Events

Events for Fortune’s Lament:

Presentations / Book Signings:

  1. Appeared at the Decatur Book Festival, Atlanta, Saturday and Sunday, August 31- September 1, 2019, with 6 others Sunbury Press authors, to meet folks, chat, and sign books.
  2. “Fortune’s Lament: Lessons from Medieval Islamic Spain,” presentation, Q/A, reading, and signing for the Atlanta Ismaili Muslim Community, Ismaili Jamatkhana, Norcross, GA, 4:00 pm, August 5, 2018.
  3. “Fortune’s Lament: Lessons from Medieval Islamic Spain,” presentation, Q/A, reading, and signing for the Atlanta Interfaith Speakers Network, Temple Sinai, 4:00pm, May 5, 2018.
  4. Book Launch for Fortune’s Lament. Presentation, Q/A, reading, and signing. Free and open to all. Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Georgia Tech, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

Interviews / Articles  / Guest Blogs:

  1. Interview of John D. Cressler by Julia Baumgardt for Medievally Speaking, October 30, 2017.
  2. Interview of John D. Cressler by author Joan Fallon, for the Joan Fallon Blog, May 5, 2018.
  3. Interview of John D. Cressler by author Lisa Yarde, for the Brooklyn Scribbler Blog, April 24, 2018.
  4. John D. Cressler, “The Many Marvels of Medicine in 10th Century Islamic Spain,” guest blog for author Joan Fallon on July 3, 2018: http://www.joanfallon.co.uk/blog/the-many-marvels-of-medicine-in-10th-century-islamic-spain
  5. “An Interview with Dr. John Cressler on Shadows in the Shining City, the Latest Novel in His Anthems of al-Andalus Series,” Ernest and Edgar Literary Blog, located at:  http://ernestandedgar.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/an-interview-with-dr-john-cressler-on-shadows-in-the-shining-city-the-latest-novel-in-his-anthems-of-al-andalus-series, May 2, 2014.
  6. “An interview with Dr. John Cressler on Shadows in the Shining City, the latest novel in his Anthems of al-Andalus Series,” The Quill of the Tacitus Book Blog, located at: http://quilloftacitus.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/an-interview-with-dr-john-cressler-on-shadows-in-the-shining-city-the-latest-novel-in-his-anthems-of-al-andalus-series/, May 2, 2014.

Book Club Appearances: 

  1. Georgia Tech Library Book Club, Thursday, December 11, 2014.
  2. La Dee Da Book Club, Tuesday, April 21, 2015.
  3. Atlanta Woman’s Club Book Group, Monday, May 18, 2015.
  4. Prickly Pear and Roadrunner Literary Society Book Group, Monday, January 25, 2016.
  5. Georgia Tech Faculty Women’s Club Book Group, Saturday, February 27, 2016.
  6. La Dee Da Book Club, Friday, September 21, 2018.

Events for Shadows in the Shining City:

Presentations / Book Signings:

  1. “Book Launch for Shadows in the Shining City.” Presentation, reading, Q/A, signing, and a party following, Technology Square (85 5th Street, N.W., Atlanta 30308 – @ 5th Street and Spring Street), July 22, 2014 at 7:00 pm.
  2. “What History Can Teach Us: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Book event, IBM Microelectronics, Essex Junction, VT, Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 1:30 pm.
  3. “What History Can Teach Us: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Book event, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT,  Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm.
  4. “Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Presentation, reading, and signing, 29th International Conference on Medievalism, Friday, October 24, 2014, at 7:00 pm, Georgia Tech Hotel, Atlanta, GA 30308.
  5. “What Medieval Muslim Spain Can Teach Us About Achieving Peace in Our Broken World.” Presentation, shared discussion, reading, and signing for Shadows in the Shining City. Hosted by Neshama Interfaith Center on Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 7:00-9:30 pm, at the Istanbul Cultural Center, 591 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009. Free and open to the public.
  6. “Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Presentation, reading, and signing. Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 7:00 pm, Eagle Eye Bookshop, Decatur, GA. Free and open to the public.
  7. “What Medieval Muslim Spain Can Teach Us About Achieving Peace in Our Broken World.” Presentation, shared discussion, reading, and signing for Shadows in the Shining City. Hosted by the IDEA (Intellectual Dialogue and Educational Advancement) Society at University of Georgia, on Thursday, February 5, 2015, at 3:30-5:30 pm, in the Miller Learning Center, Athens, Georgia. Free and open to the public.
  8. “Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Presentation, reading, and signing. Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at 5:30 pm in the Georgia Tech Library. Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Faculty Women’s Club (GTFWC).
  9. “Lessons for Today from Medieval Spain,” Georgia Tech School of History, Technology and Society Spring Speaker Series, Monday, February 23, 2015, 4:00 pm.
  10. “What Medieval Muslim Spain Can Teach Us About Achieving Peace in Our Broken World.” Presentation, shared discussion, reading, and signing for Shadows in the Shining City. Hosted by the Trialogue of Mobile and The Center for Inter-religious Understanding at Spring Hill College, on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at 7:00-9:00 pm, in the Gautrelet Room on the campus of Spring Hill College (first floor of the Lucey Administration Building), 4000 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36608. Free and open to the public.
  11. “Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Presentation, reading, discussion and signing, Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:15 pm, Rotary Club of Decatur, Old DeKalb County Courthouse, Decatur, GA, 30030.
  12. “The New Historical Novel Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Madinat al-Zahra and Medieval Muslim Spain,” Part of the “Colloquium on Córdoba in the Historical Narrative,” hosted by the Biblioteca Viva de al-Andalus (Living Library of al-Andalus), on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at 6:00-7:45 pm, in the Palacio del Bailío, Cuesta del Bailío 3, Córdoba, Spain. Free and open to the public.
  13. “Shadows in the Shining City: Lessons for Today from Medieval Muslim Spain,” Presentation, reading, discussion and signing, Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Book Festivals:

