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Posted on Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 6 a.m.

Nicola's Books has 2 exciting upcoming author events

By Nicola Rooney

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In the next two weeks Nicola’s Books has two exciting events for readers to enjoy, especially if you are interested in stories, both fiction and non-fiction, about the joys and sorrows that take place in the Middle East.

On Saturday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. at Nicola’s Books, meet Deborah Rodriguez, author of the bestselling memoir ‘Kabul Beauty School’ for a discussion and signing of her debut novel, ‘A Cup of Friendship’ which is a story about a coffee shop in Kabul and the women who meet there. Each woman has her own story to tell, and Rodriguez shows how these women will form a bond that leaves them changed for the better.

Rodriguez is a hair dresser who started doing humanitarian work during her vacations. Her first trip to Afghanistan was in 2002. She had taken emergency and disaster relief training two months before 9-11 with a group called Care for All Foundation. Rodriguez fought to be on one of the first teams to go to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. It is here that her story starts. She helped build a beauty school and got to know the women whose lives were starting again out of the rubble. Out of this came the bestselling ‘Kabul Beauty School.’

Then, we are pleased to partner up with the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. to present an evening with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish for a discussion of his new book ‘I Shall Not Hate.’ Dr. Abuelaish is a Palestinian physician who was raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He studied medicine in Cairo and then went on to further his studies at the University of London. He completed his residency at a hospital in Israel, worked in Italy and Belgium, and then later he received a master's degree in public health from Harvard University.

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However, Dr. Abuelaish has not been immune to tragedy. In ‘I Shall Not Hate’ Dr. Abuelaish tells his stirring and compelling life story including his suffering and heartache after three of his daughters and a niece were killed in January of 2009 during the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip. What is most amazing about Dr. Abuelaish is his unending belief in humanity’s inherent goodness. Instead of sinking into hatred or seeking revenge, Dr. Abuelaish has called for the people in the region to start talking to each other to find a solution. Dr. Abuelaish’s website and foundation can be found at www.daughtersforlife.com.

This event is free to the public.

For more information about either of these events please go to www.nicolasbooks.com or call us at 734-662-0600. You can also go to www.michtheater.org for more information about the Dr. Abuelaish event.