Father's Day reminder

Father's Day is June 15th ... just one month away.

My friend Rick Bragg has written a well received book on his father called "The Prince of Frogtown."

The book is the third in a series of books that Rick has written tracing the Alabama roots of his family.

In the first, "All Over but the Shoutin'," Rick told a story of growing up in rural Alabama and going on to becoming a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the New York Times. The book is now required reading for all freshmen at universities in Alabama.

In his second book "Ava's Man," Rick tells the story of his maternal grandfather, Charlie Bundrum through "funny and painful anecdotes."

With "The Prince of Frogtown," Rick comes full circle and tells the story of an alcoholic father he hardly knew and weaves in the story of his own relationship with his 10 year-old stepson.

Rick will be here in Miami on June 9th at 7pm to read and sign copies of his book at Books and Books in Coral Gables. We're pretty fortunate to have him here because he's only doing about 2 dozen events in connection with the book.

The cool thing about the event being on the 9th of June is that it's a week before Father's Day.

So if you're looking for a gift for a dad who loves reading, I think this book would be perfect. And if you really want to surprise your father, bring him to the reading.

And if you've never been to a Rick Bragg reading you are in for a treat. If you attend the reading on the 9th I guarantee you won't be bored. He's funny as hell!

As one woman in Mississippi put it: "...and though he has a serious side to him, he's really funny. I think he could make a living as a stand-up comic if he ever got tired of writing."

Just about everywhere Rick travels in the South these days he attracts standing-room only crowds and more often than not a reporter from the local paper shows up and does a story on him. I think this one that appeared earlier this week in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger is one of the best.

So if you're looking for a great Father's Day gift, allow me to shamelessly recommend "The Prince of Frogtown."