  1. Cressler was a featured speaker at the Decatur Book Festival, August 29-31, 2014. The DBF is the largest independent book festival in the US. Visit: https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2014/index.php. Cressler spoke on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at 3:00 pm at the Marriott Conference Center, Ballroom C.

Events for Emeralds of the Alhambra:

Presentations / Readings / Book Signings:

  1. “Presentation and Book Signing,” Barnes and Noble Bookstore, in Midtown Atlanta at Georgia Tech, 48 5th Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30308. Event held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 6:30 pm.
  2. “Presentation and Book Signing,” The Gnu’s Room, 414 South Gay Street, Auburn, AL, 36830 (next to Amsterdam Cafe). Event held on Saturday, July 27, 2013, at 4:30 pm.
  3. “Presentation and Book Signing,” Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, 4300 King Springs Road, Smyrna, GA 30082. Event held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 7:00 pm.
  4. “Convivencia – a Forgotten Era of Religious Harmony,” Presentation and Book Signing, Troy University Library, as a part of the “Muslim Journeys” Lecture Series, Dothan, AL. Event held on Monday, September 16, 2013, at 6:30 pm.
  5. “Rediscovering Convivencia and Muslim Spain,” Presentation, Discussion and Book Signing, a Neshama Interfaith event, held at Congregation Gesher L’Torah, 4320 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30022 on Sunday, October 13, 2013, at 7:00 pm.
  6. “Remembering Muslim Spain and Convivencia – a Forgotten Era of Religious Harmony,” Presentation, Discussion and Book Signing, Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Georgia Tech. Event held on Thursday, October 17, 2013, at 7:00 pm.
  7. “Remembering Muslim Spain and Convivencia – a Forgotten Era of Religious Harmony,” TechArts Festival at Georgia Tech, held at 7:00 pm on 25 February 2014.

Book Festivals:

  1. Featured speaker in the Atlanta Writer’s Showcase, at the AJC Decatur Book Festival, August 31, 2013 at 1:30 pm, in the Mary Gay Room in the Marriott Conference Center in Decatur. Book signing and sales handled by Charis Books & More.  This is the largest independent book festival in the USA. Visit: http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2013/

TV Appearances:

“Interfaith Perspectives,” a TV interview program hosted by Imam Plemon El-Amin, WAIB-TV in Atlanta. On Cable TV and also shown on the web at http://johndcressler.com/video/ip070213_cressler.mp4 . 

