Central Library to host local Author's Fair June 12

Date: 6/7/2010

June 7, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- Looking for a good summer read? The Springfield City Library is giving area residents the opportunity to buy books directly from local authors.

On June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. about 20 authors will participate in the first Authors' Fair presented by the library at the main branch at 220 State St.

Program and Training Librarian Matthew Jaquith told Reminder Publications that while the library has long presented appearances and programs with authors, this event is the first of its kind with multiple authors.

The authors will be stationed at tables in the library's Community Room. Some, he said, will be there for the entire day, while others will be appearing either from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Although the Pioneer Valley is home to many nationally known writers from Anita Shreve to Suzanne Strempek Shea to Jane Yolen, the authors appearing at the fair will be those who are either self-published or have worked with smaller publishing firms, Jaquith said.

The fair will be more than just a marketplace for the books and an event to meet readers, but also a time for the authors to share experiences and resources, he added.

Among the writers scheduled to attend are Sparkie Allison, "Moon's Embrace"; Latoya Bosworth (a.k.a. Brenda's Child), "The Right Amount of Sunshine"; Tyler Boudreau, "Packing Inferno"; Durham Caldwell, "Tumultuous Affairs"; Amy Caruso, "Black Squirrel Ball"; Gerry Fitzgerald, "The Pie Man"; Genevieve Fraser, "In the Claw of the Tiger"; Gerry Garner, "Generations Build the Future"; Dave LaPorte, "Spitting in the Wind"; and Mike Maloni, "Defenseman."

Also slated to participate are Sister Maria Joseph Nace, "Poet with a Brush"; Stephen Patrick, "Apremont: Coming of Age"; David Proctor, "Pie Traynor: A Baseball Biography"; Art Tipaldi, "Children of the Blues"; Joan Morris Reilly, "A Hungry Hill Trinity"; Corrine De Winter, "Virgin of the Apocalypse"; Nick Wedlake, "Eat the Pretty Ones"; and more.

The authors are mainly from Hampden Country, Jaquith said.

For more information, go to www.springfieldlibrary.org/ programs.