deorath

Come Join the Fun at our

`Knock On Wood'

Locally raised author creates
a fairy" tale about moving away.

character in the book, albeit with a
slightly different name spell.
While Lipson has been a teacher as
well, she also worked as an editor and
literary agent and used her experience
and connections to self-publish.
"I had packaged other books, which
often entailed posing my own concept
to an expert, creating a writing team,
helping to structure the book proposal
and later the book itself, selling that
proposal to a publisher and negotiat-
ing the contract," Lipson explains.
"Sometimes, I'd even write material of
my own as a ghost writer for packaged
books."

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

usan Lipson offers children a
chance to see through rose-
colored eyeglasses, and it's all
in the name of coping.
Her new book, Knock on Wood (Leba
House; 512.95), is about a young girl
who must face up to moving away
from a home she loves to one that is
less expensive. The illustrations, to be
seen through so-called "magic" lenses
provided with each copy, reveal the
wood fairy that helps the youngster get
through the tough times.
Lipson, who grew
up in Southfield and
Susan Lipson:
West Bloomfield
"Although I have
and now makes her
a lot of old
home in California,
friends still in
will be in Michigan
Michigan, I real-
this month for two
ly believe that
signings at Barnes &
moving has been
Noble stores —
beneficial to me."
Aug. 23 in West
Bloomfield and Aug.
24 in Grosse Pointe.
"I happened to be
A( L•
sitting in my daugh-
ter's room and
‘04,.....6,.,,,
.14.
.0„. ..• „ ...N..,.
..,.
looked up at a piece
4,
4.,,,,,,, .i.,
.. ...,,,,, ..,.....„, .„„,„.6.• _ 4,..*,
.,.,.,,,,,
-,,, *4:$
.4'44.
of art we had on the
wall," recalls Lipson,
. ''• 4 .' ,,,4:„'cv. r
, ''''''4 ,-,,-„,,„,,, E; .
.4. '4',,
40, about the start-
4,
4 ....4.
4
*.d.
ing point for her
. , ' 4. -4,
''''""'
4 4, A visasft., , , , "''''' '''''' . , i
'
.,•."
fantasy tale. "It was
miinc,-s16121T G 1,A
...S SES•••
constructed by an
•
..
..
..
artist out of a wood
knot with a face drawn around it.
Lipson discussed her options for
As I was looking at it, the face sudden-
ly had a name, Althea, and I said to
marketing her work with a good
friend and best-selling author, and he
myself, Althea sounds like a fairy's name.'
Then I just started asking questions. How
advised her to go for it. She estab-
would she get there? Why would she be
lished a distribution agreement with a
there? Who would discover her?"
major distributor, and has her book on
Lipson created the character of a
all of the major online booksellers'
Web sites, "with Barnes & Noble
young girl who doesn't want to move
being my best client," she says.
out of her house because she has this
Knock on Wood, written for readers
fairy on her wall, and the ideas all
snowballed just from the name
between the ages of 9 and 13, was tested
"Althea," she says.
on the author's own children — Elle,
11; Ian, 9; and Lainey, 7 — as well as
A University of Michigan graduate,
the author recalls coming up with sto-
fellow writers and teachers. It developed
ries since second grade, when her
from a storybook into a 133-page short
novel on the advice of family and pros.
teacher, Joyce Blumer at Southfield's
The illustrations were done by one
Adler Elementary School, encouraged
artist on the recommendation of
her writing and predicted her ultimate
career. The author made Blumer a
KNOCK ON WOOD on page 82

Complimentary
Hors D'oeuvres
•
Sweet Table
(
•
Dancing &
Entertainment
•
Cash Bar

23rd
Anniversary
Party

Monday, August 27
5 p.m. - Midnight

There will be a $5 per person charge
for charity to enter the party.

Fine Dining • Dancing • Entertainment
Tuesday Through Saturday

Catering to your Home. Office or at
Our Restaurant or Banquet Room

Now Appearing

Tuseday Thru Thursday

Friday and Saturday

BILLY ROSE

JIM PARAVANTES

QUARTET
BAND
28875 Franklin Rd. at Northwestern & 12 Mile Southfield, MI • 248 358-3355

Brandeis University
Used Book Sale 2001

Michigan's Largest and Best

TEL-1 2 MALL

Telegraph at 12 Mile Rd., Southfield

Sale continues August 15 thru August 19
10 A.M. - 9 P.M. Daily, Noon - 5 P.M. Sunday
FREE ADMISSION

BOOKS 1/2 PRICE
Saturday, August 18 & Sunday August 19

Sponsored by the Greater Detroit Chapter Brandeis University National I.Vomen's Committee

.. ,

'

., ..
- 65

,

', ay: ,

' '....,,„„ .

-.

;
,..... ,,,,,.:
v,..
...:.

of Aul urn Hills

Servingmemorable Italian lunches and Dinners since 1939
Open Seven Days

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m
Saturday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

• Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday 12 noon to 9 p.m.

885 Opdyke Road
(Across from the Silver Dome)

248 • 373 • 4440

• Baby Lamb Shish Kabob
• Lamb Chops Shish Kafta
• Shish Tawook
• Deboned Chicken • Potato Chop
• Chicken Cream Chop White Fish

(American & Chaldean-Style)

Call us for all your catering needs

20 Parties
'oFF ALL CATERING!!
of 20 people or more

Middle-Eastern
Dining

29222 Orchard Lake Road, S. of 13 Mile

Farmington Hills

(248) 855-1122

Fax (248) 865-6001

20%OFF

LUNCH OR DINNER ENTREE
DINE IN
OR CARRYOUT
7 DAYS A WEEK!

With Coupon

Expires 8-31-01

www.food.com/desertsands
LUNCH SPECIALS 3951 4951 595 Dail
We Serve Cocktails & Wine

8/17
2001

81