Events

Please note: this event is NOT recommended for people with food allergies such as gluten, milk/dairy, nuts.

Have you ever tried a Galette des Rois before? This fragrant frangipane dessert is rich and scrumptious, but its real treasure is in the mystery of the fève, a tiny charm baked into the cake, waiting to surprise its finder. One lucky bite, and you get to keep the fève, wear a crown and become royalty for the day! Although Epiphany is thought of as a religious Christian festival celebrated on January 6 marking the arrival of the Three Magi at the Nativity Scene, its original roots can be found in the Roman festival of Saturnalia, dedicated to Saturn, the god of seed-sowing, with the promise of a Spring harvest.

Come join us this Epiphany season as we celebrate French culture through a tasting of Galettes des Rois - King Cake, the traditional cake eaten in the North of France on the occasion. We are partnering with Un Je Ne sais Quoi… a popular local French Patisserie and Café, to bring you three delicious flavors of Galettes, and a French cultural experience you will not forget.

This event will take place at the Alliance Francaise of Washington DC, in our cozy French language library. Get your ticket today, so that we can save you a slice!

This event is part of the" ATaste of France" series.

About the Event:

Did you study a foreign language growing up? If you did, maybe you were lucky enough to have had a pen pal living in another country with whom you exchanged letters in each other's language. Did that unusual epistolary friendship last? Are you still in touch with your pen pal? Judith Umlas, author of Soulmates and Strangers, will talk about the lifetime friendship between her American mother and her French penpal. It is an emotion-filled story that survives the geographical distance and chapters of life, including the dreadful years of WW2. Join us for a moving online presentation and discussion with Judith Umlas and Valerie Galinsky, NEUROLANGUAGE COACH® and translator of Soulmates and Strangers into French, on January 24.

The event will be in English and will be ONLINE.

This event is part of the AFDC "Language Without Borders" Series.

About the Book:

Soulmates and Strangers, is a personal memoir based on letters the author's mother wrote to her French pen pal between 1936 and 1947. It was published by https://handlerandwagreich.com in 2022. It’s based on over 70 years of correspondence between the two young women that illuminates their perspectives on world events and personal triumphs and tragedies beginning with World War II and continuing throughout their lives. This deeply personal narrative offers insights into connection, survival, and the power of letters to bridge cultures, languages, and continents. The book has led to Judith Ulmas training groups in Epistolary Insights: Learning French Language and History Through Letters, and numerous community speaking engagements.

About the Author:

Besides Soulmates and Strangers, Ms. Umlas is also the author of The Power of Acknowledgment, an inspirational, motivational, and action-oriented book which drives home the need for acknowledgment. It also applies these principles to leadership skills, growth and development in the workplace, as well as in everyday life. Following the publication of this book, Ms. Umlas wrote Grateful Leadership, Using the Power of Acknowledgment to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results, and You’re Totally Awesome, the Power of Acknowledgment for Kids. www.gratefulleadership.com

Ms. Umlas has trained over 100,000 people on the Power of Acknowledgment and Grateful Leadership, including executives of the NYC Police Department, the U.S. Department of Justice, the World Bank and hundreds of corporations and government agencies - all to outstanding reviews. When she teaches the value of acknowledgment and gratitude, participants from her seminars learn the seven major principles of acknowledgment, develop key skills for delivering effective and authentic acknowledgment, identify the vast number of people worthy of acknowledgment, and establish an understanding that acknowledgment is a key factor in developing employee loyalty and engagement, improving relationships and enhancing self-worth. Grateful Leadership, The Power of Acknowledgment and Soulmates and Strangers are Judith’s passions, her missions, and her purpose!

A propos de l’événement :

Cet événement sera exclusivement en français.

Cet événement fait partie de la série "Des Mots et des Hommes."

Retour aux sources de la littérature française, le vendredi 30 janvier, à 19h avec une discussion autour des prix littéraires 2025, et surtout, l’annonce d’un prix littéraire nouveau, le Prix littéraire Alliance Française/BonjourBooks 2025.

Nous renouons avec une tradition d’avant Covid, avec cette soirée pendant laquelle quatre intervenants vont vous présenter quelques-uns des prix votés en 2025 par les jurys germanopratins. Qu’en est-il de la littérature hexagonale ? Hors de Paris point de salut ? C’est le constat de la parisianisation des lettres françaises qui a motivé Jennifer Fulton, propriétaire de Bonjour Books, et Sarah Diligenti, Directeur Exécutif de l’AF de Washington, à créer un Prix qui ferait place aux « Autres Voix».

