The 15th annual Jewish Book Fair, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties, will feature nine authors at four different events in Lee County next month.
Naomi Rubin, Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties program director, said the Jewish Book Fair began 15 years ago “to bring Jewish culture and literature to Southwest Florida.”
She said the authors who are chosen to speak during the event are hand-picked from a conference held in New York every year.
Each of the authors featured at the Jewish Book Fair, Rubin had the opportunity to hear speak about their books during the New York conference, along with meeting them in person and holding a conversation with them.
She said the conference provides her with the opportunity to hear and see who speaks well and who would fit into the Southwest Florida area.
“We do two authors at each event,” Rubin said. “We do not do panels or connected topics, so there is something for everyone.”
The Jewish Book Fair will kick off Dec. 6, featuring two authors at Miromar Outlets at the Restaurant Piazza in Estero at 3 p.m.
The free event will feature authors Joshua Halberstam, who wrote “A Seat at the Table,” and Jonathan Tropper, who wrote “This is Where I Leave You.”
The next free event will be held Dec. 9 at the Jewish Federation, located at 9701 Commerce Center Court, off of Bass Road and Summerlin Road, in Fort Myers.
The authors will be Pam Jenoff, who wrote “Almost Home,” and Lev Raphael, who will speak about “My Germany.”
A luncheon featuring two authors will be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Bell Tower mall. The event requires advanced reservations and costs $25 to attend.
If individuals want to preorder either of the authors’ books and attend the luncheon, the cost is $58.
Individuals can also purchase the authors’ books at the event for $20 a piece.
The luncheon will feature author Nancy Bachrach, who wrote “The Center of the Universe,” and S.J. Rozan, who wrote “The Shanghai Moon.”
Reservations can be made by calling the Jewish Foundation at 481-4449.
The last free event, which will feature three authors, will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers.
Rich Cohen will speak about his book, “Israel is Real,” Lauren Grodstein will speak about her book, “A Friend of the Family,” and local author Richard M. Rosenbaum will speak about “No Room for Democracy.”
“We do offer the book at every event at a 20 percent discount, which are all brand new books published in 2009,” Rubin said.
The authors will autograph their books after they speak.
“It is a lot of fun. None of these authors will bore you, make you yawn or say, ‘Why have I come?'” she said.
“I have read all of the books, they are wonderful,” Rubin added.
All of the authors are flying from all over the country to speak at the book fair, which is open to the public.
For more information, visit: www.jewishfederationlcc.org or call 481-4449.