This Remarkable Week

Not since the Decatur Book Festival – okay, I realize that this was only last month — have so many accomplished authors visited the Atlanta area in a single week. Just check out this list: actress and author Gena Gershon, musician and author Eric Litwin in concert, pop-up art genius Matthew Reinhart, Eragon author Christopher Paolini, the incomparable David Sedaris, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler, and social critic Camille Paglia will each be in town this week.

Gena Gershon, author of In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind, Wednesday, October 24th, 7pm, Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.

“The Center for the Book doesn’t often have the opportunity to present celebrities outside the literary world, so we’re excited to be able to present a special appearance by the popular film and television actress Gina Gershon. She is the author of a new book that ought to have a wide appeal to pet lovers, especially cat fanciers: it’s ”In Search of Cleo,” all about the star’s desperate and surprising two-month search for her beloved lost cat Cleo. Along the way, roaming through the back streets of Los Angeles, Gershon met up with an astonishing group of real characters, from hippies to mystics, and even encountered Ellen DeGeneres, who joins in the search and recommends her own pet psychic. … This will be a free event with no tickets or reservations. Please, no memorabilia. Ms.Gershon will only sign copies of her book at this event.”

Eddie Owen Presents Eric Litwin in Concert, New York Times bestselling author of Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, will perform at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth along with Michael Levine, Saturday, October 27th, 12 p.m. This is in celebration of the release of the fourth Pete book. You may be unaware of what a national phenomenon that James Dean’s Pete the Cat has become: these picture books have easily outsold all other picture books in the U.S. this year. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for kids. Click here for more information.

Matthew Reinhart, author and pop-up book creator of Star Wars: A Galactic Pop Up Adventure, Saturday, October 27th, starting at 1 p.m., signing only, Little Shop of Stories, free. Matthew is perhaps the premier pop-up book artist working today, and this is perhaps his most amazing work. Click here for more information.

Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon and The Inheritance Cycle, Saturday, October 27th, 7 p.m., at Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College and hosted by Little Shop of Stories, free.

“Boy Wonder Christopher Paolini, author of the Inheritance series which began with Eragon (penned when he was a mere 15 years old) is finally coming to visit! We are hosting him at the lovely Presser Hall on the Agnes Scott College campus. Doors will open at 6:30pm, first to arrive, first seated. Christopher will present with a signing to follow.” Little Shop of Stories

An Evening with David Sedaris, author of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, Saturday, October 27th, 8 p.m. at Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall, tickets through Ticketmaster.

“The evening is being presented by WABE-FM 90.1 FM and National Public Radio News. Sedaris’ latest book is “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.” The author’s last two Atlanta area appearances were held at the Cobb Energy Centre, a venue that inspired many of Sedaris’ in-town OTP-phobic fans to loiter in the lobby before the event and gripe into their $12 plastic chardonnay glasses. A Cappella Books owner Frank Reiss and the event’s official book supplier tells us he’s ordering hundreds of Sedaris titles for the signing and, not surprisingly, among Sedaris’ hardcore constituency, his older titles still sell best and of course, his inimitable audio books recorded by the author himself.” Atlanta Magazine

Robert Olen Butler, author of The Hot Country, Tuesday, October 30th at 7:15 p.m., Decatur Library Auditorium, free.

“We are honored to welcome back Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler with a wonderful new novel, ”The Hot Country.” It’s an exciting tale of intrigue and espionage, set in Mexico in 1914 during that country’s civil war and features a swashbuckling American war correspondent. With high spirits and a thriller pace, Bob Butler’s latest novel is not to be missed. We’ll have first edition copies for you to buy and get signed, too. Butler won the Pulitzer for his story collection ”Good Scent from a Strange Mountain,” and among his best-selling novels are ”Hell: A Novel,” ”A Small Hotel,” ”Mr. Spaceman” and ”They Whisper.”” Georgia Center for the Book

Camille Paglia, author of Glittering Images: A Journey Through Art from Egypt to Star Wars, Tuesday, October 30th at 6:30 p.m., at SCAD Atlanta,1600 Peachtree St., general admission is $10 or free with the purchase of a book at $32. Tickets will also be available at A Cappella Books..

“In her groundbreaking “Sexual Personae,” Camille Paglia turned her incisive eye on beauty and decadence in literature, art, and popular culture. In her new book, “Glittering Images: A Journey Through Art from Egypt to Star Wars,” Paglia returns to the subject that brought her fame, tackling the great themes of Western art in an enthralling tour through more than two dozen seminal images, some famous and others obscure or unknown.” SCAD

Mark Your Calendars

Salman Rushdie, November 4th

Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman), November 5th