Vente de livres sur place.

👉 Cette première édition du prix portera sur des romans publiés en 2025.

A propos de l’événement :

Cet événement sera en ligne et en français.

Cet événement fait partie de la série "Femmes et..."

À l’occasion du cinquantenaire du Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes (Bruxelles, 1976), l’Alliance Française de Washington DC, en collaboration avec le pôle Washington de l’Institut des Amériques, vous invite à une soirée inédite autour de la mémoire et de l’héritage d’un événement féministe mondial.

Milène Le Goff, historienne et autrice de Nous aussi. Le Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes, une initiative féministe mondiale 40 ans avant #MeToo (Éditions Hors d’atteinte, 2026), reviendra sur cette rencontre internationale où deux mille femmes des cinq continents ont témoigné publiquement des violences qu’elles subissaient. Son ouvrage redonne voix à vingt d’entre elles, éclairant la diversité et la force des luttes féministes des années 1970.

À ses côtés, Michèle Hindi-Alexander, traductrice et participante au Tribunal de 1976, partagera son expérience de témoin direct. Par sa mémoire et son regard, elle fera revivre de l’intérieur la puissance de cette mobilisation historique.

La rencontre sera animée par Sarah Diligenti, directrice de l’Alliance Française de Washington DC.

L'évènement est organisé en collaboration avec le pôle Washington de l'Institut des Amériques.

📍 Sur Zoom
🕗Samedi, 7 février

14:00H - 2:00pm

Biographie de Milène Le Goff :

"Milène Le Goff est doctorante en histoire en cotutelle entre l’Université de Lille et l’Université libre de Bruxelles. Diplômée de l’EHESS (2018), elle a d’abord mis ses compétences au service de la société civile en travaillant dans des organisations féministes (CIDFF, Université des Femmes) et auprès de personnes en situation de précarité (Forum Réfugiés, Adoma, service du 115). En 2023, elle a été la curatrice de la première exposition européenne consacrée au 'Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes' et a organisé un colloque international de trois jours qui a réuni près de 150 participant·es. Passionnée par la transmission de la mémoire des femmes et des mouvements féministes et lesbiens des années 1970, elle reprend ses études en 2024. Lauréate de l’Institut des Amériques, elle bénéficie d’un contrat doctoral qui lui permet de mener ses recherches aux États-Unis, où elle est accueillie comme chercheuse invitée à Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.). Elle est également l’éditrice de la traduction française des actes du Tribunal de 1976 et poursuit ses recherches pour retrouver et préserver la mémoire de ses participantes. Son travail s’inscrit dans une démarche de mise en lumière et de transmission des luttes féministes à l’échelle transnationale"

Biographie de Michele Hindi-Alexander:

"Michèle Hindi-Alexander est une épidémiologiste aujourd’hui retraitée. Née à Alexandrie (Égypte) dans une famille copto-française, elle a poursuivi sa formation doctorale entre l’Université de Louvain-la-Neuve et la State University of New York at Buffalo. Installée à Bruxelles dans les années 1970, elle rejoint le collectif Women Overseas for Equality, puis participe activement à l’organisation du Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes (1976), dont elle fut l’une des traductrices et coordinatrices linguistiques. Ce moment fondateur a profondément marqué son engagement en faveur des droits humains, des femmes et des populations vulnérables, un engagement qu’elle a poursuivi tout au long de sa carrière et de sa vie personnelle. Elle s'installe par la suite avec sa famille aux États-Unis, où elle continue à travers dans la recherche respiratoire pendant près de 30 ans au sein de la NIH."

A propos du livre:

Présentation de l'ouvrage "Nous aussi. Le Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes, une initiative féministe mondiale 40 ans avant #MeToo" :

"En mars 1976, deux mille femmes venues des cinq continents se retrouvent à Bruxelles pour participer au Tribunal international des crimes contre les femmes. Pendant plusieurs jours, elles prennent la parole publiquement pour témoigner des violences qu’elles subissent : sexuelles, domestiques, politiques, économiques ou médicales. L’évènement, fondateur mais largement tombé dans l’oubli, a révélé que ces violences, trop souvent perçues comme des faits isolés, s’inscrivaient en réalité dans un système global d’oppression.

