Here's a look at Tucson, by the book

The benefits of yoga go beyond a good stretch. It can be emotionally restorative and relieve the debilitating effects of depression, says yoga instructor and Tucson author Amy Weintraub.

About 25 years ago, Weintraub had an exciting, fast-paced, high-pressure career as a television producer and writer in New England. She also suffered from depression and mood swings.

In 1989 she added Kripalu Yoga to the daily meditation practice she had started in 1970 and changed her life. She has since studied with teachers across the United States and India, and today is a nationally sought-after instructor, trainer and mentor.

Weintraub's work and writings are dedicated to blending styles and principles of ancient yoga practices and neuroscientific research. She frequently collaborates in studies on mental-health benefits of yoga.

She founded the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute and gives workshops on managing moods with yoga and trains others.

Weintraub, who travels extensively, could live anywhere. She chose Tucson and moved here 16 years ago after a two-month cross-country road trip.

"I love it here," she says. Tucson has populations not served by yoga and has the opportunity to do good, healing work.

"There was no such thing as yoga for depression when I got involved," says Weintraub on the phone during a break from a workshop she was teaching last month at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

Weintraub stresses that she is not a licensed mental-health professional and she would never encourage anyone to go off medication and try yoga. Medication should only be decreased very slowly with strict supervision while maintaining a regular practice, she emphasizes.

Her "Yoga for Depression: A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga" was released in late 2003.

In it Weintraub weaves the link between yoga and emotional well-being. She shares her story of recovering from severe depression by immersing herself in her yoga practice. She also shows how specific postures, breathing practices, and meditation techniques help ease emotional- and mood-related ailments.

Her latest book, "Yoga Skills for Therapists: Effective Practices for Mood Management," released this spring, is a manual for anyone who wants to incorporate yoga in a clinical setting, she says.

Much of what Weintraub teaches is not available in regular classes, she says. Visual imagery, sound, breathing practices, hand gestures, sounds, are among the techniques presented.

"Yoga works on many levels," says Weintraub.

Tucsonan Jacquelyn Jackson benefited from Weintraub's multilevel approach.

Jackson, former director of outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, lost her brother to brain cancer less than a year after friends and former co-workers were killed or seriously injured in the Jan. 8, 2011 shooting.

"I had done talk therapy after the shooting and then when my brother died very suddenly in December. … I went to Amy soon after," Jackson says in an email.

Weintraub says that Jackson was so agitated she could barely breath. They worked together for eight sessions.

"The combination of the breathing and movement was quite powerful," says Jackson. "It cleanses the body in a way that talking - which did help tremendously - just doesn't quite get at.

"She took me through a series of breathing exercises and yoga poses and it was a deep way to get at the pain, reduce the anxiety and help root me in this world," says Jackson, who is executive director of Tucson Values Teachers.

"It's not not just the exercise part of yoga," Weintraub says. Yoga gives a sense of control. The body needs work and yoga is exquisite work done for yourself.

Excerpts from "Yoga Skills for Therapists: Effective Practices for Mood Management" by Amy Weintraub

• "Yoga, just like therapy, teaches us that we suffer when our fear of pain and our attempts to avoid it close us off from our potential for growth. For it is from the challenges of life - and we all face them -that we are offered the chance to transform those old karmic patterns that keep us small and separated from the knowledge of who we really are."

• "If you could learn a simple, 10-second breathing exercise that could shift your energy, one that you can then teach your clients so they too can create a paradigm mood shift, would that be helpful? This Smile Breath is easy enough that you can read the following instructions and then close your eyes to practice. Or, if you prefer, keep your eyes open and practice as you read. You can sit in whatever position you happen to be reading in now, as long as your spine is straight. Take a deep inhale through the nostrils, hold the breath for a heartbeat or two, and then as you exhale, drop your chin to your chest. Hold the breath out for a heartbeat or two, as you lift the corners of your mouth. Inhale and lift your head. Exhale and open your eyes. How do you feel? If you're like me and my students and clients, you likely feel calmer."

Books by Amy Weintraub

• "Yoga Skills for Therapists: Effective Practices for Mood Management"

• "Yoga for Depression: A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga"

Upcoming Tucson events

LifeForce Yoga to Manage Your Mood

• What: Weekend to learn and practice breathing exercises, easy postures, guided meditations, and other mood regulating yoga practices not regularly taught in yoga class.

• When: Nov. 3-Dec. 2

• Where: Yoga Flow studio, 3131 N. Cherry Ave., 321-9642 (321-YOGA).

LifeForce Yoga Practitioner Training For Depression & Anxiety - Level 1.

