Thursday, January 29 @ 7pm
Michelle Latiolais, UC Irvine Program in Creative Writing
On A Proper Knowledge
Introduction by Gordon McAlpine

A gifted psychiatrist, haunted by the death of his young sister, seeks to penetrate the mysteries of childhood autism in this beautifully written, insightful investigation into the misunderstood pathways of the brain--and the heart.

Michelle Latiolais is a Professor of English at the University of California at Irvine. She is the author of the novel Even Now which received the Gold Medal for Fiction from the Commonwealth Club of California. Her second novel, A Proper Knowledge, was published this last spring by Bellevue Literary Press. She has published writing in three anthologies, Absolute Disaster, Women on the Edge: Writing from Los Angeles and Woof! Writers on Dogs (November 2008).

Wednesday, March 18 @ 7pm
Dr. Julie Van Rooyen and Dr. Michael Van Rooyen

"Attacking the Epidemic of Gender-Based Violence in Central Africa: Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and the Panzi Hospital Project"

The mission of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative is to relieve human suffering in war and disaster by advancing the science and the practice of humanitarian response worldwide.

Dr. Julie VanRooyen is a gynecologic surgeon, with subspecialty training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. She has worked in several international settings. While at Johns Hopkins, she developed training programs in reproductive health in Azerbaijan. Other international experience includes work in Somalia, Kenya, Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.

Dr. Michael VanRooyen has worked extensively in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in over thirty countries, including recent crises in Bosnia, Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Congo, Honduras, and Iraq.

Generously sponsored by Mike and Polly Smith

Thursday, March 19 @ 7pm
Peter Greenberg, NBC's "Travel Detective"
On his new book, Tough Times, Great Travels: The Travel Detective's Guide to Hidden Deals, Unadvertised Bargains, and Great Experiences

With airlines cutting service, hotel rates soaring, and one of the most unstable economies this country has seen, the thought of taking a trip might seem out of reach. But in Tough Times, Great Travels, the Travel Detective, Peter Greenberg, lets you in on money-saving secrets like: the best day to purchase airline tickets; car rental companies almost willing to pay you to rent their cars; the best hour on the best day to book a hotel room; free activities in 30 cities; cruise ships that discount cabins on the day of the cruise; how to redeem airline miles for flights that are supposedly full; avoiding luggage check-in fees; places where kids can eat and stay for free.

Traveling during an economic meltdown shouldn't result in a personal one for you. With Greenberg's help, you can get packing while the market is crashing.

Tuesday, March 24 @ 7pm
William Lobdell, Noted Columnist
On Losing My Religion
Introduction by Lucille Kuehn

William Lobdell has been a journalist for more than two decades, including 18 years with the Los Angeles Times and its sister newspapers, including a decade as editor of the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa Daily Pilot.

Lobdell's new memoir, Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace, will be published 2/24/2009 by HarperCollins. It has garnered glowing early reviews and endorsements from such disparate people as atheist Christopher Hitchens and Skeptics Society founder Michael Shermer, and a variety of well-known Pentecostal and evangelical pastors and Christian talk radio hosts.

Saturday, April 4 @ 3pm
Franz Wisner
Author of Honeymoon with My Brother

On his new novel, How the World Makes Love: What a Jilted Groom Learned About Love
(L to R: Kurt Wisner, Franz Wisner)

When you've been jilted at the altar and forced to take your already-paid-for honeymoon with your brother, it's fair to say you could learn a thing or two about love. And that's what Franz Wisner sets out to do in How the World Makes Love-traveling to Brazil, Egypt, India, the Czech Republic, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Botswana with a mission: to find out what makes people happy and how couples find each other and stay together.

Funny, warm, and studded with great dating stories from across the globe, How the World Makes Love is the story of one average man's search for happiness in life-a search that turns into the ultimate love story, in the author's own backyard.