FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Page & Palette in Fairhope will host author Genevieve Hickey May 8 for a booksigning, from 10 a.m. until noon. She will sign copies of her cookbook “Southern Grace & Italian Charm.”

The book will guide you through both how to set up a dinner group and starts you with a variety of menus for every occasion.

Hickey, a transplanted Southerner of Italian descent, has hosted a multitude of themed dinner parties. In addition, she also provides pot luck recipes for when you’re invited to someone else’s party.  And, as Hickey feels that work is a four letter word, most of the menus are straightforward and easy, and she notes when care should be taken.

“Southern Grace & Italian Charm” provides two of the three things necessary for a great dinner party — themed menus and recipes (the third ingredient is great dinner guests).

Hickey was born to Michael and Caroline Cautillo many moons ago in Elizabeth, N.J. Her father was an immigrant from Italy, and so proud to have become an American that he never spoke Italian in the house around the children because he didn’t want them to have accents.

Finally agreeing to marry a red-nosed Irishman named Howard Francis Hickey, she began her independent adventures in the kitchen.

In 1979 she moved to Mobile, which began her exposure to Gulf coastal cuisine. Her recipes have been published in numerous community cookbooks.

She has four children, Susan, Howard, Lisa and Diane, and currently has three grandchildren.

She will exclusively sign all books purchased from Page & Palette.  For more information, call (251) 928-5295, or visit www.pageandpalette.com.