• What: A certification training for yoga teachers and health professionals.

• When: Jan. 12-19.

• Where: Desert Redemptorist Renewal Center, 7101 W. Picture Rocks Road.

• More: yogafordepression.com

Parents may be familiar with Chris Gall from reading their children bedtime stories.

The Tucson writer and illustrator has taken kids to Mars, where boredom belies the planet's secrets. And he's explained to miscreant troublemakers what happens when a substitute "creacher" comes to class.

Last month, Gall and bartender/author Jim Meehan received an award for a book with a decidedly adult twist.

The pair won the Spirited Award for Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book for "The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender's Guide From the Celebrated Speakeasy," July 28 at the international Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans.

"In the the mixology world, this award carries as much weight as the Beard (James Beard Foundation Award) and the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) carry," says Gall. "This one is special, because it's judged by the best of the best in the cocktail/bartending industry."

Meehan, general manager of the famed Prohibition-era PDT, a New York bar, serves the recipes and narrative in "The PDT Cocktail Book" (Psst: PDT stands for "Please Don't Tell"). Gall's illustrations complement the text with his signature nostalgic quality.

Galls' evocative style is evident in his books, such as "Dinotrux," which is about brawny, half-truck, half-dinosaur creatures that rumbled on the planet in prehistoric times. It is in development at DreamWorks for a 3-D animated film. "Revenge of the Dinotrux" was released in May.

Gall says he wants parents and children to laugh together and he wants to be honest and educational without being preachy.

For instance, "Dear Fish" includes an endpaper that identifies more than 30 species of fish appearing in the book, and its moral - be careful what you wish for - doesn't wallop kids on the head.

Gall got his foot into publishing with an all-ages picture book "America the Beautiful," in which he illustrated the anthem written by his great-great-grandaunt, Katharine Lee Bates.

Gall has cited children's book authors and Caldecott Medal winners Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner as influences.

His favorite children's book is "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, who was a friend of his grandmother. (Gall has a Sendak-signed title tucked away in his Foothills home studio.)

Gall, who built a successful career as a commercial illustrator, says he honed his writing skills during his five years as a stand-up comic.

"I start with a big idea," says Gall of his writing process. Mock covers of potential books with funny or catchy titles await plots and characters in Gall's studio.

His next book, "Awesome Dawson," is set to be published next spring. Gall plans to venture into chapter books with more writing and less illustration.

Gall says he remembers his childhood and tries to "give children what they want."

"After gazing at Chris Gall's famous fish, an NYC Subway Art installation, while riding the 6 train in 2009, I contacted Chris to see if he'd consider illustrating a cocktail book. I wanted to bottle the look, feel and attitude of contemporary cocktail culture classically, with a playful sense of humor. Our goal is for the artwork, alongside the stories, to transport you like sipping a well-made cocktail."

Books by Chris Gall

• "Revenge of the Dinotrux"

• "Substitute Creacher"

• "Dinotrux"

• "There's Nothing To Do On Mars"

• "Dear Fish"

• "America the Beautiful"

Pimms Cup

• 2 oz. Pimms #1 Cup

• 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice

• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

• 3 cucumber slices

(1 reserved for garnish)

Muddle the cucumber and simple syrup.

Add Pimms and lemon juice, then shake with ice and strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice.

Garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Jim Meehan, "The PDT Cocktail Book," 2011 Lucius Beebe, "The Stork Club Bar Book," 1946

Summertime in Tucson dishes a double dose of desire - we want both leisurely and substantive reading.

"Monsoon weather always sends me to the bookcase to find a book that I want to reread or a book that I always intended to read," restaurateur Carlotta Flores says.

We asked a handful of Tucsonans to share their favorite book of the summer and to make a recommendation for the waning days of summer.

Flores, owner and chef, El Charro Restaurants.

• What she's reading: "The Years with Laura Diaz," by Carlos Fuentes, author of "The Old Gringo."

"The book is a saga of honor, passion and the human experience. A good summer getaway."

Karen Falkenstrom, director, Odaiko Sonora, Japanese drumming ensemble.

• What she's reading: "The Voyage Out" by Virginia Woolf.

"Woolf is a master of well-wrought descriptive language and has an extraordinary sensitivity for the interior workings of the human mind and heart."

• What she recommends: "As I tell all my best pals, read 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories' by Salman Rushdie."

Herb Stratford, historic theater consultant, artist and arts marketing and public relations specialist.

• What he's reading: "In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin" by Erik Larson.

"I love his work as he blends history with mystery. I find that life is too short to read fiction, so I appreciate the fact that all of his books are historical."

Larson's "'The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America' was amazing."

