Saturday, July 1, 2017

What I am Reading Now ......

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

ARIA Members: If you have not been on radio show Authors Hour or have a new release since you have been on in the past, give us a call at 401-568-4894 or waynewnri@yahoo.com to schedule our fast filling time slots. I only have 104 in a year. Wayne

This is a brand new not yet released book on one of my favorite genres.

Rhode Island Historical Biography

 I will be doing more reviews for St. Martins Press, New York  to promote their Eastern Book Signings Tours
 A WOMAN'S PLACE IS AT THE TOP: A Biography of Annie Smith Peck, Queen of the Climbers (on sale August 1). 
Annie Smith Peck was a darling of Providence, although many folks may not remember that. Annie, a direct descendant of Roger Williams, was born in Providence in 1850 and grew up on North Main Street. She graduated from Providence High School and in 1872, became one of the first graduates of the new Rhode Island Normal School for teachers in Providence, which is now Rhode Island College. Annie’s father, two uncles, and three brothers all graduated from Brown University but Annie was denied due to her gender. Instead, she earned her B.A. and M.A at Michigan and then became the first woman to attend the School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece, where she studied archaeology. 
Annie made her living traveling, climbing mountains, lecturing, and writing between New York, Boston, Chicago, and South America. Never staying in one place for too long and living in rented rooms and hotels for all of her life, Annie never really did have a home. Nevertheless, she always returned to Providence to visit her family. When she did, Annie gave lectures to large audiences in her hometown. The Providence Journal noted that her speaking style indicated “careful study,” and that Annie “held the audience spellbound.” Reporters for the paper described her as a “gifted lecturer with a pleasant personality and a magnetic manner,” a record breaking mountain climber, and a true daughter of Providence. 

All of this to say that Hannah Kimberley's A WOMAN’S PLACE IS AT THE TOP is the first comprehensive biography of this remarkable woman who defied gender stereotypes to transcend the limitations and expectations of her time. I would be happy to send you a galley and I’m including early acclaim below my signature. Thanks so much for your consideration, and I hope we can discuss an interview with Hannah Kimberley on "The Authors Hour" timed to the August 1 publication. 

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