Too Close to Me by Dave Pelzer

Barnes & Noble Corte Madera, along with bestselling author Dave Pelzer (A Child Called It, Too Close to Me) will host Opening the World, a San Rafael-based nonprofit community service and travel program for at-risk young adults, for a Bookfair Fundraiser May 15-24, 2015.

On May 15-24, 2015, Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of every sale made with a special Bookfair voucher to Opening the World! Vouchers will be available online at Opening the World’s website www.Openingtheworldthroughtravel.org. Supporters can also use the Bookfair Voucher #11606977 in any Barnes & Noble across the country to benefit Opening the World.

Opening the World (OTW) was started in 2012 by Marriage and Family Therapist, Jeannine Curley, with support of a group of professionals that work with troubled youths in Marin County. OTW empowers and exposes at-risk young adults to experience a world outside of their own through volunteer and cultural experiences both in their community and abroad. Participants have experienced significant challenges in their lives, including poverty, educational problems, substance abuse and or lack of family support. Throughout the year, as a group, they raise funds in order to finance their trip and are also required to individually contribute a specified amount of money. During the summer of 2015, Opening the World will travel with to Costa Rica to do volunteer work and learn about the Costa Rican culture.

On February 23, 2014, OTW founder, Jeannine Curley, was among 51 international honorees of the 2014 Unsung Heroes of Compassion award and was acknowledged by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Unsung Hero awards are given only every four years; 2014 is the fourth occurrence of this event. More information about the New Unsung Heroes can be found at http://newunsungheroes.org.

On Saturday, May 16 at 1-3pm, Barnes & Noble Corte Madera and Opening the World will host a Book Talk and Signing for bestselling author Dave Pelzer and his new book, Too Close to Me: The Middle-Aged Consequences of Revealing a Child Called “It”. In the blockbuster autobiography A Child Called “It”, Dave Pelzer shared the story of his childhood—one of the most dramatic and extreme stories of child abuse ever prosecuted in the state of California. As a child, Pelzer was beaten, starved, and abused both emotionally and physically by his alcoholic and mentally unstable mother. As a man, Pelzer went on to have love, happiness, a fulfilling career, and his own family.

To many, Pelzer seemed to have found his happy ending. But for a child abuse survivor, living a normal adult life carries challenges and complications above and beyond those faced by most people. This book, the fifth in Pelzer’s nonfiction series, provides an honest and courageous look at the difficulties inherent in marriage, parenthood, work, and life from the perspective of someone who survived horrific physical and emotional terrors as a child—and who seeks to meet the responsibilities and complications of adult life with love, strength, and an open heart. –from www.bn.com

Some of Mr. Pelzer’s distinctive accomplishments have been recognized through a number of prestigious awards, as well as personal commendations from Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush. In 1993, Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans. He joins a distinguished group including: John F. Kennedy, Anne Bancroft and Christopher Reeves. In 1994, Dave was the only American to be honored as The Outstanding Young Persons of the World. Dave was paid tribute as the recipient of the 2005 National Jefferson Award. Other alumni of this award include Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor and Bob Hope.

Mr. Pelzer is the author of eight inspirational books. His latest book, Too Close To Me reveals the middle-aged consequences to A Child Called “It”. Dave’s first book, A Child Called “It” has been on the New York Times Best Sellers List for over 6 years and Dave’s books have been on the same Best Sellers List approaching 13 years combined. As an author, Dave is the first to have four # 1 International Best Sellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times Best Sellers List.– biographical information provided by Kathryn Estey of D-Esprit

Please help support Opening the World by shopping at Barnes & Noble Corte Madera, 313 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA 94925 on April May 15-24, 2015, with a Bookfair voucher (ID#11606977). For more information, contact Laurel Kidd, Community Business Development Manager for Barnes & Noble Corte Madera, at crm2274@bn.com.

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