Fairfield University professor to discuss guerilla marketing at Fairfield University Bookstore

Ever wonder how Pabst Blue Ribbon became the beer of choice of the hipster set? How about how the U.S. Army morphed into a popular videogame?

Michael Serazio, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication at Fairfield University, explains it all in "Your Ad Here: The Cool Sell of Guerrilla Marketing," a timely talk on Wednesday, April 10 at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield. The 7 p.m. event is free and open to the public.

It is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication and the Learning for a Lifetime Program.

Dr. Serazio's research interests include popular culture, advertising, journalism, and new media, and his latest book, "Your Ad Here: The Cool Sell of Guerrilla Marketing," takes a fascinating look at how marketing strategies have multiplied, as brand messaging creeps ever deeper into our private lives. The engaging work investigates the rise of 'guerrilla marketing' as a way of understanding new forms of commercial persuasion, the 'hidden persuaders' that work with today's social media and digital platforms.

"It is a truism that, in media, everyone knows they are being sold something all the time," wrote Mark Deuze, author of "Media Life and Media Work." "It is exactly because of this that we become blind to the subtle seductions of contemporary commercial culture - and Michael Serazio is here to open our eyes."

Dr. Serazio has been widely published in magazines and scholarly journals. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. He also holds a B.A. in communication from the University of San Francisco and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

For more information on this event, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 22, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 232

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Fairfield University alumna to discuss her new book at Fairfield University Bookstore

Fairfield University alumna Donna Gillotte '00  comes home to the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield, to discuss her new book, "Secret of a Medici Mistress," at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. The event is free and open to the public.

Gillotte brings the golden age of the Italian Renaissance alive with her meticulously researched and beautifully written novel. Filled with extraordinary historical characters, "Secret of a Medici Mistress" is a love story that explores the nature of human good and evil among the celebrated Medici family and the artists they supported.

Prior to beginning a career in writing and art history, Gillotte was a successful business consultant and entrepreneur. In 1995, she returned to Fairfield University to complete a business degree, but quickly changed her major to art history after taking an art survey course. It was during the summer of 1995, while she attended international studies at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute for Art and Culture in Florence, Italy, that Gillotte began thinking about the thrilling storyline for her first novel. She graduated magna cum laude in 2000.

Gillotte earned a master's degree in art history from Syracuse University and traveled extensively in Italy to research her book. She is a former adjunct professor of art history at Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 19, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 227

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Fairfield war hero Michael J. Daly is the topic of author's talk at Fairfield University Bookstore

Author Steven Ochs will tell the fascinating tale of late Fairfield native Michael J. Daly - from his "hell-raising youth" to his heroics on the WWII battlefield to his tireless voluntarism at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport - at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at the Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield. Ochs' talk is free and open to the public.

Ochs, an instructor in the history department at Georgetown Preparatory School of Maryland, is the author of "A Cause Greater Than Self: The Journey of Captain Michael J. Daly, World War II Medal of Honor Recipient" (Texas A & M Press, 2012). His book chronicles Capt. Daly’s memorable life, revealing how a family disappointment who was kicked out of West Point evolved into a man devoted to others. Starting as an enlisted man, Daly rose through the ranks to become a captain and trusted company commander, bravely earning three Silver Stars, a Bronze Star with a "V" attachment for valor, two Purple Hearts and the Medal of Honor.

After returning from war, Daly was a longtime board member at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, where he championed the cause of the indigent poor and terminally ill. He was posthumously awarded the first Fairfield Award from the Fairfield Museum and History Center for his life of service. The Museum is co-sponsoring his appearance at the Bookstore with the University’s MFA in Creative Writing Program and its Learning for a Lifetime Program.

Ochs' book has received high praise from critics and fellow authors alike.

"I'm not aware of recent works that so well document events in small units, particularly those of the campaign in Southern France and Germany," wrote Edward G. Miller, author of "A Dark and Bloody Ground." "The author’s superb source materials from the Daly family and veterans is what set this story apart."

A Washington Post reviewer cited Ochs' ability to interweave Daly's career with the rise of his Irish Catholic family. "Throughout the narrative, Daly's tactical brilliance in leading a squad, a platoon and a company shine through," wrote Bing West.

For more information on this event, contact Elizabeth Hastings, ehastings@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4000, ext. 2688.

