Hello Library Colleagues! If you are looking for a great book/speaker, I highly recommend Berl Falbaum. Novi has hosted Berl in the past and he is an engaging speaker with MANY fabulous stories, credentials and details surrounding the “news” world. His newest book is a fantastic read, and when Berl tells the stories in person, he engages with EVERYONE! See his press release below if you want to contact him for a library program. He recently spoke at the Novi Rotary. I give him 5 STARS!! *Contact: Release: September 2019* *Beth Lenz* *PR Specialist* *SD Books, LLC* *248-703-7801* SUBJECT: VETERAN JOURNALIST/AUTHOR TELLS STORIES ABOUT LIFE IN WW II SHANGHAI GHETTO TO CAREER IN JOURNALISM, POLITICS AND MORE WEST BLOOMFIELD, Michigan, September 2019---He writes about life as a young boy in a war-torn Shanghai ghetto during World War II, and his immigration to the U.S. where, in the Detroit area, he had a career in journalism, politics ,and corporate life. In writing *Recollections and Reflections*: *From a WWII Shanghai Ghetto to Journalism, Politics* *and other Journeys along the Way*, Berl Falbaum, stressed that he wanted to capture stories that he believed needed to be saved, from which he learned important lessons, and others might find valuable. “This is not about any achievements,” said Falbaum. “These stories were important to me and I hope others will find them useful as well.” The foreword was written by William M. (Bill) Brodhead, former congressman from Detroit’s 17th District. Among the public officials and journalists already praising the book, are: Nolan Finley*, *editorial page editor, *The Detroit News*, called it “captivating.” Alan Hitsky, who held several editor positions at *the Detroit Jewish News*, said it is a “fascination look back at world and Detroit history…” Michigan Appeals Court Judge Mark J. Cavanagh wrote, “The book is not only good, but is culturally and historically important.” Herschel Fink, *Detroit Free Press* legal counsel, said the book was “beautifully written and compelling…” Michael Layne, president of the Marx Layne & Co. public relations firm, described the book as “riveting.” Among his many stories, Falbaum writes about covering the reaction in Detroit to the assassination of President Kennedy; the 1967 Detroit riot; and the controversy at the defunct Bendix Corporation in the early 1980s, perhaps one the biggest scandals in modern corporate history. He also reports on “lighter subjects” such as stories from his extensive travels, including watching a bullfight from inside the ring, swimming with dolphins in the open ocean, and his participation as a supernumerary (an extra) in four operas. Falbaum’s career includes ten years as a general assignment and political reporter for *The Detroit News*, fifteen years in corporate public relations and four years in as administrative aide to Michigan’s lieutenant governor. He has published nine other books, one of which, *Shanghai Remembered*: *Stories of Jews Who Escaped to Shanghai from Nazi Europe*, won an IPPY award from the Independent Publishers Association. For 45 years, Falbaum was an adjunct faculty member in the journalism department at Wayne State University in Detroit. Falbaum is donating half of all proceeds from the book to EnPuzzlement, a Toledo, Ohio, non-profit organization that, since 2009, had provided assistance to organizations that help the needy with food, hygiene items, cleaning products and medical supplies. (EnPuzzlement: en=to cause; puzzlement-exercise your mind; ment=achieve results.) The proceeds are being made in the name of Allan Marks, Falbaum’s friend of 65 years who died in December 2018. Hardcover books can be ordered by sending an email to sdbooksllc@yahoo.com. Ebooks are available at Amazon.com. Berl is available as a speaker. If you interested in scheduling an event with him, call him directly at 248-855-5383. [image: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1a1hecCo_tHMMH0i3Pb03DPoNkUQOHx4x] *Julie Farkas* - Library Director Novi Public Library 45255 W. Ten Mile Rd. Novi MI 48375 *Office: * 248-869-7233 | *Mobile: * 248-331-7815 www.novilibrary.org *Inform. Inspire. Include.* *City of Novi Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence 1969-2019*