• What he recommends: "Savages" by Don Winslow. "It's a pretty interesting, pulpy crime piece that Oliver Stone ruined with his film version a few weeks ago. I'd encourage it to people because he writes in a unique style that seems ideal to a new generation of people in that it is so different from most writing styles.

"Lots of sex and violence, so it's a good summer read."

Mike Camp, owner, Heroes & Villains Comics & Adventures.

• What he's reading (fiction): "Batman: The Court of Owls," written by Scott Snyder, art by Greg Cappulo and Jonathan Glapion.

"A great story that reaffirms that Batman is the DC Universe's greatest detective. An excellent whodunit, this book also takes full advantage of the comic medium.

"It's cinematic in scope and pacing, plus the creators often graphically change the book up, at one point even turning the pages upside down to emphasize a disorienting moment. Very fun, very exciting."

• What he's reading (nonfiction): "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History" by Navy SEAL Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice.

"An interesting, though often difficult, first-person look at what our servicemen go through in defense of our country. Step-by-step accounts of actual combat situations as well as painful husband/wife relationship moments made this one of my most gripping reads."

Curtis McCrary, general manager and event booker, the Rialto Theatre.

• What he's reading: "Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace" by David Lipsky.

"It's a long travelogue/interview between the author and David Foster Wallace at a time when he was just becoming well-known for 'Infinite Jest.'"

"I'm trying to make time to read Haruki Murakami's '1Q84.'"

Laura Markowitz, multimedia producer, writer and editor who once spent a winter on the Gulf of Finland.

• What she's reading: "The Summer Book" by Tove Jansson.

It's "a gorgeous, funny and tender story about summertime on an island in the Gulf of Finland, told from the perspectives of the octogenarian grandmother and her young granddaughter."

• What she recommends: "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg, "because after a long Tucson summer, even reading about ice is refreshing."

David Slutes, entertainment director, Hotel Congress.

• What he's reading: "Close Range: Wyoming Stories," a collection of short stories by Annie Proulx and "Collected Poems in English," the works of Joseph Brodsky, "who single-handedly has me enjoying poetry again.

"I've been reading mostly on my iPad. In turn, the nonvirtual reading I've had a chance to enjoy reflects the short attention-span-inducing atmosphere that the iPad has encouraged in me."

It's not too early to plan to participate in the fifth annual Tucson Festival of Books.

The 2013 festival is accepting applications for authors, exhibitors, sponsors and volunteers.

The two-day festival is set for March 9-10 on the University of Arizona campus.

The 2012 festival featured more than 400 authors and about 255 exhibitors' tents and booths covered about nine acres. More than 120,000 people participated in family-friendly activities, workshops, presentations and readings at the annual celebration of books, reading, literacy and learning.

Here's how to get involved:

• Independent authors who would like to be considered for inclusion in the 2013 festival and potential exhibitors should go to the FAQ at the festival's website, tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/item/show/287 and follow the links.

• Potential sponsors should email sponsorships@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

• There are plenty of volunteer opportunities. About 1,800 volunteers helped last spring. Go to tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/item/show/280, and fill out the form.

• Just want to go and enjoy? Mark your calendar now. As at the four previous festivals, admission and parking are both free.

You can also become a "Friend of the Festival." Donate at - you guessed it- the festival's website, tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

The festival is sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star and hosted by the UA. Proceeds benefit local organizations that promote reading and literacy.

Here's a quick guide to some of the key characters in Tucson's book scene. For more information on activities, events and reading groups check the book list in the Home + Life section of the Sunday Star.

The independents

Antigone Books

411 N. Fourth Ave., 792-3715

antigonebooks.com

• Most popular title this summer: "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett for adults. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins for adults and teens.

• This summer's most popular title by a Southern Arizona author: Byrd Baylor's 1977 novel "Yes is Better than No," set in Tucson, "has been out of print for a long time, but it was reprinted this year and is a great seller. It is well worth reading or reading again," says Trudy Mills, Antigone co-owner.

• Recommendation for the waning days of the summer: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. "This will appeal to folks who like fantasy, but it is not a traditional fantasy novel."

• New release you're looking forward to: "Desert Reckoning: A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt is California History," by Deanne Stillman, who lives in Tucson. And a book coming in the fall by Bisbee author Bill Carter: "Boom, Bust, Boom: A Story About Copper, the Metal that Runs the World."

• The niche: Antigone, started in 1973, is one of the few feminist bookstores in the country that is still in operation. Mills says it is now a community bookstore: "We respond to the book interests of our customers and keep those interests in mind when ordering new books, without abandoning our progressive roots, of course."