Media Contact: Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted on March 07, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 212

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Stage and screen superstar and author Julie Andrews appears at Fairfield University Bookstore signing with co-author and daughter Emma Walton Hamilton

3 p.m., Thursday, February 7, 2013

One of the most recognized and beloved figures in the world of entertainment, Julie Andrews, and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, will make a special appearance at the Fairfield University Bookstore in downtown Fairfield, CT, at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, autographing copies of their latest children's book, "The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart" (Little Brown).

There will be a limited number of books available for signing. Beginning at 9 a.m., on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, the Fairfield University Bookstore will begin issuing tickets to the event to those purchasing "The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart." One ticket per book will be issued. The Fairfield University Bookstore is located at 1499 Post Road, in Fairfield, CT. Store hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Call (203) 255-7756, or visit www.fairfieldbooks.bkstr.com.

With "The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart," Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton present another charming adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling Very Fairy Princess series, which follows the adventures of Geraldine, a fairy princess. Gerry may not look like your average fairy princess because of her skinned knees and sneakers, but she is. In "The Very Fairy Princess Follow Her Heart," with illustrations by Christine Davenier, it's Valentine's Day, Gerry's favorite day of the year, and she must find the perfect Very Fairy Princess way to celebrate what makes each of her friends sparkle.

Julie Andrew's dedication to children has been steadfast throughout her career. She began writing books for young readers over thirty-five years ago, and her first two novels - "Mandy" and "The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles" - remain in print and in high demand. Her other books include the Little Bo series and a collection of picture books, novels and early readers co-authored with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Her memoir, "Home," was #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. In the world of entertainment, Julie Andrews is an international star, best known for her performances in "The Sound of Music," "Mary Poppins," and "The Princess Diaries." Her legendary career encompasses the Broadway and London stages, blockbuster Hollywood films, award-winning television shows, multiple album releases and concert tours, and, of course, her bestselling children's books. In 2000, she was honored with the title of Dame Julie Andrews by Queen Elizabeth II for lifetime achievements in the arts and humanities. Her many other honors include being named "One of the 100 Greatest Britons" by the British Broadcasting Corporation, serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations' UNIFEM program, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, ambassadorships for literacy programs for the American Library Association, and a prestigious Kennedy Center honor.

Emma Walton Hamilton is an author, editor, and arts educator. She and her mother have coauthored many books for young readers, including the Very Fairy Princess series, the Dumpy the Dump Truck series (illustrated by her father, Tony Walton), "The Great American Mousical," "Thanks to You: Wisdom from Mother to Child" (another #1 New York Times bestseller), and "Simeon's Gift," which was also adapted for the stage. Their first anthology, "Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies," was a New York Times bestseller, and the mother-daughter's audio recording went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. A second poetry collection, "Julie Andrews' Treasury for all Seasons: Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Year," arrives in October 2013. An arts and literacy advocate, Ms. Hamilton also wrote "Raising Bookworms: Getting Kids Reading for Pleasure and Empowerment," which won a Parent's Choice Gold Medal. She is one of the founders of Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor and is currently a faculty member of Stony Brook Southhampton's MFA Program in Writing and Literature. She is also the Editorial Director of the Julie Andrews Collection, a publishing program dedicated to producing quality books for young readers that nurture the imagination and celebrate a sense of wonder.

For more information on The Very Fairy Princess series and the Julie Andrews Collection, visit www.theveryfairyprincess.com or www.julieandrewscollection.com.

The Fairfield University Bookstore, located at 1499 Post Road in the center of Fairfield, CT, serves not only the needs of the university community but also the greater Town of Fairfield and region and serves as a place for the university to offer its resources and educational programs to the entire community in a downtown setting. Operated by Follett, Inc., the Fairfield University Bookstore features titles from bestseller lists, University textbooks, magazines, technology peripherals and supplies, athletic wear and emblematic items of Fairfield University and regional high schools, clothing, novelty and gift items, and a wide choice of convenience and stationery items, gifts and accessories. A variety of merchandise, including textbooks, apparel, and other items can be purchased online at www.fairfield.edu/bookstore.

Media Contact: Mike Horyczun, (203) 254-4000 ext. 2647, mhoryczun@fairfield.edu

Posted on January 25, 2013

Vol. 45, No. 160

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