Radio / Podcasts:

  1. “Blog Talk/ Power Talk,” with Lillian Cauldwell, 4:00-4:30 pm EDT, June 26, 2013, located at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pwrnetwork.
  2. WREK FM’s “North Avenue Lounge,” with Charlie Bennett, August 26, 2013 from 12:00-1:00 pm EDT, located at: http://www.wrek.org/northavenue/.
  3. “Happy Hour Variety Show,” Big Blend Radio, with Lisa Smith and Nancy Reid, to air September 18, 2013, at 7:00 pm EDT. Listen at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/big-blend-radio/2013/09/18/happy-hour-variety-radio .
  4. “Writer’s Chatroom,” with Lisa Jackson, 7:00-9:00 pm EDT, September 22, 2013, located at: www.thewriterschatroom.com.
  5. “Midday Conversations Radio Show,” with Cyrus Webb, Wednesday, October 9, 2013, at 1:00 pm EDT, located at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/middayconversations/2013/10/09/author-john-d-cressler-stops-by-conversations-live.
  6. “Absolutely Intercultural,” with Dr. Laurent Borgmann, Friday, December 13, 2013. Podcast located at: http://www.absolutely-intercultural.com .

Interviews / Articles  / Guest Blogs:

  1. “Love and Laughter Amidst Science,” by Keith Frady, for the Georgia Tech Technique. In print and on-line at http://nique.net/entertainment/2013/05/30/love-and-laughter-amidst-science, May 30, 2013.
  2. “ECE Professor Premieres His First Historical Fiction Novel,” author interview on-line at http://www.ece.gatech.edu/media/news/release.php?nid=214831, May 24, 2013.
  3. “Prof’s Tactic: Do Things Most Wouldn’t Do,” by Amelia Pavlik, for the Georgia Tech Whistle. In print and on-line at http://www.whistle.gatech.edu/archives/13/june/10/061013.pdf , June 7, 2013.
  4. “Interview with John D. Cressler,” appearing on TBR (ToBe Read), at http://tbrtheblog.blogspot.com/, June 13, 2013.
  5. “Historical Relevance: Anchoring Fiction Upon Non-Fiction Roots,” Straight from Hel Blog, http://bit.ly/16bqHn9, guest post, June 17, 2013.
  6. “Reviving the Many Wonders of Medieval Muslim Spain,” Venture Galleries Blog for Readers and Writers, http://venturegalleries.com/guest-blog/reviving-the-many-wonders-of-medieval-muslim-spain , guest post, June 23, 2013.
  7. “A collision of English History with Medieval Muslim Spain,” English Historical Fiction Authors Anthology, http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-collision-of-english-history-with.html,guest post, July 1, 2013.
  8. “Interview with John D. Cressler,” Haselton Reviews and Interviews, http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/interview-with-debut-historical.html , July 4, 2013.
  9. “Non-fiction Training Creates Better Novels,” Southern Writers Magazine Blog,  http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/2013/07/non-fiction-training-creates-better.html , guest post, July 10, 2013.
  10. “Surrounded by Beautiful, Bright, Strong-Willed Women,” Fresh Fiction Blog, http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=5126 , guest post, July 14, 2013.
  11. “Remembering Convivencia,” Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), http://www.ifyc.org/node/8959 , guest post, August 23, 2013.
  12. “Tech Professor Authors Romantic Historical Novel,” by Grant Hocker for the Georgia Tech Technique.  In print and on-line at http://nique.net/entertainment/2013/08/30, August 30, 2013.
  13. “JacketCopy,” Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, vol. 89, no. 3, p. 40, 2013.
  14. “Cressler Debuts Historical Fiction Novel,” interview with Tearanny Street, Georgia Tech Library Blog, September 11, 2013. Visit http://weblog.library.gatech.edu/news/2013/09/11/ece-professor-debuts-historical-fiction-novel/
  15. Review of Emeralds and Shadows by Julia Baumgardt for Medievally Speaking, October 30, 2017.
  16. Interview of John D. Cressler by Julia Baumgardt for Medievally Speaking, October 30, 2017.

Book Club Appearances: 

  1. K. Valdes and Friends Book Club, October 20, 2013.
  2. P. Bowler and Friends Book Club, December 16, 2013.
  3. Georgia Tech Library Book Club, December 17, 2013.
  4. Whole Brain Book Club, December 19, 2013.
  5. Ken and Trish Byers and Friends Book Club, January 27, 2014
  6. Lake Oconee Book Club, Friday, October 14, 2016.