• Events:

7 p.m. Friday - Other Voices Women's Reading Series featuring Pamela Uschuk and Charlotte Lowe. Open mic will follow.

Sept. 7 - Annette Kolodny, "In Search of First Contact."

Sept. 14 - Rafe Sagarin, "Learning from the Octopus: How Secrets from Nature can Help Us Fight Terrorist Attacks, Natural Disasters, and Disease."

Sept. 28 - Stillman, "Desert Reckoning."

Oct. 5 - Lili DeBarbieri, "A Guide to Southern Arizona's Historic Farms and Ranches."

Nov. 18 - Barbara Kingsolver, "Flight Behavior" at the Temple Of Music and Art.

• Book groups: Antigone has several book groups. Anyone is welcome - check the website.

Clues Unlimited

3146 E. Fort Lowell Road, 326-8533

cluesunlimited.com

• Summer's most popular title: Don Winslow's "Kings of Cool" and Charles Todd's "An Unmarked Grave: A Bess Crawford Mystery."

• Summer's most popular title by a Southern Arizona author: Anything by J.A. Jance.

• Recommendation: James Lee Burke's "Creole Belle: A Dave Robicheaux Novel."

• New release you're looking forward to: C. E. Poverman's "Love by Drowning. "He's a Tucson writer and there are scenes set here," says Chris Burke, who opened Clues in 1996.

• The niche: "As Tucson's mystery bookstore, Clues Unlimited seeks to present the best in mystery and suspense, often the kind of books you won't come across at a chain store or on the grocery store racks" says Burke. "We know our genre and help people find overlooked or under-promoted books. We also promote Arizona writers, including non-mystery writers."

• Book groups: Clues has a book club that meets at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month. The books are chosen by the group. To join, go into the shop or call.

• Endnote: "We have the world's most adorable bookstore dog, Bosco, a rescued racing greyhound, who's content to lie at your feet while you look at books."

Mostly Books

6208 E. Speedway, 571-0110

mostlybooksaz.com

• Summer's most popular title: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, followed by the rest of the trilogy, "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay."

• Summer's most popular title by a Southern Arizona author: Nancy Turner's books - "The Star Garden," "Sarah's Quilt," "These Is My Words," "The Water And The Blood."

• Recommendation: "Summerland" or any other Elin Hilderbrand novels. "All of her novels take place on the beaches of Nantucket and are filled with amazing characters and just enough drama to keep you entertained," says Tricia Clapp, who has co-owned the store with her sister Bobbe Arnett since 1988.

• New release you're looking forward to: Lee Child's new novel "A Wanted Man: A Jack Reacher Novel," "Frozen Heat" by Richard Castle based on the TV show "Castle" and "Flight Behavior" by Barbara Kingsolver.

• The niche: This neighborhood independent bookstore carries at least 100,000 titles and accepts used books for trade. About 30 percent of the store's books are new. It carries new releases, best-sellers, a full complement of genres and topics, and gift items.

• Events:

1-3 p.m. Sept. 29 - Local author open house.

1-4 p.m. Oct. 6 - 24th anniversary celebration with book signings, food and activities.

• Book groups: Mostly Books has non-fiction, LitWit (which reads every genre), fiction and mystery groups that meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Find more information at its website.

• Endnote: Mostly Books offers textbook rentals on its online site, mostlybooks.bookrenterstore.com

It also has a large selection of e-books at its website.

University of Arizona BookStores

Student Union Memorial Center, 1209 E. University Blvd.

Stores at Park Place and Tucson Mall, Arizona Health Services Center, McKale Memorial Center, South Campus Sierra Vista, and downtown on Stone Avenue. 621-2426

uabookstore.arizona.edu

• Summer's most popular title - of the non-textbook variety: "Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy" by E.L. James.

• Most popular title by a Southern Arizona author: "Arizona: A History", revised edition by Thomas E. Sheridan, a researcher and professor with UA's Southwest Center and Department of Anthropology.

• Recommendation: A very funny nonfiction book of essays by Jenny Lawson, "Let's Pretend This Never Happened," says Ellen Dickinson of the general books department. "She's a little bit like the best-selling American humorist David Sedaris, but with her own quirks and unexpected turns."

• New release you're looking forward to: "Two autobiographies - Salman Rushdie's 'Joseph Anton' and Richard Russo's 'Elsewhere,' " Dickinson says in an email. And J.K. Rowling's, "The Casual Vacancy," her first novel for adults.

• The niche: The UA BookStores has been around since 1891. "We are proud of that history and happy to be part of Southern Arizona's local, independent bookstore market," says Dickinson.

