I don’t do a lot of speaking gigs during the year since I have a regular 8-5 day job, but when I get the chance to speak at a library, I’m eager to participate. Last month, I had the honor of speaking at a lovely small town library in Alvarado, TX. The Texas Writes group organized the event and brought me out along with a fun middle-grade author name Jeramey Kraatz who writes for Harper Collins. We had a great turnout, but two ladies in particular made the trip extra special for me.
Karen W and Karen M having fun in Alvarado!
The first was a reader who drove in from out of town to see me. Seeing as how we share a name (Karen) and a love for Christian fiction, it was a delight to have her there. We’ve met on a handful of other occasions as well, and Karen has always been an avid supporter. Not only is she a reader, but she writes, too. In fact, her first book just released! Check it out here. Isn’t that a beautiful cover? Love the purple!
Jeanne and I with a copy of her book.
The second guest who enhanced the speaking experience was another author. Jeanne Bennett approached me after the talk and presented me with a story and a signed copy of her book. Not long ago she traveled to Oxford, England to learn the art of fore-edge painting. If you’ve never seen it, you should Google it right now. The earliest examples of this art form date back to the medieval era. There are two main varieties, regular fore-edge painting, where artwork is painted on the page edges of a closed book and is readily visible, and the more exciting disappearing fore-edge painting, where the image is painted on fanned edges of pages, rendering the art invisible when the book is closed. You must fan the pages in order to see the picture hidden there. Jeanne has become a master at the disappearing fore-edge painting and has published a gorgeous book filled with history and practical instructions on how to recreate such artwork yourself.
Here’s a sample of her artwork. It’s amazing! She’s so talented.
If you are interested in trying this out yourself, you can find Jeanne’s book here.
- What are some of your favorite library-related memories?
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I LOVE libraries! I always point out the library signs along the road when we’re travelling and my husband gets concerned that I’ll actually want to stop. One of my favorite library memories was finding the local library right after I’d moved to a new apartment in a new town after college. I still remember how happy I was to have brought home a stack of books and how tickled I was with the wonderful selection at this particular library. I still use that library and have a book checked out now.
It’s like going on a treasure hunt, isn’t it, Ellie? Finding a new library then finding what treasures it holds. Love that!
My favorite library memories involve the bookmobile when I was a child. My aunt drove it and every 2 weeks she’d stop by our house and eat lunch with us. I couldn’t wait to finish eating so I could pick out my next books.
How fun, Sherri! I’m so thankful for people like your aunt who go out of their way to ensure everyone has access to books. What a blessing!
My earliest wonderful library memory is my father taking us weekly to a library for children, housed in the basement of a stone cottage in a local park. The little stone house looked like a building out of a fairytale, and I really don’t know what it was used for. But the basement was a wonderful, magical place, with every nook and cranny filled with books. We would walk down stone steps into a tunnel-like entry, and there another world would unfold. We could check out six books, which I began reading as soon as we were back in the car. I usually finished my books in two days and anxiously awaited our next trip.
Another favorite library memory is visiting the stacks in my college library. I loved going down the stairs, finding the section I needed, and spending time sitting in a carrel, doing my research. Love libraries!
That fairy-tale library sounds wonderful, Betty. I want to visit that little stone cottage. I hope it is still there. What a magical place. I can feel the girlish wonder of traipsing down those steps into the basement filled with book to transport eager readers to another place and time. How perfect!
My small town of about 600 residents did not have a public library. I enjoy going to the library and visiting with our AMAZING librarians. Reading in a quiet corner. It’s my happy place. 🙂
I’m glad you have a library to escape to now, Caryl. 🙂
The Mack Memorial Library of Springhill, Louisiana is moving into a much larger building. I have been reading all my life. My siblings always said I never knew what was going on, as I had my head in a book. lol Still do today. I love the library. Can’t wait until the grand opening of the new one. I enjoy my tablet, but rather have the printed word. I will be 76 in a couple of weeks.
Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day.
Hi, Mary. We recently had one of our library branches relocate into our mall. It seems so strange to have a library in a shopping mall, but they have seen an upsurge in foot traffic. Go to where the people are, I suppose. I’m just glad they are expanding and trying new things. In this digital age, people still need books.
Wow! What a lot of talent at that library that night!
It was a great event, for sure. 🙂 Love getting together with other creative minds!