Celebrity Authors Read at CALM 27th Annual Luncheon

This year’s celebrity author lineup includes Tiffany Baker, Marcia Clark, Cat Cora, and Milt Larsen. Andrew Firestone will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event, and the authors will be interviewed by Debby Davison and Tom Weitzel. Book sales and signing will begin at 10:00 am. Lunch will be served at 11:45 am, and author interviews will begin at 12:45 pm. Tickets are $125. For tickets or more information, please call (805) 967-1954 or visit www.calm4kids.org. All ticket proceeds and a percentage of book sales will benefit CALM, the only nonprofit in Santa Barbara County focused solely on preventing, assessing, and treating child abuse.

CALM Auxiliary members Becky Cohn and Carolyn Gillio are co-chairing the luncheon for the second year in a row, and shared, “We are looking forward to another entertaining event this year, and think guests will be thrilled to hear from these authors who all have such compelling stories to share.”

Since 1986, the CALM Auxiliary women have raised over one million dollars to help children and families in Santa Barbara recover from the devastation of child abuse, and to live happier, healthier lives.

This year’s interviewed authors include:

Tiffany Baker is a New York Times bestselling author of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County (2010), and is now introducing her second novel The Gilly Salt Sisters (2012), “a heartfelt tale of family relationships, small-town drama, and new opportunities” (Booklist). Baker writes a recipe for her “writing life,” and includes “a handful of islands… three small children… one husband… indecent amounts of chocolate and coffee… a view of a grassy ridge and an old gum tree.” The islands refer to the wonderful islands in which she has lived, including Manhattan, Corsica, Maui, and the UK. Baker earned a graduate degree in creative writing from UC Irvine and then a PhD in Victorian Literature. She now lives outside San Francisco with her husband and three children. For more information, visit www.tiffanybaker.com.

Marcia Clark is a former Los Angeles deputy district attorney who was the lead prosecutor on the O. J. Simpson murder case. She co-wrote a bestselling nonfiction book about the trial, Without a Doubt (1997), and is a frequent media commentator on legal issues. Now a special correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, Clark covers high-profile trials, writes a column for the Daily Beast, and provides legal commentary for multiple shows on CNN/HLN, NBC, and ABC. Clark has also sold hour-long pilots to the FX network, Lifetime, and VH1, and developed a half hour comedy for NBC. Marcia has published three novels which feature LA Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight: Guilt by Association (2012), Guilt by Degrees (2012), and Killer Ambition, which is due out in June 2013. For more information about Marcia Clark, please visit www.marciaclarkbooks.com.

Cat Cora is a world-renowned chef who made television history in 2005 as the first and only female Iron Chef on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. Her culinary aspirations began at the early age of 15 when she had developed a business plan for her own restaurant in her native Mississippi. Cora’s culinary career truly began when she moved to New York City, studied at The Culinary Institute of America, and worked for Chef Anne Rozenweig at Arcadia and for Chef Larry Forgione at the Beekman Tavern. Since her first New York days, Cora has traveled the world as a chef, TV host, author, and philanthropist sharing her love of healthy and delicious food. Her third cookbook, Cat Cora’s Classics With A Twist, showcases timeless recipes with fast and healthy twists, and she says, “I purposely designed the recipes in this book to make them more appealing for everyday cooking.” For more information about Cat Cora, please visit www.catcora.com.

Milt Larsen is best known for his role in the world of magic, however he is also a true renaissance man, in that his career encompasses writing, producing, and performing. In 1956, he and his brother began the annual stage show “It’s Magic!” – a show that in September 2006 would earn Larsen and his late brother Bill a star on the Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. In 1963, he founded the world famous private club for magicians, the Magic Castle in Hollywood. The Magic Castle has been a base for Larsen’s collections, a setting for his stories, and a home for his productions – both magical and on television. As a writer, he is best known in the field of audience participation, having written “Truth or Consequences” starring Bob Barker for 18 years. He has also authored joke books and three books involving the Magic Castle. His latest book, My Magical Journey: The First 30,000 Days follows Larsen through his journey of life so far, including his early days, the dream of the Magic Castle, and his many other ventures. For more information about Milt Larsen, please visit www.miltlarsen.com.

In addition to the interviewed authors, the following authors will also attend the event and be available for book signing:

Kevin Bourke, Make Your Money Last A Lifetime

Joan Calder, Airplanes in the Garden

D. J. Clancy, Lipstick on His Forehead and Tears in His Fur

Maxwell Dickinson, No Trail Untried

Neal Graffy,Santa Barbara, Then and Now

Rich Grimes, Angel in my Backpack

Mary Hershey, My Big Sister Is So Bossy She Says You Can’t Read This Book

Suzanne Landry, The Passionate Vegetable

Marni McGee, Hallowed Be and Sleepy Me

Dan Poynter, The Self Publishing Manual

Bud Stuart, Feeding Fido and Fluffy Too

Leslie Westbrook, Santa Barbara City College, A Century of Success and Insiders Guide to Santa Barbara

CALM was founded in 1970 to reach stressed parents before they hurt their children. CALM continues to be the only non-profit agency in Santa Barbara County focusing solely on preventing, assessing, and treating child abuse and family violence through comprehensive, cutting-edge programs. CALM offers children, families, and adults a safe, non-judgmental, caring, and strength-based environment to heal and increase family well being. For more information about all of CALM’s services, please call 805-965-2376, or visit www.calm4kids.org.