
With the assistance of a renowned La Jolla chef, a literary event planning and travel company with a La Jolla presence will host a benefit Sunday, Nov. 22, to provide humanitarian relief for the victims and survivors of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris. Adventures by the Book, host of the Je Suis Paris benefit at The Cheese Store of San Diego, will offer numerous silent auction items, including dinner with a number of local authors with Franco-centric books to their credit. One such author, Mary Duncan (“Henry Miller Is Under My Bed”), lives in both La Jolla and Paris. Bernard Guillas, executive chef at La Jolla’s The Marine Room and the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, is donating all proceeds from sales of “Flying Pans: Two Chefs, One World” his award-winning book about chefs and their spare time. French wine and goodies will also be available for purchase. “Everyone involved is volunteering their time and donating their services and goods,” said Susan McBeth, Adventures by the Book founder. “Our goal is to raise $5,000 for the French Red Cross to assist in its efforts with humanitarian relief in the wake of the tragic attacks last week.” Adventures by the Book, which has held La Jolla-based seminars, was founded in 2011 and connects authors and their books with the reading community through interactive literary events and literary travel packages. Terrorist attacks at seven Paris sites on Nov. 13 resulted in 129 deaths and 352 injuries, with 99 of the injured in critical condition. “I just returned from Paris a week ago,” said Jennifer Coburn, author of “We’ll Always Have Paris” and planner of the event along with McBeth – “and after the attacks… , I received numerous texts from family and friends saying how relieved they were that I was no longer there. I knew they meant well, but it was the exact opposite of how I felt. I wanted to be back in Paris helping however I could.” McBeth, who also recently returned from Paris, felt similarly at a loss as to what she could do to support the city she had grown to love. “We were literally planning this event driving back from an event (last weekend) in Los Angeles,” McBeth said, “and were amazed at the immediate and enthusiastic support we received. Within hours, we had commitments for appearances and book donations… The Cheese Store of San Diego offered their space at no cost, and more donations keep coming in. It is wonderful to live in a community like San Diego, where an outpouring of support is such a natural response.” “It will be very gratifying,” Coburn added, “to send a donation to the French Red Cross and let the people of Paris know that our hearts are with them. The event begins at 6 p.m. The Cheese Store of San Diego is located at 1980 Kettner Blvd. downtown. RSVPs to the event are appreciated but not required. For more, please email [email protected]. To make a donation to the San Diego Je Suis Paris effort, please mail checks to Adventures by the Book, PO Box 421472, San Diego, CA 92142.








