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2020 Book & Author Luncheon
Cancelled due to Covid-19

Leila Meacham

Dragonfly

From the New York Times bestselling author of Roses comes Dragonfly, a meticulously researched tale of espionage written by Leila Meacham, which Kirkus calls, “Complex, epic, and rich in historical detail—an uplifting story of finding friendship behind enemy lines.”

Meacham’s fifth novel tells the story of five young Americans—including one man born in Germany but raised in New Braunfels—recruited by the Office of Strategic Services to collect information for the Allies in Nazi-occupied Paris at the height of WWII. The five bond immediately, making up a group code-named Dragonfly.

Leila Meacham is a writer and former teacher who lives in San Antonio. She came to her love of writing late, beginning her writing career in her 60s and publishing Roses at 70—but she uses her story to inspire others, and says it’s never too late to do what you want.


Jay Brandon

From the Grave

Disbarred Texas lawyer Edward Hall returns to the courtroom in From the Grave—Jay Brandon’s most recent legal thriller and the second book in the Edward Hall series—only to discover that in order to win, he must lose.

Jay has authored nearly two dozen books since his debut novel, Dead Bolt, was published in 1992, the same year he graduated from law school. His first legal thriller, Fade the Heat, was short-listed for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award. While many of his novels are legal thrillers, his published works include a ghost story/romance set at the Texas coast (The Jetty, co-written with Joe Labatt), a mystery set in San Antonio (Milagro Lane), and an international thriller (Shadow Knight’s Mate).

He is a practicing attorney who lives in San Antonio with his wife and children.


Judy Gaman

Love, Life, and Lucille: Lessons Learned from a Centenarian

Judy Gaman is an award-winning author, public speaker, and CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas. As an ambitious professional in her forties tirelessly making a name for herself, Judy found herself caught up in the unrelenting cycle of workaholism—too busy going full speed ahead without pausing to reflect on and enjoy everyday moments of life.

That changed when she met Lucille Fleming, a spirited, larger-than-life woman who had recently turned 100.

Judy was writing a book about longevity when she interviewed Lucille, whose wisdom, stories, and lessons reshaped Judy’s life. The two women forged an inseparable bond, discovering that some milestones are more than generational, they’re part of the human experience. A memoir and guide, Love, Life, and Lucille is the story of the one lesson we all need to hear most at the 2020 book & author luncheon.


Chris Barton

Fire Trucks vs. Dragon; Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

Chris Barton is the author of picture books including bestseller Shark vs. Train, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, Orbis Pictus honoree Dazzle Ships, and Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, included on 19 state reading lists. His newest books include Fire Truck vs. Dragon, What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, and All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing. Chris and his wife, YA/middle-grade novelist Jennifer Ziegler, live in Austin, Texas, where Chris has advocated for greater diversity in children’s literature by co-founding the Modern First Library program with BookPeople. For more information about him, please visit www.chrisbarton.info.