Alison Rand is honored to be the speaker at the upcoming Boomer’s Brunch at the JCC, Manhattan.
Sunday December 8th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Speaker: Alison Rand, author of the memoir A Place Called Grace.
Talk topic: Finding the ‘Chutzpah’ to Live Full or Part-Time in a Foreign Culture
Summary: Join Baby Boomer Alison Rand, now 62, as she reveals what led her to uproot her life in Manhattan in 1995 when, at age 38, she moved lock, stock, and barrel to Rome. Knowing no one, not speaking the language, and with no work lined up, the aspiring actress and recent divorcée felt stuck, and hoped for a fresh start in another part of the world. What happened—the dramatic events that led her back to New York—make for a riveting, exciting, and inspirational talk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alison Rand was born and raised in Manhattan, where she currently lives. She has been an actress, mostly in commercials, and an advertising copywriter, and has a master’s degree in social work. In her spare time, she continues to take Italian classes in the hope of becoming more proficient. This is her first book.
The BookMark Shoppe is proud to host a book reading event here
Sunday October 6 from 3:30 to 5 pm.
Wine, Cheese, and a Q & A with Alison Rand, author of A Place Called Grace
A Memoir That Decodes the Cost of Learning What Matters in Life
Once in a while a memoir comes along that is so searingly honest it pierces your subconscious like a laser. A Place Called Grace by Alison Rand is such a book. From the first page it will have its way with you, and not loosen its grip till the very end. Very different from “Eat, Pray Love.” What Alison did to heal her life is real and doesn’t end with “finding a man.” Her disappointments are palpable—and relatable. Ultimately you will want to be her friend, to comfort her. Most of all, you will have entered into another person’s soul.
Struggling New York actress Alison has an outwardly good life: toned body, plenty of dates, a comfortable daily regimen. Still, she feels stagnant, empty, and as blocked as the river view from her Upper West Side apartment. Now divorced and in her mid-thirties, she has never gotten past an early childhood trauma. Since then, nothing sticks. No one stays. She craves a sense of permanence, a place to call home.
To shake things up, Alison makes a bold, possibly foolhardy move—with no acting work waiting oversees, she nonetheless relocates to Rome, where she barely speaks the language, knows no one except the elusive Casanova she hopes to meet up with again. In a series of tragi-comic encounters, she tries to settle into an exotic culture, looks for amore in all the wrong places, and attempts to break into the acting world.
After a serious accident, Alison’s dreams of an exciting life in Italy come crashing down. Back in New York, the personal tragedies and career obstacles pile up until salvation arrives from a most unexpected source.
A Place Called Grace is by turns a humorous, bittersweet and very contemporary memoir of a hopeful single woman trying to find her mooring amid the noise and confusion and isolation of modern life—and shows how she—and her readers—can finally find their safe solid centers .
For more information or speaking opportunities, please contact Judy Katz of Katz Creative Public Relations at 212-580-8833, jkatzcreative@gmail.com.
About the Author
Alison was born and raised in Manhattan where she currently lives. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She has been an advertising copywriter and an actress: mostly in commercials.
Alison is an avid dog person and plans for her Miniature Poodle Dea to become a therapy animal to comfort those in need. In her spare time, she continues to take Italian classes in hope of becoming more proficient. She is also an exercise enthusiast, especially hiking and skiing. This is her first book.
An International Engagement for A Place Called Grace.
The popular Anglo-American Bookstore on Via della Vite in the heart of Rome has invited author Alison Rand, who is returning to revisit Rome from her home base in New York, to do a book reading on Thursday evening May 23rd. Ms. Rand will be reading excerpts from her inspirational new memoir, A Place Called Grace.
In the book she chronicles her almost three years of living in Rome and all the interesting experiences—including with several “beautiful men.” These Roman “hunks” were ultimately not for the long-haul, but made her stay in Italy “as delicious as the remarkable food, wine and landscape.” Her story —why she moved to Rome, what she hoped for, what she found, and why she returned to the U.S., is told with great candor, warmth, and humor. Her moving story will be relatable to many, and touch many hearts.
Check here on aplacecalledgracebook.com for updates on this and other speaking engagements and appearances. Alison is also available to give her talk to interested groups. For more information or a review copy, email her publicist Judy Katz at jkatzcreative@gmail.com
See more images from Alison’s book signing at the Anglo-American Book Store here.
Alessia and Marcello, from the Anglo American Bookstore, who made the event so special.