À l’occasion de son cinquantième anniversaire en 2026, ce livre entend redonner voix à vingt de ces participantes à travers une série de portraits. Chaque récit, replacé dans son contexte historique et politique, éclaire le continuum des violences faites aux femmes et la diversité des luttes féministes portées dans les années 1970. Ces portraits rappellent aussi combien la mise en commun d’expériences individuelles a permis de transformer le personnel en politique, et d’ouvrir un espace inédit de solidarité internationale.

En écho au mouvement #MeToo, l’ouvrage souligne que, dès 1976, des femmes avaient déjà choisi de parler ensemble, de nommer les violences et d’affirmer la nécessité d’une réponse collective. Accessible au grand public, il propose une porte d’entrée pour comprendre à la fois l’histoire et les enjeux du Tribunal, mais aussi, plus largement, les luttes féministes de cette décennie."

About the event:

This event is part of the series: "A Taste of France."

This event will be in English and held at Diptyque Georgetown.

Come join us on February 12 to celebrate the rose, a timeless flower whose symbolism and unique scent has marked generations and cultures, and revolutionized romance.

In French culture in particular, the rose carries a deep cultural significance in love, health, art and literature. Renaissance poet Ronsard's favorite flower, the rose is present in his famous poem that all high school students study: "Mignonne, allons voir si la rose..." It also became the symbol of a political party in the 80s. With its exquisite aroma, roses have been a staple in French perfumery since the beginning of the industry.

For this event, we are partnering with French fragrance brand Diptyque to bring you the best rose scents, including their very popular Eau Rose.

In the quaint neighborhood of Georgetown, immerse yourself in the world of Diptyque’s botanical inspirations as you explore their shop, and visit multiple booths, engage with French speakers, enjoy light bites and bubbly, and take part in interactive games and activities. You will be surrounded by the scent and tradition of the rose throughout the evening.

There will be opportunities to purchase Diptyque products so that you may capture the essence of the iconic French rose and take it home with you.

We look forward to welcoming you!

This event is part of the "Arts Series."

This event is in English and will be held at the Alliance Française of Washington DC.

About the Event:

Long before it became the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre served as a medieval fortress guarding Paris, later rising as a royal palace and eventually transforming into the cultural heart of France. Across the centuries, its walls have witnessed political intrigue, dynastic ambition, and revolutionary upheaval, each chapter shaping the extraordinary institution we know today.

In this richly illustrated in-person lecture, we will trace the Louvre’s remarkable evolution from its origins as a medieval stronghold and transformation into a palace of kings, the bold vision of the French Revolutionaries who opened it as a museum “for the people,” and its expansion into a global institution housing more than 35,000 works of art.

French art historian Tosca Ruggieri will guide audiences well beyond the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, revealing overlooked masterpieces, hidden corners, and remarkable stories too often missed by hurried visitors. The evening will also explore unforgettable episodes in the Louvre’s modern history—from the dramatic evacuation of its treasures during the Second World War to the recent October 2025 heist that once again demonstrated the museum’s enduring hold on the world’s imagination. More than a museum, the Louvre stands as a living symbol of French history, identity, andcultural vitality.

Join us on February 18 as we peel back its layers and rediscover the many lives of this iconic place.

ABOUT TOSCA: Art Lecturer & Curator of Cultural Experiences

Art with Tosca was founded in 2021 by Tosca Ruggieri, a French-Italian art historian and licensed guide based in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C.

Raised among the artistic heritage of Northeastern France and Tuscany, Tosca studied Art History in Paris and earned graduate degrees from EPHE-Sorbonne and King’s College London. She began her career working with private art collections and galleries in London, later teaching art history at a French university. Today, Tosca leads curated tours at major Washington institutions including the National Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection, and the Smithsonian museums. Her work spans from the Italian Renaissance to Modern art and combines deep scholarship with engaging storytelling. Through her tours and lectures—both in-person and virtual—Tosca is committed to making art accessible, meaningful, and inspiring for all audiences.

For more information about Tosca Ruggieri’s work and to subscribe to her newsletter, visitwww.artwithtosca.com.

About the Event:

This event will take place online and in French.

Everyone is invited to take their pen, in front of their screen, to participate in this writing exercise!

This dictée is organized as part of the Festival de la Francophonie in Washington, DC and will take place on March 4th at 6:00 p.m. EST on Zoom. Sarah Diligenti, Executive Director of AFDC, will read an excerpt from a book by a Francophone author, which will be announced later.

