The largest gathering of authors on the Long Beach Peninsula this year will happen Oct. 4.
Jan Bono plans to pack writers into the Peninsula Church Center, at 5000 N Place, in Seaview.
“I’m delighted to spotlight 31 highly creative souls — authors, illustrators, photographers, editors, publishers and more at our third annual event.”
“We’ve grown each year, well on our way to becoming a true Pacific Northwest fall destination event for those who love to read.”
“From children’s picture books to young adult (YA) novels to historical fiction, nonfiction, humor, thriller and suspense, poetry, romance, horror, inspiration, science fiction, fantasy,” Bono said, “I honestly can’t think of a genre that isn’t represented.”
Thrillers
The day’s activities run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Authors will read from their work from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in a side room near the main gathering location.
Keynote speaker Frederick Cooper of Portland will participate in a question session with Bono at 1 p.m. Cooper has penned four fiction thrillers set in Southwest Washington and Southeast Alaska.
“Bring your questions about plot lines, settings, characters and more for Fredrick Cooper, our keynote Q&A guy,” Bono said. “Fred has anecdotes galore.”
As well as Bono herself, who has published in many genres including a six-part coastal “cozy” mystery series, others taking part are Pete Young of Long Beach, who has written three military themed novels, Tiffany Dickinson of Longview, who writes middle school-grade fiction, Logan Garner of Warrenton, who writes poetry and fiction, and Fredrick Hudgin of Ariel who writes fiction.
Greg Gorham, who lives in Ocean Park and Vancouver, is known on the Long Beach Peninsula as an artist. He has written an autobiography told through his paintings. His wife, Judy Gorham, has published short stories and poetry. Another Peninsula artist, Penny Treat, has written a children’s book about her dog called “Inky and the Misfits.”
Irene Martin of Skamokawa writes poetry and nonfiction regional histories, most recently one about the Episcopalian presence in Wahkiakum County.
New and repeats
Two new participants are Tawnya Torres from Astoria, who writes romances, and Neal Richardson from Seaside, who writes westerns and thrillers.
Two Seaview authors, David Campiche, who is a poet with one novel under his belt, and Mandy Schimelpfenig, who writes historical fantasy, have the shortest commute to the venue.
Coming the farthest, again, is Tami Whitmore, of Bickleton, Wash., near Yakima, who has 16 titles of fiction and nonfiction, including several inspired by trips to the Pacific coast.
Others traveling from inland are Jason Kilgore from Eugene, a scientist with an interest in microscopes, who has written fantasy and science fiction, and SM Stryker of Gervais, Ore., who writes romantic suspense
Long list
The author list is completed by Jennifer Nightingale of Astoria (a coming-of-age novel set on the coast), Kathleen Shaputis of Olympia, Wash. (women’s fiction), Kerry Blaisdell of Portland (romance, fantasy), Gretchen McLellan of Camas, Wash. (children’s picture books), Mary Jane Nordgren of Hillsboro, Ore. (fiction and nonfiction), Robert Michael Pyle, of Grays River (numerous including poetry), Anita Schacher, of Gearhart (memoirs and spiritual), Jim Tweedie of Long Beach (poetry and fiction) and Jessica Vik of Cathlamet (poetry).
Bono, who loves trivia, noted that her authors boast 20 home towns; only six live full-time on the Long Beach Peninsula, and of those only one is under 71.
Susan Murfin, who published a history book on the coast’s Clamshell Railroad many years ago, just discovered more than 100 copies and will be selling them. And also for sale will be the Senior Center’s fund-raising cookbook with cooupons.
Lastly, Vanessa Westmoreland, who owns a bakery in Longview, has written a preschool children’s book. She promises to bring early morning treats for the authors as they set up their tables.
Drawing
As an incentive for those attending, authors have donated copies of their works into four baskets. As visitors walk around the various tables manned by the authors, if they buy a book they can collect a ticket. Four winners will be drawn randomly at 2:30 p.m.; Bono said that winners must be present.
“If you or someone you know loves to read, this Book Fair is a must-attend,” she enthused.
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Pacific Northwest Authors Book Fair
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4; readings 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; speaker at 1 p.m.; prize drawing 2:30 p.m.
The Peninsula Church Center at 5000 N Place, in Seaview.
Admission free.