A Danger Shared Book Launch
Come celebrate the launch of A Danger Shared: A Journalist’s Glimpses of a Continent at War, a new book featuring a young American foreign correspondent’s striking, previously-unpublished World War II-era photographs of China, Vietnam, and elsewhere in Asia during. This event will feature readings from the book as well as Melville Jacoby’s own writing, displays of his photos (including prints), and more. There will also be opportunities to examine historic documents and other artifacts from Mel's time as a student and reporter in China, as well as a few surprises.
Reading at the MacArthur Memorial
On March 14, 2017, the MacArthur Memorial will host a talk by Bill Lascher, author of Eve of a Hundred Midnights.
Lascher explores the unforgettable true story of married journalists Mel and Annalee Jacoby and their island-hopping run across the Pacific after the fall of Manila during World War II. Eve of A Hundred Midnights is a saga of love, adventure, and danger.
This event is FREE but registration is required. A book signing will follow the talk.
Reading at Mindfair Books in Oberlin, OH
Mindfair Books presents a talk by Bill Lascher, author of Eve of a Hundred Midnights.
The book tells the true story of two newlywed war correspondents’ island-hopping run for their lives across the Pacific after the fall of Manila. Lascher charts the career of Melville Jacoby, who covered China and the Philippines during World War II, and recounts how Mel’s love for China and journalism brought him into the orbit of MGM scriptwriter-turned-journalist Annalee Whitmore, who he married in Manila barely a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Lascher, a relative of Jacoby's and a 2002 Oberlin graduate, will discuss the book and how journalists like Mel and Annalee brought the oft-neglected conflict in China and the Philippines to U.S. audiences. Lascher will also discuss how he used archival sources from private and institutional collections to bring the Jacobys’ story to life.
Book Signing and Reading
Please join us on Wednesday, March 8, at 6:00pm for a book signing and reading with Bill Lascher, Salt ’02, for his book Eve of a Hundred Midnights. This event takes place at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art, in Portland, Maine, in the PhotoLab, located in the Lower Level of the Porteous Building. Free and open to the public.
Reading at Saint Joseph's University
Presented by the Nealis program in Asian Studies
Eve of a Hundred Midnights tells the true story of two newlywed war correspondents’ island-hopping run for their lives across the Pacific after the fall of Manila. Lascher charts the career of Melville Jacoby, who covered China and the Philippines during World War II, and recounts how Mel’s love for China and journalism brought him into the orbit of MGM scriptwriter-turned-journalist Annalee Whitmore, who he married in Manila barely a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Lascher, a relative of Jacoby's, will discuss the book and how journalists like Mel and Annalee brought the oft-neglected conflict in China and the Philippines to U.S. audiences. Lascher will also discuss how he used archival sources from private and institutional collections to bring the Jacobys’ story to life.
Oregon Historical Society Book Talk
Members of the Oregon Historical Society and the general public are invited to an afternoon lecture about Eve of a Hundred Midnights. I'll read from the book, share photos, and talk about how journalists like Mel and Annalee brought the oft-neglected conflict in China and the Philippines to U.S. audiences. I will also discuss how I used archival sources from private and institutional collections—including some in Oregon—to bring the Jacobys’ story to life.
Weinstein JCC Book Fair (Richmond, VA)
The Weinstein Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Women's Club host Eve of a Hundred Midnights as part of their annual Book Fair at the Weinstein JCC in Richmond, Virginia.
Reading and Signing in Ashland, OR
I'll be coming to Southern Oregon and Ashland's Bloomsbury Books for a fall book reading and signing. I'll be reading from Eve of a Hundred Midnights, signing copies of the book, and sharing some of my favorite examples of Melville Jacoby's photos and films.
Stanford Bookstore
Stanford University students, faculty, alumni and the surrounding community will have the opportunity to celebrate two daring and exciting graduates when I read from and sign Eve of a Hundred Midnights at the Stanford Bookstore on October 27 at 6 p.m. Additional talks and events on campus TBD.
Spotlight Theater/Russo's Books (Bakersfield, CA)
Meet me and Melville Jacoby's cousin, Peggy Stern Cole, in an exclusive event at the Spotlight Theater in Bakersfield's historic Hayden Building. Bakersfield's own Russo's Books will be on hand with copies of Eve of a Hundred Midnights for sale, which I will happily sign.
Discussion in Ventura (RSVP Required)
As part of the law firm of Ferguson Case Orr Paterson's new Engage and Enlighten series, I'll present the story of Eve of a Hundred Midnights and discuss share the research, interviews and travel through China and the Philippines to piece together Mel’s journey, his marriage to the former Annalee Whitmore, and uncover the full drama, adventure and romance of these two daring journalists caught in the upheaval of wartime Asia.
A slide presentation including many of Mel’s personal photos and letters accompanies the discussion. There will be books for sale from Camarillo’s own Mrs. Fig’s Bookworm. Refreshments will be served.
The event takes place at Ferguson Case Orr Paterson's Ventura office at 1050 South Kimball Road, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is free but an RSVP is required. Please call (805) 659-6800 or email cdickey@fcoplaw.com.
Eve of a Hundred Midnights Book Launch
Come celebrate the release of Eve of a Hundred Midnights at Powell's Books At Cedar Hills Crossing on June 23 at 7 p.m.! Hear Bill Lascher read from the book, pick up your own copy, and have it signed by the author. Bill will also share pictures of Mel, Annalee and the far-flung reaches of wartime China and the Philippines they visited during their adventure. There may even be a visitor or two who knew Mel, as well as a chance to write on the typewriter Mel used to compose some of his most famous dispatches from the war.