Below are a few selected photos from the Official Book Launch Party for The Fire. The soirée was held in a unique location in Georgetown, Washington, DC.
Among my co-hosts was Grandmaster Susan Polgar. Susan was the first female player to qualify for the male Grandmaster Title (1986), and held the title of Women’s World Chess Champion from 1996 to 1999. She is also the founding president of SPICE “Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence”, which promotes chess education throughout the US, especially for girls.
Entrance to L2 Lounge in Cady’s Alley, October 14 2008
Giant Black Queen at L2 Lounge entry
“The Fire”, a special dessert drink, was prepared for the party: champagne, cranberry puree and raspberry brandy. And a dash of Tabasco provided by Nora!
Susan Polgar’s autobiography, “Breaking Through” & THE FIRE
Rose Prosecco, Cava, and Champagne greet the guests
Smithsonian Libraries director Nancy Gwinn and Library of Congress director, Centerfor the Book, John Cole
Nancy Coble Damon, director of the VA Festival of the Book, Charlotteville
Paul Truong & Susan Polgar, chess master Dan Heisenberg and Mrs Heisenberg
James Cerruti and Katherine’s publisher Libby McGuire
Katherine’s wonderful editor, Mark Tavani
Author Ellen Crosby with Genie Ford and Pat Daly of Books & Crannies, Middleburg VA
Willee Lewis of PEN Faulkner, Richard & Carolyn Restak
Graham Down & Liz Liptak, president of Washington Literacy Council
George Van Horne, Smithsonian Psychology Archive & mountaineer John Owen
Ballantine publisher Elizabeth McGuire, publicity guru LIsa Barnes & sales guru Sherry Virtz
Author Dan Stashower and Dr Deb Stokes
9Party Co-hosts Grandmaster Susan Polgar and author Mary Lynn Kotz (“Rauschenberg”)
Egyptologist Dr Dian Fetter and Sally Meadows of National Wildlife Federation
Mary Lynn Kotz and Christine Fox
Author Sophy Burnham & Dr Jim Gordon
Author Anne Fortier and Dr Marius Deeb
Ballantine Editor Mark Tavani, publisher Libby McGuire and co-host Jim Wilkinson, Chief of Staff of the US Treasury
Authors Dan Stashower, Ellen Crosby, and Laura Durham
Jim Semivans, Dr Deb Stokes, Karl Pribram, Dr Jane Pyrak and Arthur Pyrak
Georgetown icons Nora Pouillon and Anthony Lanier
Director Library of Congress Africa and Middle Eastern Division (and Mystery author) Mary Jane Deeb with Libby McGuire
Custom designed “1st Edition” leather bookmarks by Donald Kobetsky, presented with first editions of THE FIRE
Editor Mark Tavani with Kimberly Hovey, Marketing Vice President of Ballantine Books (Kim was aso Katherine’s first publicist for THE EIGHT)
Katherine with the editor of THE FIRE, Mark Tavani
Raymond and Eleanor Lewis
Ballantine team: Author Anne Fortier (“Juliette”), Libby McGuire, Sherry Virtz
Professor Fathali Moghaddam, Georgetown University & Dr Karen Shanor
Katherine with party co-hosts: Grandmaster Susan Polgar and Treasury Chief of Staff Jim Wilkinson
