Ilona Bray & Stephen (C.S.)Soong's CAT TAKES QUEEN In-Store Event & Signing

Join us on Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 PM when Ilona Bray and Stephen Soong come to the store to share their debut middle grade novel Cat Takes Queen. Ilona and Stephen will sign copies of their book after the presentation.

Click here to preorder a copy of Cat Takes Queen.

Morphy, a witty stray cat with an aptitude for chess, steers clear of humans—except for Edgar, his elderly chess-playing friend. When Edgar is taken away in an ambulance, Morphy sets out to find him. Only by teaming up with Edgar’s headstrong granddaughter, who’s trying to gain her judgmental parents’ respect via chess mastery, and a young street-chess player, can Morphy help bring Edgar home, elude a catnapper, and create a new found family.

This story of friendship and resilience incorporates chess scenarios and brain-teasers, complete with diagrams and accessible explanations. Whether readers are novice or experienced players, Morphy’s story is sure to win their hearts.

ILONA BRAY and STEPHEN (C.S.) SOONG are a husband-and-wife team who were longtime East Bay residents before moving to New York's Finger Lakes region. Ilona Bray is a former lawyer who continues to write about immigration and other legal matters. She would rather play Scrabble than any other game— though she finds chess fascinating in its elusive brainteasing. Stephen Soong has been a serious chess geek since middle school. He beat a grandmaster—the then US chess champion—at a simultaneous exhibition, he defeated a computer at a national tourney, and he has taught students of all ages. CAT TAKES QUEEN is their middle grade fiction debut.

THIS EVENT is free but registration is requested. Registration ends at 3:00 pm on October 25.

BECAUSE SEATING is limited, please register only if you plan to attend.

DUE TO SPACE limitations, we may not be able to accommodate every person at an event, so early registration is encouraged.

WALK-INS will be accommodated only if space allows.

WE ASK that attendees arrive between 3:45 and 4:00 PM for the event.

PLEASE leave your non-support companion animals at home.