{"id":21886,"date":"2015-05-17T00:01:42","date_gmt":"2015-05-17T07:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/barbarafalconernewhall.com\/?p=21886"},"modified":"2015-05-17T00:01:42","modified_gmt":"2015-05-17T07:01:42","slug":"at-orinda-books-the-author-talked-and-so-did-the-audience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/at-orinda-books-the-author-talked-and-so-did-the-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"At Orinda Books: The Author Talked — And So Did the Audience"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Author<\/a>
Hesed Community<\/a> founder Sister Barbara Hazzard, right, joined me for a book talk at Orinda Books yesterday. Photo by Jon Newhall<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Barbara Falconer Newhall<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe it was the coffee we served. Maybe it was the chocolate chip cookies. Maybe it was something about the self-selected score of people who decided to spend their Saturday afternoon listening to the author\u00a0read from Wrestling with God<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Or perhaps\u00a0it had to do with the welcoming ambiance that owners Maria\u00a0and Danny Roden have established for authors and readers in the months since they took over ownership\u00a0of\u00a0Orinda Books<\/a> in Orinda, California, last July.<\/p>\n

\"Maria<\/a>
Maria Roden, left, co-owner of Orinda Books, encourages\u00a0group conversations in her bookstore. Photo by Jon Newhall<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Probably it was all of the above: a perfect storm that produced a lively interaction between the author, the delightful\u00a0people who showed up yesterday afternoon\u00a0—\u00a0and Sister Barbara Hazzard, who very kindly\u00a0agreed to read from her part of\u00a0the book.<\/p>\n

Jon was there to put out the coffee and cookies — and bravely shoot video sans tripod. (I’ll be posting some of the results below, as soon as\u00a0the video uploads onto YouTube.)<\/p>\n

More about Sister Barbara at\u00a0“Sister Barbara Hazzard — How to Pray Without Words.”<\/a>\u00a0More about Jon at “My Killer Shoes — Brought Down to Size by Those 4 1\/2-inch Heels.”<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

To get regular updates on my book, \u00a0my rocky spiritual journey, and\u00a0my life with Jon, click on the subscribe button at the top of the right hand column.<\/em><\/p>\n

Video of the Q&A — Wobbly but Fun<\/h4>\n