Virtual Book Tour: (Stops on the tour and their permalinks are listed)

  1. 6/15, My Seryniti, http://bit.ly/154GjXk , review by Nova Reylin
  2. 6/15, Romance Reviews Today, http://bit.ly/19zUCKl , review by Jani Brooks
  3. 6/15 – 6/29, GoodReads, http://bit.ly/1bJQNPg, signed paperback giveaway
  4. 6/16, Examiner, http://exm.nr/11E4bPu  , trailer
  5. 6/16, Pop Junkee, http://bit.ly/128FUku , trailer
  6. 6/17, Straight from Hel Blog, http://bit.ly/16bqHn9 , guest post and giveaway
  7. 6/18, Page 99 Test, http://www.page99test.com/read-my-page/2154 , excerpt
  8. 6/19, Historical Novels Info, http://bit.ly/1ardzxL , listing (scroll down to The Continent – 14-15th Centuries)
  9. 6/19, English Epics 101, http://englishepochs.blogspot.com/ , release announcement
  10. 6/21 Historical Fiction Daily, http://paper.li/histnovel/1311169881 , guest post
  11. 6/23 – 6/29, Venture Galleries, http://venturegalleries.com/guest-blog/reviving-the-many-wonders-of-medieval-muslim-spain , guest post
  12. 6/23, Venture Galleries, www.venturegalleries.com/books , listing
  13. 6/24, Candle Beam Books Blog, http://www.candlebeambooks.com , review by Beth Diiorio
  14. 6/26, PWRNetwork, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pwrnetwork , radio interview with Lillian Cauldwell
  15. 6/30 – 7/13, The Celebrity Café, http://bit.ly/10tr8sl , signed paperback giveaway
  16. 7/1, English Historical Fiction Authors, http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-collision-of-english-history-with.html , article and anthology entry
  17. 7/1 – 7/8, English Historical Fiction Authors, http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html , signed paperback giveaway
  18. 7/4, Haselton Reviews and Interviews, http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/interview-with-debut-historical.html , interview and excerpt
  19. 7/9, Romance Reviews, http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=10060 , review by Bridget Keown
  20. 7/10, Southern Writers Magazine Blog,  http://southernwritersmagazine.blogspot.com/2013/07/non-fiction-training-creates-better.html , guest post
  21. 7/14, Fresh Fiction Blog, http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=5126 , guest post
  22. 7/15, Historical Novel Review, http://historicalnovelreview.blogspot.com/2013/07/emeralds-of-alhambra-by-john-d-cressler.html , review by Lisa Yarde
  23. 7/14 – 7/18, Fresh Fiction Blog, http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=5126 , signed paperback giveaway 
  24. 10/15, Free Book Friday, http://www.freebookfriday.com/2013/10/emeralds-of-the-alhambra-by-john-cressler.html , interview and signed giveaways

Events for Silicon Earth: 

  1. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Micro/Nanotechnology Revolution,” Lecture and book signing, Georgia Tech Barnes & Noble bookstore, Atlanta, GA, November 2009.
  2. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” TEDX @Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, April 2011.
  3. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” Georgia Society of Association Executives, Atlanta, GA, July 2011.
  4. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” Byers Engineering Company’s Annual Managers’ Meeting, Atlanta, GA, February 2012.
  5. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” American Council of Engineering Companies of Georgia Spring Meeting, Atlanta, GA, April 2012.
  6. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” Georgia Intelligent Transportation Society Annual Meeting, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA, September 2012.
  7. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” Georgia Tech Board of Trustees Companion Event, Atlanta, GA, December 2012.
  8. “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution, ” Georgia Tech SURE Program, Atlanta, GA, June 2013.
  9. J.D. Cressler, “Wrapping Your Brain Around the Many Miracles of the Microelectronics Revolution,” TechTalks at Georgia Tech, Keynote Address, Atlanta, GA, March 2014. This was part of the 2014 Atlanta Science Festival.

Other General Audience Speaking Engagements:

  1. “Reflections on the Gentle Art of Effective Teaching and Mentoring,” CETL Engaging Conversations, Brownbag Series, Atlanta, GA, March 2012.
  2. “Reflections on the Gentle Art of Effective Teaching and Mentoring,” Georgia Tech New Faculty Orientation, Atlanta, GA, August 2012.
  3. “Balancing Teaching, Research and Life: From Zero Sum to Smart Living,” CETL Teaching Enrichment Seminar Series, August 14, 2013.
  4. “Reflections on the Gentle Art of Effective Teaching and Mentoring,” IEEE Electron Devices Society, global webinar, September 10, 2013.
  5. “Graduate Commencement Address,” Georgia Tech, December 13, 2013 at 7:00 pm. Streaming live at: http://www.commencement.gatech.edu/home. The video of the speech will also be posted at http://johndcressler.com/videos/
  6. “The Quest for Truth in a Technological Age: The Evolving Dialogue Between Science and Religion,” CEO Reunion, Sea Island, GA, September 29, 2016.