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Book Talk

TOM BROKAW LIVE ... The Commonwealth Club presents NBC Nightly News Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw, "The Time of Our Lives: A conversation about America; Who we are where we've been, and where we need to go now, to recapture the American dream" (Nov. 21, 1 p.m. at Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara). Information: www.keplers.com; tickets: www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2011-11-21/tom-brokaw-silicon-valley.

GAY FAMILIES ... Palo Alto children's-book author Cynthia Chin-Lee has written "Operation Marriage," a children's book about growing up with two lesbian moms, based on a true story. The book seeks to help children of same-sex couples who are being bullied or who feel like outsiders and chronicles the experiences of a family challenged by peer pressure, homophobia and denial of two parents to marry in California. The book is available at Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

AUTHOR AUTHOR ... Upcoming authors at Keplers, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, include Robert Trivers, "The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life" (Nov. 16, 7 p.m.); Anthony Horowitz, "The House of Silk: Sherlock Holmes" (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.); Sue Grafton, "V is for Vengeance," meet and greet book-signing event (Nov. 28, 7 p.m.); Random House Best Books of the Season (Nov. 30, 7 p.m.); Lynn Stegner and Russell Rowland, "West of 98: Living and Writing the New American West" (Dec. 1, 7 p.m.); Frank Close, "The Infinity Puzzle: Quantum Filed Theory and the Hunt for an Orderly Universe" (Dec. 6, 7 p.m.); Richard Heinberg, "The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality" (Dec. 8, 7 p.m.). Information: www.keplers.com.

KIDS' TALKS ... Upcoming children's authors at Kepler's in Palo Alto include Frans Vischer "Fuddles," (Nov. 13, 11:30 a.m.); Teen event: Ransom Riggs, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" (Nov. 15, 7 p.m.); M-A Parent Education Series: Robin Mamlet and Christine VanDeVelde, "College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step" (Nov. 16, 7 p.m. at Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park); Oliver Jeffers, "Stuck" (Nov. 17, 6 p.m.); Jon Muth "Blowin' in the Wind" (Nov. 19, 11 a.m.); Elisa Kleven, "The Friendship Wish" (Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m.); Jenni Holm, "A Very Babymouse Christmas" (Dec. 7, 6 p.m.). Information: www.keplers.com.

LIVING IN A COCOON ... Lift Your Spirits Home Transformations owner Jennifer Duchene of Palo Alto has written a book especially for women, "Le Chic Cocoon: 7 Steps to Creating Your Selfish Space." The book, which is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, is about "claiming their power and a space of their own to do it in. It straddles empowerment and decorating," she said. Information: www.JenniferDuchene.com.

POWER STRATEGIES ... Heidi BK Sloss of Los Altos has written "Fortune Is in the Follow-Up: Five POWER Strategies to Grow Your Business," which is billed as a back-to-basics, how-to book offering tips on increasing sales. Published by Bush Street Press, San Francisco, it sells for $14.95. Information: www.amazon.com

Items for Book Talk may be sent to Associate Editor Carol Blitzer, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 93202 or emailed to cblitzer@paweekly.com by the last Friday of the month.