The event is free and open to everyone! However, we recommend a B2+ level of French. All registrants will receive a Zoom link a few days before the event. *** A propos de l’événement : Cet événement sera exclusivement en ligne et en français. Parviendrez-vous à réaliser un sans faute ? Tout le monde est invité à prendre son stylo, devant son écran pour participer à cet exercice collectif. Cette dictée est organisée dans le cadre du Festival de la Francophonie à Washington et aura lieu le 4 mars à 18h00 EST sur Zoom. Sarah Diligenti, le directeur exécutif de l'AFDC, lira un extrait d'un texte francophone qui sera annoncé plus tard. L'événement est gratuit et ouvert à tous ! Nous recommandons cependant un niveau de français B2+. Tous les inscrits recevront un lien de connexion quelques jours avant l'événement.

La deuxième édition du Salon du livre francophone aura lieu à l'hôtel The Ven at Embassy Row, à Dupont Circle le samedi 7 mars 2026, 14h-17h. Des auteurs francophones de toute la région viendront dialoguer avec leurs lecteurs, vendre et signer leurs livres pour tous les âges en français. Le bar-restaurant de l'hôtel sera ouvert pour l’occasion.

Cet événement est organisé dans le cadre de FrancophonieDC, un festival culturel annuel co-sponsorisé par Smithsonian Associates et l’Alliance française de Washington. Bonjour Books DC est le libraire officiel de l'événement, qui est organisé en partenariat avec l'Alliance française de Washington et de la Délégation du Québec à Washington. The Ven Hotel at Embassy Row est un sponsor de FrancophonieDC depuis le printemps 2024. EVENEMENT GRATUIT. Inscrivez-vous pour notre logistique.

The second edition Francophone Book Fair will take place at The Ven Hotel at Embassy Row in Dupont Circle on Saturday, March 7, 2026, between 2:00 and 5:00pm. Francophone authors from the entire region will be present to engage with their readers, sign and sell their books for all ages in French. There will also be food and drink available for purchase onsite at the hotel bar-restaurant. This event is organized as part of FrancophonieDC, an annual cultural festival co-sponsored by Smithsonian Associates and the Alliance française of Washington DC. Bonjour Books DC is the official bookseller for the event. This is a partner event between the Alliance française de Washington and the Québec Government Office in Washington. The Ven Hotel at Embassy Row has been a sponsor of FrancophonieDC since Spring 2024. FREE EVENT. Registrations are required for logistics and security.

About the Event:

This event will be in English and will take place at the Alliance Française of Washington, DC.

Did you know that Lebanon is part of the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF)? Many Lebanese speak French as a second language, including local artist Vian Shamounki Borchert. Having grown up in Beirut, the nearby sea created happy memories of her childhood, often reflected in her artistic inspirations.

Named one of “Top 10 Most Creative Artists of 2025,” Borchert’s art stands out by featuring many hues of blue, among other colors that reflect her Mediterranean memories.

Borchert will be in conversation with Executive Director Sarah Diligenti, who has traveled to Lebanon and enjoys experiencing Lebanese culture.

Come join us as we hear from the artist herself, view samples of her artwork, and hear her story.

About the Artist:

Vian Shamounki Borchert is an internationally acclaimed artist known for her abstract expressionist style, characterized by a poetic take. Born in Beirut, Lebanon to an art-loving family with devoted parents who supported her vision and talent throughout her early years, Vian went on to become a graduate and “Notable Alumni” of the Corcoran College of Art and Design at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Borchert has exhibited for many years in numerous group and solo exhibitions worldwide.

Borchert serves as the Art Lead for the Oxford Public Philosophy Journal, based at Oxford University, UK. Her work has been showcased internationally in museums and key galleries in major cities, including the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, Medinaceli DeArte Museo Contemporáneo in Spain, The SAM Museum in Pennsylvania, BANK Art Fair in Seoul, South Korea, Art3f International Contemporary Art Fair in Monaco at the prestigious Chapiteau de Fontvieille, AVA Art Festival in Osaka, Japan at Enokojima Art Centre, Art Basel Miami Beach, the Venice Biennale, and in leading galleries in major world cities such as NYC, LA, and DC, along with numerous private collections.

Borchert’s artwork has been widely published in the press, appearing in over 100 publications including esteemed outlets such as World Art News, Museum Week Magazine, and The Washington Post. She was recently named by MSN as one of the “Top 10 Most Creative Artists of 2025” and listed by “Art Market Experts” among the most investable artists of 2025. Borchert is also involved in teaching, art writing, and curation. She has been an art educator for two decades, teaching fine art painting and drawing to adults in the Washington, DC area in venues such as the historic Arts Club of Washington and the Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo Park.

