wealthy enclaves of the Hamptons to the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, The Page Turner is a delectable glimpse inside the world of publishing and Viola Shipman’s most glittering achievement yet!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

WADE ROUSE is the internationally bestselling author of nine books, which have been translated into nearly 20 languages. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction.

Wade’s novels include The Charm Bracelet, a 2017 Michigan Notable Book of the Year; The Hope Chest; and The Recipe Box. NYT bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank says of Wade and his latest novel, The Summer Cottage: “Every now and then a new voice in fiction arrives to completely charm, entertain and remind us what matters. Viola Shipman is that voice and The Summer Cottage is that novel.”

Library Journal writes that Wade has “hit upon the perfect formula to tell heartwarming, inter-generational family stories by weaving together the lives, loves and history of family through cherished heirlooms.” He recently signed a three-book book deal with HarperCollins. His next novel, The Heirloom Garden, will publish in April 2020.

Wade’s books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, featured in the Washington Post, USA Today and on Chelsea Lately and have also been chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers.

His writing has appeared in a diverse range of publications and media, including Coastal Living, Time, All Things Considered, People, Good Housekeeping, Salon, Forbes, Taste of Home, Country Woman, Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly.

Also a noted humorist of four memoirs, Wade was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (he lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (Wade was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).

Wade earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California, and is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors

THE STORY OF VIOLA SHIPMAN

My novels are a tribute to my Ozarks grandma, Viola Shipman. The jangling of her charm bracelet was as ever-present as the call of the whippoorwill, the scent of her hope chest as vivid as cedars after a spring rain, and her burnished wood recipe box stuffed with family recipes that still make my mouth water.

Her heirlooms, life, lessons and love not only inspire my fiction but also inspired me to become a writer and, I hope, the person I am today. She taught me that the simplest things in life – family, friends, faith, fun, love, and a passion for what you do – are truly the grandest gifts. My fiction is meant to honor the elders in our lives whose sacrifices and journeys helped make us who we are today. I couldn’t be prouder of my novels, which I hope reconnect you to your own family’s stories, heirlooms, histories and traditions.

FAQs:

Can tickets be purchased by phone? No, tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite only.

What are my parking options at the event? The facility has a free parking garage. The garage entrance is located on Adams St.

What time do the doors open? General admission seating starts at 6:30 p.m.

Are there assigned seats? No. Seating is general admission, but the purchase of a ticket does guarantee you a seat.

Is handicapped seating available? Handicapped seating is available. For special seating arrangements, please call 419.259.5199 at least one week prior to the event.

Will an American Sign Language Interpreter be provided for the event? We are happy to provide an ASL Interpreter for the event - if you require this service, please contact us at 419.259.5199 at least two weeks before the event so arrangements can be made.

What can/can't I bring to the event? Please do not bring outside food/beverages. There is no video recording or flash photography allowed.

Will the author hold a book signing after the talk? Yes, the author will be avaialable for a limited signing opportunity after the presentation.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions? Call the Library at 419.259.5200.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Yes, tickets will be scanned at the door. If you choose to utilize your mobile device, tickets can be scanned via your Eventbrite email receipt. Note: Screenshots/captures of the ticket receipt cannot be scanned. Please have your device with the ticket receipt open and available for scanning at entry.

Can I get my book if I don’t attend the event? Books may only be obtained at the event. If you are unable to attend, you may have someone else pick it up at the event, but they must have your ticket in hard copy or on their device.

What is the refund policy? Tickets will be refunded only if the event is canceled.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Main Library - Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 North Michigan Street, Toledo, United States