Starbucks announced today the next title in its book program: Happens Every Day: An All-Too-True Story, by Isabel Gillies, which will be published on March 24, 2009 by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.  Gillies, known for her recurring role as Detective Stabler’s wife on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has written an extraordinarily candid and compulsively readable memoir about coming to terms with the collapse of her marriage.  Featured as Vogue’s “Up Front” in its February 2009 issue, the book will be offered at more than 7,000 Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and bookstores across the U.S. beginning on March 24, 2009.
 

“Isabel has exceptionally bared her soul on the page,” said Susan Moldow, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Scribner. “You cannot read Happens Every Day without feeling a sense of identification, even if you have never been in Isabel’s exact situation.”

Isabel Gillies had a wonderful life—a handsome, intelligent, loving husband; two glorious toddlers; a beautiful house; the time and place to express all her ebullience, affection, and optimism. Suddenly, that life was over. Her husband, Josiah, announced that he was leaving her and their two sons. Happens Every Day is Gillies’ raw and urgent account of the events that transpired, and it uncannily reads like an intimate confession from a best friend.

“Happens Every Day is about the end of my first marriage,” said Gillies. “But while I was writing, I found that I had learned something about coping with unexpected crisis, and about loving your life even when it’s falling apart. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, everyone has to navigate something sad or challenging. It would be great if this book could help someone else in trouble, even a little bit. I loved writing Happens Every Day, and am so honored that it was chosen to be a Starbucks book.”

“Isabel Gillies describes the unexpected demise of her marriage with astonishing candor,” said Nan Graham, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of Scribner. “She’s heartbroken, she’s livid, she’s fiercely protective of her children–and she manages to be oddly exhilarating. The message she delivers in her instantly engaging voice is that people are resilient. You can start over. That happens every day, too.”

“This book provides a real life lesson that we can all relate to,” said Chris Bruzzo, vice president of brand content, Starbucks. “In the most relatable of words, and with a contagious writing style that exudes her wit and sense of humor, Isabel teaches us that some of our worst tragedies are actually moments that can bring about positive change and personal growth.”

For additional information about Happens Every Day, please visit www.simonandschuster.com.

 

About the Author
Isabel Gillies, known for her recurring television role as Detective Stabler’s wife in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and for her cinematic debut in the cult film Metropolitan, graduated from New York University with a BFA in film. She lives in Manhattan with her second husband, her two sons, and her stepdaughter.

About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com

About Scribner
Scribner is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., part of CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic and multi-media formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.