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04/26/2016 04:00 PM

Henry Carter Hull Library Hosts First-Ever Local Authors Festival


Suzanne Cordatos holds up one of the children’s books she’s written. As is typical, the publisher paired up her manuscript with an illustrator unknown to Cordatos. “At first I was nervous,” she said, hoping the artwork matched her vision for the story. “When I saw it, I was very happy.” Photo by Lesia Winiarskyj/Harbor News

As part of National Library Week, Henry Carter Hull Library hosted its first-ever Local Author Festival on April 12.

“We’re often approached by local authors, some of whom are well-known and others who have self-published or worked with small, independent publishers,” said adult programming librarian Elizabeth Tucker, who coordinated the event. “They want a space to showcase their work and meet members of the community, but we can never draw a crowd for just one author.”

Then, at a statewide meeting of librarians, Tucker heard an idea from a colleague that she thought might work.

“I got the idea of gathering several different authors all at once. That way, everyone gets exposed to a little bit of everything. We ended up with nine local authors and one illustrator in attendance to meet patrons, sell their books, and discuss their writing.”

Featured authors and genres at HCH’s Local Authors Festival were Jonathon Wolfer (young adult paranormal romance), Nancy Shapiro (sports memoir), Arthur Pope (family history/memoir), Paula Sievers (memoir and fiction), Sophie Helenek (educational picture books), Suzanne Cordatos (children’s books), Summer-Sage Williams (children’s and adult fiction), Sara Ingram (poetry), Chris Douglas (children’s illustrator), and Holly Danowski (children’s author).

The event gave authors and illustrators an opportunity not only to engage with readers but also to network, mingle, and learn from each other.

“I’m hoping to make this an annual event,” said Tucker.

Cheryl Calabrese and Leon Brown visit the table of Who Is the Sock Fairy? author Holly Danowski (far right) and illustrator Chris Douglas, a 2005 Morgan School alum (second from right). Seated in the center is Douglas’s wife, Alyssa. Photo by Lesia Winiarskyj/Harbor News