Join us in welcoming poet and non-fiction writer Sandra Beasley as she shares from her two most recent books: Don't Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life and I was the Jukebox. Like twelve million other Americans, Sandra Beasley suffers from food
allergies. Her allergies—severe and lifelong—include dairy, egg, soy,
beef, shrimp, pine nuts, cucumbers, cantaloupe, honeydew, mango,
macadamias, pistachios, cashews, swordfish, and mustard. Add to that
mold, dust, grass and tree pollen, cigarette smoke, dogs, rabbits,
horses, and wool, and it’s no wonder Sandra felt she had to live her
life as “Allergy Girl.” When butter is deadly and eggs can make your
throat swell shut, cupcakes and other treats of childhood are out of the
question—and so Sandra’s mother used to warn guests against a toxic,
frosting-tinged kiss with “Don’t kill the birthday girl!
