The Book Festival of the MJCCA (Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta) is marking its 25th anniversary this November with an impressive lineup of authors.
Book lovers will be able to listen, meet and interact with their favorite authors Nov. 5 – 20 in a variety of forums, including author meet-and-greets, book signings, a community read, panel discussions, and much more.
The opening night event will feature musician Kenny Loggins, who will discuss and read from his new children’s book, “Footloose.” Best-selling author Alice Hoffman will appear during a special book club event to talk about her latest, “Faithful.”
More authors slated to appear include Alyson Richman, Peter Bergman, Jeffrey Toobin, Christopher Noxon, Ina Yalof, Carson Kressley, Victoria Kelly, Thelma Adams, Ina Pinkney and bestelling author Jonathan Safran Froer talking about “Here I Am.”
The closing night event, the Eva and George Stern Lecture, will be given by Andy Cohen, host of Bravo TV’s “Watch What Happens: Live,” who will talk about his new memoir, “Superficial.”
For tickets and a complete lineup of events, visit atlantajcc.org.
Select MJCCA Book Festival events
Kenny Loggins, “Footloose” (Acoustic Performance and Talk)
Saturday, Nov. 5, 8:15 p.m. – (Member: $28 / Community: $33 / Premier: $75 – All tickets include a copy of the book. Premier tickets include priority seating and VIP signing line.)
Grammy Award-winning musician Kenny Loggins discusses his career and his children’s book based on his hit song, “Footloose.” He will also perform some of his classic hits.
Robert Wittman, “The Devil’s Diary” and Brian Curtis, “Fields of Battle”
Sunday, Nov. 6, noon – (Member: $10 / Community: $15)
“The Devil’s Diary” investigates the disappearance of a private diary penned by one of Adolf Hitler’s top aides — Alfred Rosenberg, his “chief philosopher.” Curtis, a Dunwoody resident and New York Times bestselling author, writes about World War II and football.
Yael Dayan, “Transitions”
Sunday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. – (Member: $13 / Community: $18)
Yael Dayan, novelist daughter of the legendary Israeli leader Moshe Dayan, looks back at her life.
Dr. Joel Hoffman, “The Bible Doesn’t Say That”
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 12:30 p.m. – (Member: $10 / Community: $15)
Translator and biblical scholar Hoffman explores what the Bible meant before its misinterpretation during the past 2,000 years.
Peter Bergen, “United States of Jihad”
Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. – (Member: $18 / Community: $24)
A look at how recent ISIS-inspired attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, Orlando and Nice show that “homegrown” terrorism is a real and present danger.
Shep Gordon, “They Call Me Supermensch”
Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. – (Member: $18 / Community: $24, Ticket includes author talk and film)
A memoir by the Hollywood talent agent and film producer. At 6:30 p.m., prior to the author talk, there will be a screening of a related documentary film, “Supermensch,” directed by comedian Mike Myers. Admission $5 for the film only.
Alice Hoffman, “Faithful: A Novel”
Monday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. – (Member: $13 / Community: $18)
The New York Times bestselling novelist’s latest book is about a woman coping with guilt after her friend’s accident.
Jeffrey Toobin, “American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst”
Saturday, Nov. 19, 8 p.m. – (Member: $18 / Community: $24)
Bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin offers up a history of the 1974 kidnapping and trial of Patty Hearst.
Andy Cohen, “Superficial”
Sunday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. – (Member: $28 / Community: $33 / Premier: $75 – All tickets include a copy of “Superficial.” Premier tickets include priority seating and VIP signing line)
This Program will be “In Conversation With…” Phaedra Park of the TV show Real Housewives of Atlanta.” The host of “Watch What Happens: Live” and executive producer of the “Real Housewives” franchise discusses his career.