The month of March brings many reasons to celebrate the art of writing. National Women’s History Month provides a timely opportunity to brush up on literature’s leading ladies, St. Patrick’s Day brings cause to raise a pint to our favorite writers from the Emerald Isle, and the entire month is jam-packed with author birthdays, including anniversaries from John Updike (80), Flannery O’Connor (87), and Philip Roth (79) just to name a few. March also provides a great opportunity to recognize the underappreciated writers who work behind the scenes during National Novel Editing Month, and there’s that whole first day of spring thing tomorrow (if you’re into warm weather and sunshine, that is). If you ask us, there’s no better way to ring in the changing of the seasons than with a fresh story from a familiar writer. Although Michael Tucker is perhaps best known for his dedicated acting career and work on the hit television series L.A. Law with his wife and co-star Jill Eikenberry, he’s also an accomplished writer and the author of three acclaimed books about dining, family, and travel. This month brings his fourth book and first novel, After Annie, a bittersweet and astonishing story about love, loss, and acting.
In this heartwarming debut, Tucker introduces Herbie Aaron, a quintessential New Yorker who has spent a lifetime on stages both large and small. When his wife Annie, a fellow actor and lifelong muse, dies suddenly from cancer, Herbie is faced with a new role - life after Annie - for which he is totally unprepared. After Annie is filled with memorable characters: Olive, a beautiful bartender who just might be a great actress; Candy, Herbie’s neurotic daughter; and a woman named Billy, a wise, tough-talking golf pro who teaches Herbie more about his psyche than about his lousy swing. From the streets and stages of New York to the golf courses of Myrtle Beach to a small-town theater in upstate New York, Herbie navigates a new life through the wilderness of middle-age.
Praise for AFTER ANNIE:
“I love this novel about love, and its touching tribute to testosterone. I laughed and cried my way through every word.” – Jane Kramer, author of Europeans
“A funny, bittersweet read.” – New York Post
“The rich depiction of the inner workings of the acting profession adds an appealing dimension.” – Publishers Weekly
“Tucker brings an easy nonchalance and wit to his story of a middle-aged New York actor drinking away the loss of his longtime wife to cancer.” – Shelf Awareness
“With an acerbic, sarcastic bite and a depth of honesty rare in most first novels, After Annie is a refreshing, heartwarming, and introspective read.” – Booklist
Catch Michael Tucker Live:
3/19: Barnes & Noble Upper West Side; New York, NY, 7:00 PM (w/ Isaiah Sheffer)
3/25: BookHampton; East Hampton, NY, 2:00 PM (w/ Lynn Sherr)
3/29: R.J. Julia Booksellers; Madison, CT, 7:00 PM (w/ Jill Eikenberry)
4/3: The Booksmith; San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PM (w/ Jill Eikenberry)
4/4: Book Passage; Corte Madera, CA, 1:00 PM (w/ Joyce Maynard)
