Book Signing with Anastasia Rubis

The Hickory Stick Bookshop is delighted to welcome writer and journalist Anastasia Rubis who will be at the store on Wednesday June 26th at 4.00 pm signing copies of her new book “Oriana : A Novel of Oriana Fallaci”. This event is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend this event, you may reserve signed copies of “Oriana” by calling The Hickory Stick Bookshop at (860) 868 0525, or shop our website 24/7 at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a Hollywood producer visits Oriana Fallaci at the end of her life to propose a movie, the story unfolds of her gutsy career rise as a journalist, her tragic love, and her greatest regret. This is the intriguing premise of “Oriana” by Anastasia Rubis, the first historical novel about the glamorous and fearless journalist whom Christiane Amanpour has called a “great mentor.” Oriana, who holds a place beside such world-class interviewers as Mike Wallace and Barbara Walters, blazed a trail for women in the 60s and 70s. But while building a global reputation for her provocative interviews of world leaders and notorious dictators, Oriana struggled in her personal life to find love and happiness.

Born a rebel, Oriana fought beside her father at age fourteen in Italy’s Resistance against the Nazis and overcame poverty, the lack of a university education, and relentless sexism in the newsroom. By 1973, due to her sheer brilliance, work ethic, and courage, Oriana was hailed by Newsweek as the greatest political interviewer of her day, famous for her confrontational interviews with Kissinger, Arafat, Meir, Khomeini, and other world leaders—not to mention the most prominent celebrities and artists of the era. That same year, 1973, she did what no journalist is supposed to do: she fell in love with one of her subjects, Alexander Panagoulis, the Greek poet and hero. She was forty-four, he was thirty-four; they lived in different countries. It didn’t matter. Oriana had finally found what she longed for: a full life. But can a woman ever have it all, or does life always exact a price?

“Oriana” tells the story—little-known in America, until now—of one of the first women to break through the glass ceiling of journalism. Dick Cavett introduced her on his television show as a “legend” and Walter Lippmann called her “the best reporter in the world.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anastasia “Stacy” Rubis’ writing has appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, New York Observer, and literary journals. Her short story “Blue Pools” was included in the anthology Oh, Baby, published by Creative Nonfiction and edited by Lee Gutkind. Another story, “Girl Falling,” was named a Notable Essay in Best Essays of 2014. She co-wrote and co-directed the short documentary Breakfast Lunch Dinner: The Greek Diner Story. Rubis earned a BA magna cum laude from Brown University and an MA from Montclair State University, where she was an adjunct professor of English. She and her husband live in New Jersey where they raised their daughter, and she spends summers in Greece, where her parents were born. “Oriana” is her debut novel.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“I remember Oriana Fallaci vividly and was thrilled to read this novel about her work and her life, particularly her great romance in the early 70s with a man who was not afraid of her ability and ambition. Anastasia Rubis writes with a passion for her subject that matches Oriana’s own craving for a big full life and in turn does her and the era a great justice. In scene after breathtaking scene, we relive a time of great hope when getting at the truth was possible. A truly inspiring debut.” — Alice Elliott Dark, author of In the Gloaming and Fellowship Point
“Inhaled this riveting page-turner on the fascinating trailblazing journalist Oriana Fallaci. Just one question: how did I not know about this incredible woman?” — Julia Martin, New Jersey Monthly
“A love story as bold, sophisticated, and beautiful as the remarkable woman herself.” — Laurie Lico Albanese, author of Hester