Renowned for her abstract expressionist style and what she defines as “visual poetry,” Borchert transforms the essence of nature, particularly seascapes inspired by her Mediterranean roots into nostalgic reflections of her childhood memories of the Mediterranean Sea. In her abstracted works embodying the sea, clouds, and skyscapes, she creates lyrical meditations on memory, emotion, and the human spirit. Borchert’s serene palette of blues and turquoises evokes both depth and transcendence, turning abstraction itself into an immersive experience. Recognized for her philosophies on art along with pioneering intellectual thought and creativity in the art world, Borchert continues to shape the global art dialogue.

Her artwork is available through leading marketplaces, Artsy and 1stDibs.

Recently Borchert was named one of MSN's "Top 10 Most Creative Artists of 2025" https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/top-10-most-creative-artists-of-2025/ar-AA1Q3AM1

----------------------------

Social handles and website:

Website: www.vianborchert.com

Facebook: Vian Borchert Fine Arts

Instagram: @vianborchert

Twitter/X: ViansArtCorner

YouTube: @vianborchert

L’Alliance Française de Washington DC est heureuse d’accueillir Élodie Mbape, autrice, enseignante et passionnée de langues, pour une deuxième rencontre littéraire exceptionnelle, en ligne depuis le Canada. Ayant étudié au Cameroun, aux États-Unis et au Canada, Mbape possède un parcours riche et international.

C’est d’ailleurs à l’AFDC qu’elle a fait ses premiers pas dans l’enseignement après l’obtention de son Bachelor à l’Université de Virginie, un souvenir auquel elle reste profondément attachée. Aujourd’hui enseignante au secondaire et autrice de son deuxième roman, L’envolée des monarques, elle continue de nourrir sa passion pour la littérature, l’écriture créative, la musique, les voyages et l’actualité.

Nous vous invitons à nous rejoindre pour célébrer son œuvre et échanger autour de son univers littéraire, notamment celui d’Éloïse, héroïne de L’envolée des monarques : une jeune femme camerounaise plongée dans les défis, les espoirs et les contradictions de son rêve américain au Maryland.

Cet événement se déroulera en français.

Résumé du livre

Éloïse est une jeune femme timide et sensible qui éprouve de la difficulté à s’adapter à sa nouvelle vie. Elle a du mal à comprendre les attentes liées au rêve américain (ou peut-être qu’elle les comprend trop bien pour vouloir y adhérer...). Partie de son Cameroun natal pour les États-Unis, elle entreprend une sorte de voyage initiatique, qui la mènera dans les méandres de ce rêve ondoyant qu’elle caresse depuis l’enfance. Entourée de Nana, tata Habi et Julia, trois femmes de caractère dont les chemins suivent des courbes différentes, la nouvelle immigrante du Maryland apprend à surmonter le vertige de la vitesse. Au milieu des papillons et des cendres qui s’envolent autour d’elle, survient l’homme-mystère. Il l’attend patiemment dans les hauteurs paisibles du Mont-Royal, là où le ciel et la terre se croisent peut-être à l’horizon.

Informations sur l'autrice

Élodie Mbape a étudié au Cameroun, aux États-Unis et au Canada. Elle est titulaire d’une maîtrise en éducation de l’Université de Montréal et exerce la profession d’enseignante au secondaire. Dotée d’un parcours diversifié, elle est également diplômée en science politique, en études bilingues et en littérature française. Traductrice agréée au Québec (ANG-FRA), elle se passionne pour les langues. Après obtention de son Bachelor à l’Université de Virginie, elle a effectué ses premiers pas en enseignement à l’AFDC, dont elle garde un souvenir mémorable. Ses principaux centres d'intérêt sont la littérature, la musique, l'écriture créative, les voyages, l'enseignement et l'actualité. L’envolée des monarques est son deuxième roman.

Vous pouvez la trouver sur Facebook ou LinkedIn @ Elodie Mbape

Un bref échange autour de ses livres sur la chaîne d’Immigration et Entrepreneuriat au Canada : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7picsfCakXw&t=46s

 About the Event:

This event will be in both French and English, and will be held at the Alliance Française of Washington, DC.

Come join us for an evening of French poetry with acclaimed author and poetess, Marie de Quatrebarbes. Marie will read from and discuss the recent English translation of her book, Les Vivres (The Vitals), an elegiac long poem in the form of a fragmentary journal that tracks the loss of a loved one, making its debut with an English translation. Alongside her, we are pleased to welcome her English translator, Aiden Farrell. Together, they will discuss The Vitals' rich and poetic content, and answer questions from the audience. In partnership with local French bookstore Bonjour Books, copies for purchase will be available at this event. We are looking forward to your participation!

