Brooklyn novelist paints musical portrait of Philly
Brooklyn BookBeat: Author To Launch Debut in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn Bridge Park
“Now I live on Prospect Park, which is like winning the lottery every day,” Brooklyn author Marie-Helene Bertino told the Brooklyn Eagle. An award-winning writer, Bertino will celebrate the release her debut novel, “2 a.m. at The Cat’s Pajamas,” with two Brooklyn book launches. On Aug. 4 and 11, Bertino will speak at Fort Greene’s Greenlight Bookstore and at Brooklyn Bridge Park with BookCourt, respectively, to preview her book — a lively story that follows three charming characters over the course of an extraordinary day in Philadelphia.
Madeleine Altimari is a clever and ambitious 9-year-old who hopes to become a jazz singer. Attempting to follow in her late mother’s footsteps, Madeleine faces teasing and taunting at school, but remains determined to make her debut at The Cat’s Pajamas — Philadelphia’s renowned jazz club.
That same day, Madeleine’s fifth-grade teacher, recently-divorced Sarina Greene, anxiously prepares for a dinner party where she’ll be reunited with a love interest from high school.