Due to COVID-19, this event has been cancelled.

About the Event

Adventures by the Book™ is pleased to partner with the Riverside Public Library for a Raphael, Ravioli & Renaissance Free Library Adventure with bestselling authors Crystal King and Stephanie Storey. Travel virtually with us to enjoy some of the best things Italy has to offer: culture, art, and food! Hunger for the delicious food cooked up by Bartolomeo Scappi, the Renaissance chef who cooked for several popes, in The Chef’s Secret, Crystal King’s delectable novel of passion, power, and intrigue. Then, appreciate the beautiful art of Raphael in Raphael, Stephanie Storey’s latest and fabulous art history thriller!

This free Adventure is open to the public and includes a book discussion with the authors, Q&A, book signing, and the opportunity to meet the authors up close and personal.

About the Authors

Crystal King is an author, culinary enthusiast, and marketing expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity, and social media at several universities including Harvard Extension School and Boston University, as well as at GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US.

A Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal is the author of Feast of Sorrow. Her current book, The Chef’s Secret, is a captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time.

To schedule a book club visit with Stephanie or any of our authors on NovelNetwork:

Stephanie Storey’s debut novel Oil and Marble is a Los Angeles Times bestseller, was named one of Hudson Booksellers’ Best Books of 2016, and was called “extraordinarily entertaining” by The New York Times. She has a degree in Fine Arts from Vanderbilt University and attended a PhD program in Art History—before leaving to get her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College.

She has studied art in Italy and been on a pilgrimage to see every Michelangelo on display in Europe. She has also been a television producer for over 15 years in Los Angeles for shows like Tavis Smiley on PBS, The Arsenio Hall Show for CBS, and The Writers’ Room for Sundance Channel.

To schedule a book club visit with Stephanie or any of our authors on NovelNetwork:

For Book Clubs

Are you in a book club, seeking fabulous authors who are excited and available to meet with you? Then you will be delighted to know that Crystal King and Stephanie Storey are just two members of our wonderful community of nearly 100 NovelNetwork authors, available to meet with book clubs via video chat, or perhaps even in person if they are local and available.

NovelNetwork is the nation’s first and only match(dot)com for authors and book clubs to find each other, so check it out today. Book clubs join for free and gain access to our database of dozens of authors, from NYT and international bestsellers, to debut authors, cookbook authors, mystery and non-fiction authors, and representing various regions of the United States, and even Alaska and Hawaii, all of whom want to meet with you!

To schedule a visit with Crystal, Stephanie, or any of our authors, join FOR FREE here.

Event Registration

Event is free and open to the public (on a first-come, first-served basis); registration is not necessary. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event, and pre-sold below. Only books purchased at the event or below will be eligible for signing. Questions about the event may be directed to the Riverside Public Library at 951-826-5201.