Medina library highlights local authors
The Medina Community Library hosted “An Evening With Texas Authors” last month, featuring 16 Texas authors who signed books and talked about the writing process with interested locals.
Considered an “author friendly” library, Medina Library Director Allison Harbour set up this evening to bring together all varieties of writers. Harbour stated that she hoped to continue this event once a year at the library.
The authors were scattered around the room as patrons and guests strolled around looking at the displays, talking to the authors and munching on snacks.
Reverend Fern Lancaster spoke to visitors about her travels to the Far East and about how her book “How to Pray – Scripture for Children” was a guide for parents to help teach their children how to talk to God by using Biblical references.
Local author Michael Earney displayed his wide variety of realistic and colorful picture books. Earney’s work runs the gamut from nature themes to cultural works. He has been a filmmaker, author, and artist.
Well known Big Bend author Ben English made the trip from far West Texas to attend the event. English is not unfamiliar to locals with an interest in history. He came to talk about his newest book set to be published in May. In it, he documents his days in the Texas Department of Public Safety and recounts the lives of troopers who have lost their life in the field.
Young adult author Murray Richter was busy signing books and chatting with patrons. His book, Fishing for Luck, is set in the wonderful childhood world of fishing, exploring, and adventuring. The young adult novel is an extension of his first book, Lucky Rocks and is suitable not only for the young but for the young at heart.
Award winning novelist Joanne Easley brought both of her books to the event. Sweet Jane is a women’s fiction story which tells the story of a young girl who leaves home on a very personal journey during the Summer of Love in California. Her second book, Just One Look, is an engaging story about how a young woman deals with grief and family responsibilities as a young widow.
Local Medina resident Bethany Dodson shared her science fiction book, The Hybridian Way, at the event. Dodson works at The Core Coffee Shop in Medina.
The intersection of horse training and faith is the focus of Linda Harper’s book, In the Round Pen. Learning to work with horses late in life, Harper discovers the overlap between horse training and her faith by discovering how to have a more fulfilled life through those principles.
Another author whose book centers around horses is farrier Ed Schoening in his book Horse Sense: Sixty Years of Nailing Shoes. Schoening tells stories from his life as a cowboy in Arizona and Texas, and later as a farrier.
Local Linda Barton displayed a collection of books that harked back to earlier days when grandmother’s kitchen was the source of all good things. A cookbook that detailed family traditions and food memories in only one of her offerings. Her newest work is an address book with lovingly curated photos, a memento both timeless and heartwarming.
Carl Williams, former sheriff of Brewster County, talked about his autobiography, More Than A Badge, with visitors. In his book, he tells the story of his life in Part 1 and the history of the sheriffs of Brewster County in Part 2.
The Powerful Secret of Forgiveness by author Sylvia McGinnis details the scriptural background for forgiveness and how forgiveness can impact Christians’ lives.
Women’s fiction author, Julia Dailey, brought the story of three women in the 1960’s who gave up newborns at a New Orleans maternity hospital in her book, No Names Given. A mystery, the book advances to 25 years in the future, to see the outcome of those adoptions and how the women deal with a blackmailer who threatens to expose them.
Poet Cathy Wilkes started by creating poems and images to give to her friends. The beautiful photos and reflective poetry have gained her many contacts through a worldwide writers’ group. She takes inspiration from the natural world and uses that as a starting point for evocative poems and photos.
Austinite Nicki Carlson brought her book Grace Faced, to the event. This book describes how to search for grace to transform into a person who lives with hope instead of despair.
Author Jack Frost aka Boomer Shorts showed his political, but patriotic mystery Sentinels of the Constitution. He chatted about his political action and reveled in his censorship on Facebook. Frost is both an essayist and mystery writer or somewhere in between.
Lisa Rollinson, author of The Ship of Salvation, brought her book about the teachings of Christ and the ways in which believers can improve their lives by living by the truth of God’s word.
An Evening With Texas Authors was well attended and satisfied patrons left smiling carrying armloads of books. For more information, contact Allison Harbour, Director of the Medina Community Library, at 830-589-2825.