Special Betty’s List Literary Salon – Meet “Facts of Life” star, comedian, and author Geri

Special Betty’s List Literary Salon – Meet “Facts of Life” star, comedian, and author Geri Jewell, I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond

Online Announcement: http://bettyslist.com/blpage.php?id=4236
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155669677835361

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011

Time: 7:00pm

Location: Duboce Park Café, 2 Sanchez Street (Corner Duboce & Sanchez), San Francisco
(415) 621-1108
http://www.doloresparkcafe.com/duboce/

Cost: Free

Got Questions? Contact Dayna Verstegen, Coordinator, Betty’s List Literary Salon, at
daynev [@] aol [.] com or 415.215.2871

Description:

“The Facts of Life” star Geri Jewell will read from her new memoir, I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond, and discuss her life as an actor, comedian, and motivational speaker and trainer in the areas of disability and diversity.

Geri Jewell is best known as Cousin Geri on the NBC sitcom, “The Facts of Life”. She was the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime time series. She began her career doing stand-up comedy at the Comedy Store in 1978. In 1980 she performed at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards, when she was introduced to Norman Lear by producer, Fern Field.
After her ground breaking role on “Facts” she has appeared on such shows as “The Great Space Coaster”, the Emmy award winning movie “Two of a Kind”, “Sesame Street”, “21 Jump Street”, “Young and the Restless”, “Strong Medicine” and the HBO hit series, “Deadwood.” Read more … (or go to http://www.gerijewell.com/)
About Geri Jewell & I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond:

Born with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life.”

The book's title — I’m Walking As Straight As I Can — has a double meaning, referring to both Jewell's sexuality and her extraordinary struggle growing up with cerebral palsy. This candid memoir details her experiences from her traumatic birth in Buffalo, New York, to her rise to stardom as a stand-up comic to becoming a television star. She documents the harsh realities of show business by recounting the relentless discrimination and abuse she suffered at the hands of people she trusted. Her experiences in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood led her on a journey from the Comedy Store to the White House, followed by a downward spiral, tax problems, drug addiction, marriage, and an accident that nearly claimed her life.
When “Deadwood” creator David Milch recognized Jewell at a pharmacy, he offered her a role in his new HBO series on the spot, and she began to find hope and happiness once again. I'm Walking As Straight As I Can is an inspiring story, told with grace and self-deprecating humor, one that gives readers a rare glimpse of true courage and perseverance.

Learn more about Geri Jewell, http://www.gerijewell.com.

Facebook Announcement: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/group.php?gid=188528646575&ref=mf

* About the Betty's List Literary Salon -
It's more than a book club, really . . . Professor Cynthia Lee Katona, co-founder, called the Betty's List Literary Salon a "League" with multiple small reading groups. You do not have to be a member of a reading group, however, to come to our monthly Book & Author event.

Among featured guests for past Betty's List Book & Author evenings are Ellis Avery, Terry Baum, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Sylva Brownrigg, Misha Cohen, Elana Dykewoman, Katherine Forrest, Jewelle Gomez, Jamison Green, Ali Liebegott, Valerie Miner, Karin Kallmaker, Christine Comaford, Sheri Reynolds, Terry Monica Nolan, Nan Alamilla Boyd, Katia Noyes, Canyon Sam, Renate Stehdhal, Michelle Tea and our open mic / poetry reading maven Kit Kennedy. Sincere thanks to all!

Learn more about our Literary Salon:
http://bettyslist.com/blpage.php?id=4190

About Duboce Park Café -
The sister café to the well-known Dolores Park Café, Duboce Park Café has received rave reviews from neighborhood patrons and visitors alike. Convenient to the Castro, this already popular spot has a bright modern feel with large windows that looks onto Duboce Park. Located at the corner of Sanchez and Duboce Streets, the Café has ample outdoor seating and is great for dog and people watching. Duboce Park Café features fair trade organic coffee, with an affordable breakfast, lunch and light dinner menu.


Thank You! -
There are so many to whom we wish to give thanks and appreciations for their help with the "Miss Louise's Blue Stocking & Bad Girls Literary Salon" aka "Betty's List Book Club." We thank Rachel Herbert of Dolores Park and Duboce Park Café. We thank Professor Cynthia Katona, co-founder, and Jewelle Gomez, advisor. We thank all of the authors and all of the attendees and all of the Reading Group chairs and hosts and participants.


Link to online version of announcement:
http://bettyslist.com/blpage.php?id=4236