For Immediate Release: October 11, 2006

Second Lonely Planet Travel Writer Series Starts October 26

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(Oakland, CA) The Lonely Planet Travel Series returns! Oakland Public Library and the Oakland-based travel publisher Lonely Planet invite the public to a second series of free talks with published travel writers who will share their experiences and answer questions. The series last spring was so popular, we've invited Lonely Planet back, this time to focus on domestic destinations, including New York, Hawai'i, and even our own backyard. The series starts Thursday, October 26, 2006, and all talks take place from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Art/Music/History/Literature Department on the first floor of the Main Library, 125-14th Street. See below for the dates, author names, and topics:

Traveling with Kids, Thursday, October 26

Wherever you go, make your next trip fantastic for both you and your kids with tips from Robin Goldberg, Senior Vice President at Lonely Planet and traveling mom with sons ages 8 and 11. Parenthood hasn't stopped Robin from traveling, and it shouldn't stop you. Robin will tell you how her family has explored both domestically and internationally, with visits to Australia, England, and most recently, Thailand.

New York City , Thursday, November 2

Jay Cooke walks fast, talks faster, eats thin-crust pizza, and bleeds Yankees blue. A born and bred New Yorker, and now the Commissioning Editor for Lonely Planet's brand-new New York City guide, he'll detail Big Apple classics and highlight the coolest new happenings in 21st-Century NYC.

California & Utah, Thursday, November 9

John Vlahides has authored many Lonely Planet guides including Coastal California, Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks , and Southwest USA. He spends his free time touring the California coast by motorcycle, skiing in Utah and the Sierra Nevada, and chilling in the beautiful surroundings of the West. John will inspire you to take advantage of the diverse and off-the-beaten path offerings for which no plane ticket is required.

Hawai'i , Thursday, November 16

Michael Clark's first trip to Hawai'i was as a deckhand aboard a tanker crossing the Pacific. When the ship dropped anchor in Honolulu, he was hooked. Later, a master's degree program in second-language studies at the University of Hawai'i included a hula class for perspective. As a Lonely Planet author of the Hawai'i guide, Michael can give advice and answer questions about travelling to O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island.

Books will be for sale at each talk. For more information, call (510) 238-3136, or see the Library's Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products. To request sign interpretation, or other accommodation, call the number above or (510) 834-7446 (TTY) at least five working days prior to the event. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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Author Headshots Available by Request