Kathi Koll, Kick-Ass Kinda Girl

Tuesday, January 29, 7 p.m.

Newport Beach resident and author Kathi Koll will introduce her beautifully written memoir, Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love and Caregiving, inspired by her experiences caring for her late husband, developer Donald Koll, whose debilitating stroke changed their lives dramatically.  Kathi unveils a moving story of resilience and inspiration in her first book.

Flor Edwards, Apocalypse Child

Tuesday, February 5, 7 p.m.

In her memoir, Flor movingly describes her early life growing up with her family and 11 siblings as a member of The Children of God, a controversial religious movement that many describe as an apocalyptic cult. Meet the author, who lived the first twelve years of her life in a nomadic cult, traveling to 24 different locations across three continents.

Dr. Nancy Segal, Accidental Brothers

Thursday, February 21, 7 p.m.

For Dr. Nancy Segal, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and Director of the Twin Studies Center, the riveting story of two sets of twins separated at birth and improbably reunited as adults, became a dream case for exploring nature vs. nurture. Accidental Brothers tells the unique story of two sets of identical Colombian twin brothers who discovered at age 25 that they were mistakenly raised as fraternal twins ― when they were not even biological brothers.

Dr. Himmet Dajee and Patrice Apodaca, A Boy Named Courage: A Surgeon’s Memoir of Apartheid

Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m.

Author and Newport Beach surgeon Dr. Himmet Dajee, along with co-author Patrice Apodaca, talk about their book, A Boy Named Courage, which tells the rags to riches tale of an Indian immigrant boy's journey from his home of apartheid South Africa, with its racism and the bigotry and hatred of the Afrikaner ruling class, to realizing the dream of a medical degree and a career as a heart surgeon. It is a story of resilience, brotherly love, gratitude, and perseverance

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Deborah Gaal, The Dream Stitcher

Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m.

Local author Deborah Gaal made several career changes from actor to business owner and consultant, before finally returning to her dream of living a creative life by writing. Since then, she has written two full-length works of fiction and received the San Diego State University Writer’s Conference “Editor’s Choice Award.”

Come meet Deborah and hear more about her journey and her new book, "The Dream Stitcher".  "The Dream Stitcher" tells the captivating story of a young Polish woman with magical stitching talents who helps the Polish resistance fighters during World War II.