About the Book:

As if the relic of a long-forgotten history, The Vitals ghosts through five successive months, measuring time through the vacillations of a bereaved consciousness. An estranged voice staggers through glimpses of childhood, domesticity, conversations lost and found, and memories reverberating into language. These elliptical prose vignettes ask questions about family, survival, and of the shared experience of grief and longing. Through a documentary impulse, de Quatrebarbes’s poem persists suspended in the space left by a sudden disappearance.

About the Author:

Marie de Quatrebarbes (b. 1984) is the author of several books of poetry, as well as a novel inspired by the life of Aby Warburg, and the recipient of the 2020 Paul-Verlaine Prize from the Academie Française. She published La tête et les cornes, a poetry and translation review, republished the complete poems of Michel Couturier (L’ablatif absolu, La tête et les cornes), and edited an anthology dedicated to contemporary poetry by young French women (Madame tout le monde, Le Corridor bleu). Since 2023, she is the co-manager of the French publishing house Éditions Corti. She lives and works in Paris.

The event will take place in person and is in English.

About the Event:

Join us at the Alliance Française of Washington, DC for a special evening with author Tom Young, presenting his new WWII novel The Mapmaker. Inspired by real Resistance operations in occupied France, the book follows a daring intelligence courier on the run from the Gestapo and an RAF pilot risking everything to bring her home in the tense weeks before D-Day.

Tom Young will discuss the real historical events behind the story, answer audience questions, and sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase on-site through our partners at Bonjour Books. 

Don’t miss this chance to meet the author, discover the thrilling world of The Mapmaker, and celebrate courage, resistance, and history brought vividly to life.

Summary of The Mapmaker:

Resistance operative Charlotte Denneau has critical targeting information for the Allies, and the Gestapo knows it. On the run across occupied France, she must prioritize her mission over the lives of the agents and civilians she needs to help her escape. Germans are taking down Resistance networks with disastrous results. Agents are being arrested, tortured, questioned, and turned. Charlotte never knows whom to trust. She communicates in coded radio calls to London, with the enemy always listening. More than anything, she needs a flight out—before the Nazis drag her to an interrogation chamber.

Philippe Gerard, a French pilot who joined the British Royal Air Force after the fall of France, faces an impossible mission: He must find Charlotte, land by moonlight to pick her up in a farmer’s field, and evade Luftwaffe fighters on the way back to England. But where is she? If he gets an all-clear signal over a dark pasture, is she really there? Or does the signal lure him into a trap?

In the critical weeks before D-Day, every contribution counts: A well-drawn map, a timely aerial photo, or a daring landing in a muddy field might make the difference between triumph and defeat. Inspired by real-life events from World War II, The Mapmaker demonstrates how individual courage and sacrifice can set the stage for victory.

About the author:

Tom Young served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Air National Guard. He has also flown combat missions to Bosnia and Kosovo, and additional missions to Latin America, the horn of Africa, and the Far East. In all, Young logged nearly 5,000 hours as a flight engineer on the C-5 Galaxy and the C-130 Hercules, while flying to almost forty countries. Military honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. Young retired from the Air Guard in 2013 after more than twenty years of service.

In civilian life he spent ten years as a writer and editor with the broadcast division of the Associated Press, and retired recently as an airline captain based at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Young currently works as an aviation consultant. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Young’s well-received military adventure novels include The Mullah’s Storm, Silent Enemy, The Renegades, The Warriors, and Sand and Fire. His historical novels set in World War II include Silver Wings, Iron Cross; Red Burning Sky; and The Mapmaker.

The Mullah’s Storm was a Book of the Month Club Thriller of the Month and an Indie Next List Selection. Publishers Weekly gave starred reviews to The Renegades, Silent Enemy, and The Warriors. The Mullah’s Storm earned a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. The Mullah’s Storm, Silent Enemy, and The Renegades received Gold Medal awards from the Military Writers Society of America. Sand and Fire received a starred review from Booklist.

Young is also the author of the nonfiction book The Speed of Heat: An Airlift Wing at War in Iraq and Afghanistan, released in 2008. His narrative, “Night Flight to Baghdad,” appeared in the anthology Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families. The Washington Post listed Operation Homecoming among the best books of 2006