FETCH a Cure Welcomes New York Times Best-Seller, Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain to Richmond

—Guest Blogger: Robin Moncol, Director of Corporate and Public Relations, FETCH a Cure

FETCH a Cure will welcome author of New York Times Best-seller The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein, to Richmond on Wednesday, April 4th for an event to benefit FETCH a Cure’s Companions in Crisis program. The event will be held at The Virginia Historical Society, starting with a VIP cocktail reception at 6:00pm followed by a general reception, dinner and q&a and book-signing with the author. Tickets are available for $75 per person and are on sale now at www.fetchacure.org.

This special event will help to raise funds for FETCH a Cure’s Companions in Crisis program which helps Virginia families pay for the life-saving treatments for their pets who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Garth Stein:
Garth Stein is the author of three novels: The Art of Racing in the Rain (Harper, 2008); How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets (Soho Press, 2005), which won a 2006 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Book Award, and was a Book Sense Pick in both hardcover and paperback; and Raven Stole the Moon (Harper, 2010). He has also written a full-length play, Brother Jones, which received its first production in Los Angeles, in February, 2005, and was described as “brimming with intensity,” by the L.A. Weekly.

After receiving his B.A. from Columbia College (1987), and his M.F.A. in film from Columbia University, School of the Arts (1990), Garth worked as a documentary film maker for several years, and directed, produced or co-produced several award winning films.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Seattle, Garth’s ancestry is diverse: his mother, a native of Alaska, is of Tlingit Indian and Irish descent; his father, a Brooklyn native, is the child of Jewish emigrants from Austria. After spending his childhood in Seattle and then living in New York City for 18 years, Garth returned to Seattle, where he currently lives with his family and his dog, Comet.

The Art of Racing in the Rain:
Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn’t simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life’s ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny’s wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life…as only a dog could tell it.

For more information, visit www.fetchacure.org or call 804.525.2193.

About FETCH a Cure:
FETCH a Cure is a from-the-heart, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization determined to improve the quality of life by connecting people and pets through accessible, compassionate treatment and education. FETCH focuses on issues of pet health, most specifically cancer and aging and provides owners with the resources to recognize symptoms of early cancer detection and the issues regarding senior pet care. Our vision is simple: A community where no one is denied a choice for their pet due to lack of options education or funding.

Tagged as: richmond pet events, richmond pet news