Author and Buffalo native Moxie Gardiner will celebrate the publication of her first novel, Virgin Snow, with a series of signing events. The book was recently published by NFB Publishing of Buffalo.
A writer, master gardener, and traveler, Gardiner grew up on the West Side of Buffalo. She previously worked as a journalist, magazine editor and speech writer and currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
A classic coming-of-age chronicle of a girl growing up on Buffalo’s West Side, Virgin Snow tells the story of 13-year-old Cosi McCarthy, who wants what every girl in Buffalo wants in the 1960s — to become a happy wife and loving mother. That dream collapses when her father dies, ugly family secrets emerge, and her widowed mother is trapped in the double standards of a patriarchal culture and impoverished by the city’s failing economy. Swept up in the idealism of youth, Cosi soon learns how hard it is to save the world, and that love is easy to mistake when you have no idea what it looks like.
An alumnus of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Buffalo State University, Gardiner describes her book tour as “coming back home.” The Barnes & Noble bookstore at Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Ave., will host Gardiner’s official book launch and signing event from noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 in the Buffalo State Student Union.
Afterwards, Gardiner will sign books and chat with readers at the following independent Buffalo bookstores:
• Talking Leaves Books, 951 Elmwood Ave. in the Elmwood Village area of Buffalo, from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2.
• Black Rock Books, 43 Hamilton St. in the Black Rock area of Buffalo, from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2.
• Fitz Books & Waffles, 433 Ellicott St. in downtown Buffalo, from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4.
On Nov. 1, Gardiner will speak about the historical research she did for her book at the Buffalo History Museum. Details will be announced at a later date.
All signing events are open to the public.
For more information on Gardiner and Virgin Snow, please visit moxiegardiner.com or email mo***********@gm***.com. You can also follow her on Facebook for frequent updates.
