Great Falls Write’rs Group authors gather before the event. Standing, from left: Nancy Hannan, Clarence Ashley, Jennifer Hammond, Adriaan Verheul, Mary McKay, Darlene Dietrich, Bill Lewers, J. Robert DiFulgo. Seated: Jody Politzer, Catherine Mathews, Kristin Clark Taylor (founder GFWG), Mary Dacoba, Pu-Chin Hsueh Waide. Photos by James Diedrich
For two hours during the late afternoon on Saturday, June 2, 2018, the Great Falls Public Library was turned into a spirited book fair where local authors presented, discussed, signed and sold their works to interested visitors. The event, the fourth annual “Celebration of Local Authors” was organized by the Great Falls Writer’s Group (GFWG) and drew a good crowd in spite of the soggy weather and the looming threat of thunderstorms.
“It was a moment of creative convergence”, said Kristin Clark Taylor, the founder of the GFGW, referring to the diversity of authors, books and genres present at the event. Almost all genres of books were represented: there were historic novels and contemporary works, literary works, self-help and how-to books, biographies, illustrated books, nursery rhymes and thrillers, all taking the reader to real and imagined worlds in the U.S. and overseas.
Authors were advertising their works and trying out different versions of their pitch to interested visitors, who were going around the authors’ tables with a glass of wine and a plate of finger food. Many of them left with new books to read, all of them signed by the author. There were many instances of authors exchanging books as well, sharing their works and insights, which is one of the reasons why the GFWG was set up in the first place. For a list of authors and books, see the article by Christina Tyler Wenks in the Great Falls Connection of May 16.
“In this popular culture of rapid texting and emails,” said Myrna Stuart, the co-chair of the GFWG in opening the event, “we value the lasting impact of words written with meaning and clarity.” To help ensure such lasting impact, the Great Falls Library has set up a section entirely dedicated to local authors. It is hoped that the “Great Falls Local Authors Collection,” which will continue to be expanded, will enable our local authors to reach a wider readership.