Esteemed writers to converse, launch books in Cobble Hill

Brooklyn BookBeat

February 26, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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When New York-based writer Therese Walsh began writing “The Moon Sisters: A Novel” (Crown Publishers; March 4, 2013), she was fascinated with telling the story of a young woman’s curious quest to carry out her deceased mother’s unfulfilled dream. She didn’t intend to write a book that drew deeply from the premature death of her father, or her own and her younger sisters’ struggles to carry on after the gravest of life-altering events.

But after five years of writing, “The Moon Sisters” became as much an intricate portrait of grief, sisterhood, and the power of family as a captivating exploration of our ability to grapple with the elusiveness of hope, to tell stories, and to make meaning.

In “The Moon Sisters,” after their mother’s probable suicide, sisters Olivia and Jazz take steps to move on with their lives. Jazz, logical and forward-thinking, tries to focus on her new job, but spirited, strong-willed Olivia—who can see sounds, taste words, and smell sights—is determined to travel to the remote setting of their mother’s unfinished novel to lay her spirit properly to rest. As Jazz and Olivia make their way toward their destination, their journey towards acceptance of their mother’s death becomes as important as their journey to understand themselves and each other.

Walsh will appear in Brooklyn on March 10 to discuss her novel with fellow author Barbara O’Neal, whose “The All You Can Dream Buffet” also goes on sale March 4 (Bantam). The two will speak at BookCourt in Cobble Hill at 7 p.m., after which they will sign books.

O’Neal’s “The All You Can Dream Buffet” presents a cast of four diverse food-blogging friends. Well-known blogger and foodie queen Lavender Wills is proud of her legacy; her blog has a strong following, and her organic farm, Lavender Honey Farms, encompasses her life’s work and success. But with none of her relatives interested in sustaining her estate after she’s gone, she’s determined to find a suitable heir who will follow in her footsteps.

With a hopeful heart, Lavender invites her three closest online friends—all food bloggers and women of different ages and backgrounds—to her home. Coming together will change the Foodie Four in ways they can’t begin to imagine. Some will find love, all will find purpose, and one lucky woman will find herself the new owner of Lavender’s farm.

The March 10 event will begin at 7 p.m. BookCourt is located at 163 Court St. in Cobble Hill.