Chicago Mystery Author Libby Fischer Hellmann Featured at Hadassah Chicago-North Shore's 2016 Book & Author Luncheon on

May 20, 2016 - Chicago, IL – Hadassah Chicago-North Shore’s 2016 Book & Author Luncheon will feature award-winning mystery author and Chicago resident Libby Fischer Hellmann, a critically-acclaimed crime writer beloved by readers worldwide for her compulsively readable thrillers and her strong, compelling female characters. Additionally, the 2016 Book & Author Luncheon will honor Hadassah Chicago North-Shore Past President Gwen Packard, (1999-2001), a Hadassah member for fifty years, during which time she has held a variety of leadership positions and participated actively to help further Hadassah projects both in Israel and the United States. The 2016 Book & Author Luncheon will be held at the Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 Milwaukee Avenue, Wheeling, IL. Tickets are $45 before May 24th ($50 thereafter) and are available by calling the Hadassah Chicago-North Shore office at 847.205.1900 or available online at www.hadassah.org/chicago-northshore.

Luisa Ellenbogen, President, Hadassah Chicago-North Shore, states, “Hadassah Chicago-North-Shore is honored to salute award-winning Chicago author Libby Fischer Hellmann, whose thirteen crime thrillers have kept us all on the edge of our seats for over a decade. And it’s no mystery why we are honoring Past President Gwen Packard. Gwen’s half century of excellent service to the Hadassah Chicago-North Shore chapter has been a sterling example of dedication, devotion and selflessness. Both women exemplify the spirit, passion and commitment of Hadassah: The Power of Women Who Do.”

Libby Fischer Hellmann’s fast-paced crime fiction spans twelve novels and twenty short stories. Jump Cut, her latest novel, is her 13th and the 5th entry in her Ellie Foreman series of crime fiction. Hellmann is also the author of another series, featuring fictional crime fighter Georgia Davis. Many of Hellman’s novels unfold in the Chicago area with familiar sites and landmarks playing important roles in her plots. Hellmann has won multiple Reader’s Choice Awards, was twice-nominated for the Anthony Award, nominated for the Agatha, the Ben Franklin and the Edgar Awards, has won and been nominated for Foreword Magazine’s Best Suspense Novel of The Year Award and was a finalist for the Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year Award.

In addition to her service as Hadassah Chicago-North Shore Past President (1991-2001), Gwen Packard was president of the Business and Professional Group several times, a position she currently holds. She has also taught Beginning Hebrew classes, written and edited chapter and group bulletins and formerly chaired the Book & Author Luncheon. She began her half-century service with Hadassah as facilitator of Junior Hadassah in Chicago. Gwen’s husband has long been a Hadassah Associate and their daughter, Susan Packard, is currently President of the Hadassah in the City Group. For the Packard Family, Hadassah is a four-generation family affair.

Hadassah Chicago North-Shore, founded in 1928 and representing 11,000 members in the Greater Chicagoland Area, is located at Joseph & Mae Gray Hadassah House, Suite #800, Northbrook, IL 60062; Telephone: 847.205-1900; email: Chicago-northshore@hadassah.org; or visit http://www.hadassah.org/regions/chicago-north-shore/.

Hadassah is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters across the country, Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research, women's empowerment, and the security of Israel. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.

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