Liesa Malik relays to her gathered audience that it is widely
regarded that the most influential invention ever to affect modern man was the
movable-type printing press, developed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1439. Allowing for mass communication, an increase
in education and literacy, inspiration and entertainment permanently altered
the structure of society. This fact,
along with a discussion of digital vs. hardcopy books, recycling, repurposing
paper tomes, a trivia game on mystery tv shows, origami and helpful hints on
setting up a still life with books,
all accompanied her book signing and
reading event at the LAC Saturday afternoon.
Oh, and did I mention she’s not only a published author, but a talented
artist as well?
To get the attendees excited about the mystery genre, Liesa
had collected trivia questions on mystery and crime-solving tv shows from
current day all the way back to the 1960’s. A Milky Way candy bar was the prize
for a correct answer. Three correct
answers shouted out despite a mouthful of chocolate garnered the grand prize of
a free copy of her novel. Who would’ve
guessed remembering Allyce Beasley as Ms. Dipesto jabbering jingles on “Moonlighting”
would have won me the prize?
What fun we all had learning to fold heart-shaped origami
bookmarks, learning about the “altered-books” artform, and trying our hands at
folding designs in thrift store hardback cast-offs while Liesa read to us from
her first-in-a-series of Daisy Arthur Mystery Stories, “Faith on the Rocks”.
Chapter one starts off with Daisy’s writing
group finding out one of its own has been found murdered. Place names in the book are all locations within
Littleton, so it’s fun visualizing these familiar locales. While we finished up our page-folding
projects, Liesa managed sales and signed books, kindly donating a portion of
the proceeds to the LAC.
After enjoying too many cookies (did I really need those in
addition to chocolate bars?) I headed home with my personalized copy of “Faith
on the Rocks” and delved into it. Liesa’s
fun writing style, informative passages and development of intrigue definitely
caught my attention. What a great way to
spend my Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, sitting on the patio reading
her novel.
Liesa is available to
visit your group or book club. Contact
her at LiesaMalik.Wordpress.com. I know
she will keep you happily entertained!
Thank goodness for that printing press!
