Mayor Robert Garcia Launches Book Club Encouraging Residents To Read More Books
Mayor Robert Garcia has launched a “Mayor’s Book Club,” that will feature local writers and an annual conversation and event. His first book selection is “I’m Dyin’ Here: A Life in the Paper,” by longtime Press-Telegram reporter and columnist Tim Grobaty. “I’m Dyin’ Here” is published by Long Beach based Brown Paper Press.
A community conversation and interview with the author will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 6:00 P.M. at the Beverly O’Neill Theater. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a discussion by Mayor Garcia and Mr. Grobaty. Participants are encouraged to read “I’m Dyin’ Here” before the event.
Every year, the Mayor’s Book Club will feature a different author.
“I just loved ‘I’m Dyin’ Here’ and thought it would be great to kick off the first Mayor’s Book Club with a book by Long Beach’s own Tim Grobaty ,” said Mayor Garcia. “It’s an honest and extremely funny look at life in the newspaper business and here in Long Beach, and I really appreciate Tim agreeing to participate in this event.”
“I’m Dyin’ Here” is Grobaty’s fourth book, but his first to focus on his time at the Press-Telegram. It is available for check-out at all Long Beach libraries, and can be purchased online at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and the publisher’s website, brownpaperpress.com, and locally at the Brass Lamp, MADE in Long Beach, Fingerprints, Gatsby Books, and Barnes & Noble. The book will also be on sale at the event, and Mr. Grobaty will sign copies after the discussion.
“He could’ve gone with real literature,” said Grobaty, who is known for his wry and often sardonic humor, “but I’m glad he didn’t pick a comic book.”
The event is sponsored by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation.
“The Long Beach Public Library Foundation is proud to stand with Mayor Garcia as he champions literacy in our community. City-wide book clubs have proved enormously successful in Long Beach, and with our own hometown author Tim Grobaty, the Mayor’s Book Club is sure to be a lot of fun.”
Participants are requested to RSVP at http://grobaty.eventbrite.com