Award-winning journalist and author, Naseem Rakha of Silverton, OR, will launch her new book, "The Crying Tree", on Wednesday July 15th at Salem’s Tea Party Bookshop. Ms. Rakha’s novel is about a family that suffers the unthinkable tragedy of having a family member murdered. The complex and layered story follows that family on their journey toward justice and forgiveness. Ms. Rakha will sign and read from her book, as well as engage in a Q&A session, starting at 6:30PM.

"Spellbinding storytelling" is what Publishers Weekly Magazine has to say about the bok, which will be found in bookstores beginning July 7th. Previewed by noted death penalty abolitionist and authof of Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen Prejean said, "For anyone who has ever wondered how forgiveness is possible, even when the pain is overwhelming, wonder no more. The Crying Tree takes you on a journey you won’t forget."

Naseem Rakha is an award-winning journalist whose stories have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and Living on Earth. She lives in Silverton with her husband, son and many animals. Her book is being published by Broadway Books/Random House.

In addition of her appearance at Salem’s Tea Party Bookshop, Ms. Rakha has other stops at Powell’s in Portland, in Seattle, Pennsylvania, New York and Los Angeles, over the next several weeks. The Internet site Library Thing gives The Crying Tree four and a half stars (out of five) by their previews.

For more information on the Tea Party Bookshop event, contact owner JoAnne Kohler, at 503-990-6471 or JoAnne@teapartybookshop.com. The location is 420 Ferry St. SE, in downtown Salem, at the corner of Liberty St.