Visit Border Crossings @ Books & Authors Event on Sunday, 10/28

Riding on a high from a fantastic BOOK LAUNCH PARTY here in Detroit on 10/21/12, Border Crossings: Coming of Age in the Czech Resistance  by  Charles Novacek will be heading a few miles north this weekend to Leon & Lulu’s, a quirky and wonderful retail establishment located in the repurposed historic Ambassador Roller Skating Rink at 96 W. Fourteen Mile Road in Clawson, http://www.leonandlulu.com. Please come!

Leon & Lulu’s will celebrate the written word and the hard-working writers who put pen to paper with its annual Books & Authors event held on Sunday, October 28 from 11am to 5pm. This event is a great opportunity for readers to meet over 40 local authors, have a chat and get their books signed.  I will be representing Charles and will be there to sell and sign Border Crossings. Even if you don’t want to buy anything just being in the store is great fun and the owner Mary Liz Curtain says to “expect the three R’s at the event: Reading ‘Riting and Refreshments.”

For the second year as part of the event, Leon and Lulu are teaming up with The Detroit Free Press Gift of Reading.  There will be an appearance by The Detroit Free Press’ YAK, and they will be collecting children’s books for their organization to distribute to children in Detroit.  In addition, all raffle and t-shirt proceeds, as well as 10% of the day’s sales will be donated to the Gift of Reading.  Of course, traditional roller rink fare will be available all day.  With this exciting literary event so close to Halloween, everyone is welcome one to attend dressed as their favorite character, author or literary critic!

I fell in love with the store Leon & Lulu (named after the owner’s cat and dog) when they opened 6+ years ago, not only because they have unique merchandise and a great customer service ethic, (how many places have staff that greet you at the door on roller skates, carrying a tray of freshly baked cookies and coffee accompanied by a friendly dog named Spot ), BUT – they support artists and authors and have fundraisers for important organizations in Detroit and the metro area including blood drives and pet adoption. Last year they had 51 such events.

In particular, Leon & Lulu supports an organization right in Charles’ and my own Cass Corridor, Detroit neighborhood, Cass Community Social Services (CASS) which serves and employs Detroit’s homeless population. The store sells mud mats made from woven discarded tires and beads. CASS employs  homeless men and women to collect illegally dumped tires from Detroit streets and then weave them into doormats for homes and businesses.  Since August 2007, the program has recycled more than 10,000 tires (at no cost to the city) and has sold more than 5,000 mats.  The tires are power washed, cut into strips and woven onto wires separated by beads, whose colors may be custom ordered.

“We are willing to try almost anything to raise money for a good cause, expand our reach and make new friends,” the owner Mary Liz Curtin says.

This is one of many events Border Crossings will be a part of to get the word out on the book and support the community. Please come and be a part of the journey. Do you have any suggestions on other locations you think Border Crossings should visit?