‘The power of writing and sharing stories’: Fall Author Fest to debut at Geneva Public Library

Book signings have unfolded at bookstores and libraries since the days of Hemingway, with a popularity rooted in the opportunity they offer for attendees to talk to an author.

The Geneva Public Library has seen this sort of interaction among writers and readers at various events throughout the year. So it is, event planners at the library created — and are set to unveil — the library’s first Fall Author Fest.

Or, put another way, the month of November is going to be full of opportunities to listen and talk to children’s books authors, a bestselling author, and local authors in the fest’s weekend series.

“Much of Fall Author Fest is based on the success of our ‘One Book, One Community’ author events that we have hosted the last few years,” said Chaz Baechler, public relations coordinator at the library. “We tried to find a way to bring some of the smaller events in with the larger, marquee events with visiting authors.”

Baechler worked with Lauren Maxwell, information and reader services coordinator at the library, and Anitra Rowe Schulte, an author from Geneva, to develop the Fall Author Fest.

Maxwell oversees the popular “One Book, One Community” sessions at the library, a program that served as a model for the upcoming fall fest.

“One Book, One Community” focuses on having a community conversation about one book and that book's theme, but Author Fest is “a celebration of multiple stories and the power of writing and sharing stories,” Maxwell said.

“The success of our author events during ‘One Book, One Community’ inspired us to ensure that we included an event during Author Fest that delved deeply into the work of one particular author, in addition to providing a space for all of our local authors to share their stories,” she added. “We are so excited that this event series.”

Schulte and her book “Willow and the Bunny” will be part of the Children’s Book Author Fest, which kicks off the fall fest from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. Schulte will be featured along with Tom Lichtenheld and Jacob Grant as well as other authors and illustrators.

For Schulte, the Fall Author Fest carries more meaning than may meet the eye of even those who attend.

“Any focused, designated time devoted to craft is an enormous help,” she said. “Not only do you learn a lot, but you gain momentum. Projects that you begin during a writing event or retreat have new energy, and sometimes that's exactly what you need to fully do justice to an idea that has taken root in your heart.

“As authors, our stories often come to life in the privacy of our homes or studios,” Schulte added. “Bringing our processes and books to readers and fellow writers is invigorating and community creating. I relish these opportunities, especially when they are close to home.”

Bestselling author Jason Fagone makes the trip in from his home near Philadelphia to appear at the fest from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 to sign copies of his book, “The Woman Who Smashed Codes.”

This book has a local interest, focusing on Elizebeth Smith Friedman, who helped find spies and crack enemy codes during both World Wars after getting her start in code breaking at Geneva’s Riverbank Laboratories.

“When we brainstormed about this first event, we wanted high interest and agreed to bring in Jason Fagone,” Beuchler noted. “There is very high interest in the community for this topic, as we are almost at capacity on that event. So, we were right on that one.”

The final session is the Local Author Fest, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. Annie Cathryn and JB Michaels will be among the authors who will talk about their work and sign copies of their books.

All sessions take place in the Geneva Public Library meeting room at 227 S. Seventh St.

An effort like the Fall Author Fest covers many bases for the authors themselves, in terms of getting their work known and appreciated.

“There are many self-published authors right here in the Fox Valley,” Beuchler said. “For local authors, there is so much work beyond the writing. They have to promote and get their books in the book stores.

“In that way, we view this as another opportunity for these folks to share their books with engaged readers and promote themselves, which is an important part of being an author.”

They’re not closing shop

Former Daily Herald vice president/executive editor Jim Baumann used to close his weekly “Grammar Moses” column with the words “Write carefully!”

No matter how long you’ve been a writer, those words of caution come into play in every piece you write.

Such was the case last week in my story about the Country Naturals home décor store in downtown Geneva. Sisters Sue Hadley and Deb Hilton have operated that store for nearly 33 years now.

In a photo caption, I stated the ladies were “closing in on 33 years” of operating the store. In my mind, it was an easy way to say they were closer to hitting the 33-year mark than they were for me to just note they have been there 32 years.

Not a good idea, apparently.

After reading the photo caption, some customers came into the store asking why the store was closing. If they skipped over the word “in” in the photo caption, then it was in their minds that the ladies were “closing on 33 years.” Big difference.

For those still confused, the ladies at Country Naturals assured me they are not closing. They plan on serving customers for many years to come.

Write carefully, indeed.

Those unused coats

Rummaging through our closets to dig out winter gear often results in finding a winter coat, hat or gloves that are in good shape, but we no longer use.

If you did that recently, you’re in luck. The St. Charles North and East high school baseball teams are conducting a community coat drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the gravel lot across from St. Charles North High School. That lot is at the northwest corner of Red Gate Road and Route 31.

The drive accepts new and gently used coats, hats, gloves and backpacks for all ages and sizes. The baseball teams are spearheading the drive for the Random Acts Matter group, which benefits various organizations in the Tri-Cities.

Crowded press box

With so many excellent high school football teams in this area preparing for the state playoffs, it reminds me what an exciting time it was to be a sports writer.

I had that role for many years. It’s why I found the recent story from the Daily Herald’s Dave Oberhelman about the work of assistant coaches in the press box on Friday nights so interesting.

As I got older, I made the press box my destination on game nights, rather than walking the sidelines as I did for many years.

It didn’t take long for assistant coaches to also make their way into the press box. Previously, they set up shop sometimes on top of the press box or just next to it, or had a designated spot inside.

I didn’t mind sharing the press box with coaches. I just didn’t like it when an opposing team came in with about five guys and they looked at me like I didn’t belong there.

They would turn off the lights, which made it hard for me to see my notes and keep statistics. But I got used to that.

On colder nights, for reasons I will never know, they would fling open the windows. Did they think they could yell down to the sidelines from there, or that the windows somehow made it harder to see the game? Either way, it could get cold.

New press boxes took this into account with separate, smaller areas on each side for coaches. The public address crew and media members had the center part to do their jobs.

I miss those days, of course. But I couldn’t cover a game now if I tried. I surely couldn’t see the players’ numbers from the press box.

More importantly, good luck to area teams hoping to make some noise in the state tournament. Based on what I’ve seen, I think they can.

dheun@sbcglobal.net