Kate Evans and Patricia Harrelson at Books Inc. in the Castro February 5, 2009

Authors Kate Evans and Patricia Harrelson will be stopping by to read from their newest books “For the May Queen” & “Between Two Women”.

For the May Queen:
It's 1981 and 17-year-old Norma Rogers' parents drop her off at the college dorms. Soon, Norma finds herself drunk and nearly naked with three strangers. The strip poker event is the first of many experiences that prompt Norma to question who she is-and who she wants to be. Norma's relationships with an array of characters induce her to grapple with society's messages about women, sex, and freedom. These characters include Jack, her aloof on-again, off-again boyfriend; Goat, her antsy dorm neighbor; Liz Chan, a pot-smoking sorority girl; Benny Moss, a nerdy guy who has a thing for Liz; and Paul Fellows, Benny's roommate, whom Norma calls "Chuck" because he reminds her of Charlie Brown. Chuck, a witty aficionado of old films, plays a pivotal role in Norma's discoveries about life's possibilities, as does Norma's roommate Stacy-a beautiful, kind, and somewhat mysterious blonde. Many tumultuous events take Norma through an array of troubles, pleasures, and thrills: from drug use and ominous encounters with strangers, to rowdy parties and road trips, to queer coming-out surprises. In the midst of these incidents-which are peppered with 1970's and 1980's pop cultural references-Norma reflects on her desire for freedom (sexual and otherwise). Reinforcing these themes are the intermittent appearances of her middle-class parents and her sister, as well as her best friend from high school whose life in a small town-as she prepares for her upcoming wedding-is poles apart from Norma's. Ultimately Norma comes to see that there are many ways to live and love.

Between Two Women:
Married for 33 years and the mother of three grown children, Patricia leads a comfortable life. But one day, she crosses the line into the arms of a woman. Once there, she can’t ignore the emotional intensity she’s found. Within three months, she leaves her husband to live with her lover.

Facing family and friends who are bewildered and disturbed, Patricia begins to question much of what she has always believed. Each night, she wakes trembling with uncertainty. Trying to regain balance, she turns to gay and feminist books and publications. But the ideas she finds there further disrupt her sense of self.

Then she meets Carol, a sixty-nine-year-old woman who knew from the time she was a child that she was lesbian. A friendship blossoms as Carol tells Patricia the story of her closeted life during the 50s and 60s living with and loving woman. Their conversations are lively with the wit of the elder woman and thoughtfully reflective as Patricia grapples with the consequences of her impulsiveness

About the author:
Kate Evans is an active environmental campaigner who has been marrying words and images for political effect for ten years. Her previous books include Funny Weather and Copse.

Patricia Harrelson is a retired college English teacher who works as a freelance writer. In addition to writing theater reviews and feature articles, she has published poetry and essays in literary magazines.

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Books Inc. is a locally owned and operated independent bookseller with 10 locations in California. Books Inc.’s origin dates back to the Gold Rush Days of 1851 when Anton Roman struck it rich in Shasta City, California and set himself up in business selling books. That small bookstore was moved, bought, sold, burned, rebuilt, renamed and became Books Inc., as we know it today, in 1946.

Today, with 10 Stores and 200 employees, Books Inc. serves as a shining example that independent bookselling can survive and prosper, even if we must dance among the elephants.

This Event is Free at Books Inc. 2275 Market St., San Francisco 94114
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