Bookstores director Debby Shively says in an email, "We are really focused on our commitment to literacy in our community," as exemplified by its founding role in the Tucson Festival of Books. UA Bookstores also is the host of children's literacy programs and events such as Bat Night and the Desert Horticulturist Conference.

• Events:

"Meet the Cat in the Hat," at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sept 1. at the Student Union store and 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at Park Place, is part of the free program, Wildcats Advocating Literacy and Knowledge (W.A.L.K.), in which children's storybook characters visit along with crafts and storytelling.

Nov. 1 - Talk and book signing by author Luis Alberto Urrea ("Queen of America" and "The Devil's Highway") is part of a new collaborative program with the UA's Confluence Center for Creative Inquiry, which will offer free once-a-month musical and dance performances, as well as faculty lectures. Urrea's appearance will coincide with the annual Dia de los Muertos altar display. Information at confluencecenter.arizona.edu

• Book group: The '12-'13 UA Reads book is "No Impact Man" by Colin Beavan, a nonfiction work that supports sustainability. Pima County libraries host UA Reads book groups. Info at uabookstore.arizona.edu/uareads

• Endnote: The BookStores is a self-sustaining unit within the UA's Division of Student Affairs. It is an independent college bookstore that does not receive any funding from the state, tuition or student fees.

The library

Pima County Public Library

Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave., 594-5500

List of branches at library.pima.gov/locations

Ilibrary.pima.gov

• Summer's most popular title: "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James.

• The niche: The library is a big supporter of Tucson's book scene, says spokeswoman Kenya Johnson. "Our city is a thriving hub of writers and novelists and writers-to-be. We've been part of making the Tucson Festival of Books from the beginning to end because we want to grow a community of readers and writers.

"We really view our local, independent bookstores as our partners. We have a vested interest in sharing books and a love of reading and knowledge."

For example, the library worked with Bookmans to bring Harry and the Potters to Tucson and helped Antigone promote some of its events, such as the 25th anniversary of "Where's Waldo?"

• Events:

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday - Fourth Annual Bilingual Literacy Fair at El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, Attendees will receive free Spanish language books and backpacks. Educational activities for kids.

6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 - Books on Wheels Volunteer Orientation at the Himmel Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave. The program is getting under way and needs volunteers to select books for homebound residents. Fill out and bring the application at library.pima.gov/pdf/volunteerapp.pdf or call 594-5245 for more information

• Book groups: Activities and reading groups vary among the branches. Check the website for specifics.

• Endnotes: The Ask a Librarian Infoline (791-4010) can help with just about any question.

The library is launching a new service through OneClickdigital. At the end of August, the library will offer access to the largest collection of digital audiobooks and multi-access titles for all devices.

Writers haven

Casa Libre en la Solana

228 N. Fourth Ave., No. 2, 325-9145

casalibre.org

• The niche: Casa Libre en la Solana is in many senses a writing studio, set up to support and enhance professionals and novices with residency programs. It's also a venue for classes, readings and professional development.

• Event:

7-11 p.m. Sunday Dive-In Movie Night - Bring a towel and float in the pool, eat popcorn, and drink cheap beer while watching a campy double-feature at this fundraiser. $12 donation to Casa Libre.

Used-book stores

The Book Stop

214 N. Fourth Ave.; 326-6661

bookstoptucson.com

• The niche: The Book Stop - yes, it's that place that was on Campbell Avenue until 2007- has been in Tucson since 1967 and specializes in general used and out-of-print books. Meander around the wooden shelves of the 3,000-square-foot shop and you will probably discover something special. The Book Stop buys, sells and trades.

Bookmans Entertainment Exchange

6230 E. Speedway, 748-9555; 1930 E. Grant Road, 325-5767; 3733 W. Ina Road, 579-0303; stores in Mesa, Phoenix and Flagstaff.

bookmans.com

• The niche: The cluttered Bookmans on the northeast corner of Broadway and Tucson Boulevard of 30 years ago is now a bustling behemoth that buys, trades and sells just about any media-related item: books, music, movies, video games and systems, magazines, comics, electronics and knickknacks.

• Events: Bookmans locations frequently host art exhibits, musical performances, classes and workshops. Check the website.

The chain

Barnes & Noble

5130 E. Broadway, 512-1166;

Foothills Mall, 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd., 742-6402

BN.com

• The niche: This is a large bookstore chain with big-city slickness and ambience. The Tucson stores are huge and you can find books, music, magazines, newspapers and have a coffee and a snack.

• Events: BN often brings in named authors, so check the website to see who might be stopping here on their book tours.

• Endnotes: Great staff picks, with some real gems on the bargain tables.