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February 16, 2005
Mary Dorn, APR
Community Information Specialist

MARCH 5 LAKE HELEN AUTHORS BOOK FAIR PACKS IN 23 AUTHORS AND TWO FILMMAKERS

The 13th annual Florida Authors Book Fair will showcase 23 Florida authors and two home grown moviemakers.

The annual fundraiser by the Friends of the Lake Helen Library will be Saturday, March 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in historic Hopkins Hall on the corner of Euclid and Connecticut avenues, Lake Helen. Admission is free to the public.

Featured authors will give presentations, sign books in genres including fiction, nonfiction, biography, historical,
and mystery.

“The event is believed to be unique in Florida because over the years it has featured only Florida authors or writers of Florida subjects,” said Randy Shew, a member of the organizing committee.

Authors will hold book readings in the tent every 15 minutes from 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m. From 10:30-10:55 a.m., Bruce Hunt will conduct a Florida slide presentation at the library, at 221 N. Euclid Ave., followed by Nancy Zrinyi Long at 11 a.m., with “The Life and Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune.”

The authors book fair is the culmination of the third annual "One Book, Lake Helen Reads" program. The 2005 featured book is Zora Neale Hurston's “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” The Florida Humanities Council will sponsor an appearance in the tent at 1 p.m. by Phyllis McEwen, an actress portraying the famous Eatonville author, Hurston. On Sunday, March 6, ABC-TV will air an Oprah Winfrey-produced, made-for-television movie of the book, starring Halle Berry. Copies of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” can be borrowed at the library or purchased at Lake Helen City Hall, the Muse or Family book shops in DeLand, according to Barbara Shew, program chairperson.

Featured authors and filmmakers:
Home grown moviemakers will be at the fair with a DVD of their own production. Todd and Tim Wynn are 20-year Lake Helen residents who have written, produced, acted in, edited and finalized a movie.

Among the authors, law enforcement Officer James Born, Lake Worth, will bring his first novel with an introduction by Elmore Leonard, “Walking Money.” Born has worked as technical adviser on movies based on Leonard novels.

• S.V. Date, Tallahassee, a previous Lake Helen Book Fair author, comes with two new books, "Quiet Passion: A Biography of Bob Graham," and the Florida fiction "Black Sunshine.”
• Mary Anna Evans, Gainesville, is author of "Artifacts," a Florida crime fiction novel that won the 2004 Patrick Smith Award by the Florida Historical Society. The award recognizes valuable contributions to the promotion of the state's history and heritage.
• Bob Kealing, Longwood, a reporter with News Channel 2 in Orlando, wrote a nonfiction book about famous 1960s author Jack Kerouac, "Kerouac in Florida...End of the Road.”
• Back this year will be author and illustrator Don Nedobeck, DeLand, who will bring his wide array of creative productions to the fair.
• Other Florida authors at the fair include: Jeffrey Ault, Deltona; J. Wills Burke (aka John Bunn), Tallahassee; Tom Corcoran, Florida keys, Bill Goettel, Orange City; Lea Hall, Sarasota; Bruce Hunt, Tampa; Dave Lapham, Orlando; Ed L’Heureux, Winter Springs; Michael Lister, Wewahitchka; Dr. Mark W. Morgan, New Smyrna Beach; Howard Moxham, DeLeon Springs; Tim Ohr, Tampa; Julie Eberhart Painter, Port Orange; Sandra Sammons, Edgewater; Charles Sobczak, Sanibel; Elizabeth Vollstadt, DeLand; and Jeanie Klamm Wilby, Enterprise.

A silent auction with books autographed by bestselling authors will benefit the library through the Friends of the Lake Helen Public Library. Authors’ books will be available for purchase. The Women's Fellowship of the Lake Helen United Church of Christ will offer a lunch of soup, salad, sandwich, brownie and a beverage for $3.

For more information, please call the library at 386/228-1152 or go online to www.volusia.org/library/bookfairfriends.htm.

Flyer with schedule (in Adobe Acrobat Reader)

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Volusia County, Florida.