Book Club Features New York Times® Bestselling Authors, Web Chats,
Informal Readings, Writing Classes and Journaling

AUSTIN, TX – Instead of grabbing their Jimmy Choo shoes and heading to the latest restaurant, more and more women are reaching for their favorite bottle of wine, casserole dish and latest book and going to their friend’s house for book club. This year Lake Austin Spa Resort welcomes a plethora of New York Times® bestselling authors to the shores of beautiful Lake Austin where friends will gather amongst great food, delectable spa treatments and engaging conversations with some of the most prominent literary names today. The new For the Love of Books Club, will feature discussions, web chats, book club cooking demos, journaling classes and more.

Notable upcoming authors include Annie Barrows (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), Jill Connor Browne/The Sweet Potato Queen (American Thighs), Ron Hall (Same Kind of Different as Me), Jane Hamilton, (Laura Rider’s Masterpiece) and Chris Bohjalian(Skeletons at the Feast),

Sample Activities
Author Reception and Tea
Meet and greet our featured guest author.

Food for Life
Listen to excerpts from famous food memoirs, learn tips on creating your own food memoir, and enjoy reliving your funniest, most delicious, most poignant meals and memories.

Web Chat with the Author
Open to the public, this allows book enthusiasts to ask questions of the featured author in an online format.

Book Club
Join us for a conversation with our special guest author as we savor wine and cheese and share our love of books.

Journal Writing for Health
Learn how to jumpstart a journal, or keep your current journal going. Class will include discussion, writing exercises and optional sharing.

Cooking Demonstration
Learn how to create healthy dishes to take to your next book club gathering.

August 21-22, 2009
Comfort Food
Kate Jacobs is the author of Knit Two, Comfort Food and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Friday Night Knitting Club.

October 23-24, 2009
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society When Annie Barrows’ aunt, Mary Ann Shaffer sold her first novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, there was cause of great celebration within the family, but soon thereafter, Mary Ann’s health began to fail. In the autumn of that year, she received the editor’s request for revisions, she did not feel well enough to undertake the work, and asked Annie to finish the book for her, since Annie had authored several non-fiction and childrens’ books. Mary Ann passed away in February of 2008, before the book was published.

November 20-21, 2009
Laura Rider’s Masterpiece Jane Hamilton is the author of numerous award-winning books, including The Book of Ruth, A Map of the World, The Short History of a Prince, When Madeline Was Young and her latest book Laura Rider's Masterpiece debuted in April of 2009.

December 11-12, 2009
Same Kind of Different As Me First time co-author Ron Hall’s true story of an international art dealer and a modern-day slave from Louisiana and how they become friends after the art dealer is roped into volunteering at a homeless shelter by his saintly wife. January 22-23, 2010

Skeletons at the Feast Chris Bohjalian is the author of eleven novels, including the New York Times bestsellers, Skeletons at the Feast, The Double Bind, Before You Know Kindness, The Law of Similars and Midwives.

ABOUT LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT
Nestled along the shores of scenic Lake Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Lake Austin Spa Resort offers guests the sanctuary of a world-class spa and the warmth of a best friend’s lake house. Lake Austin Spa Resort offers all-inclusive vacation packages, which include accommodations in one of 40 charming lakeside guest rooms, three gourmet meals daily, indoor and outdoor fitness activities and classes, and a selection of spa and body treatments.

The resort has received numerous awards from prestigious national travel and spa magazines since its multi-million dollar renovation and expansion in 2004. Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Allure, the Zagat Survey, Health, Garden Design, SpaFinder Lifestyle, Spa Magazine and American Airlines’ Celebrated Living magazine have recently honored Lake Austin Spa Resort as one of the best in the country and in the world. For additional information and reservations, call 800-847-5637, or visit www.lakeaustin.com

###