Island Senior: An Evening With Local Writers

Island Senior is a regular column on the SJ Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

Author Eva L. Elasigue –
Peggy Sue McRae photo

You don’t have to spend much time here to realize that we have a wealth of local talent on our small Island. Our artists, musicians, and thespians are often on display but it is unusual to see a room full of local writers. Last Saturday nineteen writers gathered at the Mullis Center for a Local Author Book Event, an event planned to happen again in November.

If you write or aspire to write there is nothing more inspiring than talking to people who do it. Janet Dann was there with a trilogy of historical fiction begun by her father, an author who passed his literary project on to her when he died. I went home with a copy of The Good Neighbors, the first volume in the trilogy that she not only completed but also illustrated. I also went home with a signed copy of Paul Chadwick’s graphic novel Think Like a Mountain, a tale wherein his popular character Concrete joins up with radical eco-activists. Then just to round out the variety in my own book bag my final acquisition was a set of The Wisdom of Mary Magdalene cards and booklet by Sharon Hooper, a professional certified coach and author of From Dreams to Action: A Proven Method to Achieve Your Goals.

Author Tami Oldham Ashcraft – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Bruce Conway was there to talk self-publishing with a large sampling of books he has helped bring into the world. Others brought art books, works of non-fiction, health, history, and memoir. Tami Oldham Ashcraft brought her suspenseful memoir, Adrift, “Now a Major Motion Picture“. Tami was there with both versions of her book. The original book titled Red Sky in Mourning is the one that kept me up all night turning pages. Eva L. Elasigue the author of the fantasy space opera trilogy Bones of Starlight, brought the tools of her trade including an entire manuscript typed on a real typewriter. Adding to the conviviality, Stan the wine man provided wine and sparkling water to purchase.

If you missed it this time watch for the November event. Bring your book club or your writing group. Don’t miss this opportunity to speak with authors and pick up signed editions of their work.

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