
The past won’t stay buried.
If you’re not already thinking Halloweenie thoughts, Saturday’s a great opportunity to inject some pumpkin spice into your veins (not literally, though). It’s October 1st, and the Oswego Public Library is hosting the 5th Annual Oswego Literary Festival, where I’ll be personalizing copies of my ghosts and gangsters novel, THE BLACKENING OF FLESH from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
I’ll be joining horror scribes from the creepiest cobwebbed corners of our genre’s dusty basement: Norm Cowie, writer of the horror-comedy LUCIFER’S; John Everson, author of the thriller-and-chiller THE FAMILY TREE; Kate Gingold, researcher of the non-fiction paranormal tome HAUNTED BY HISTORY: SPECTRES IN A SMALL TOWN; and game-creator Greg Stolze, two-time story contributor to the WHISPERS FROM THE ABYSS franchise.
If horror’s not your thing, no worries! The 5th Annual Oswego Literary Festival plays to multiple tastes and age groups. Here’s a list of a bunch more authors who will be signing copies of their books, broken down by genre:
Children’s Books
- Bernard C. Turner & Michelle Duster (TATE AND HIS HISTORIC DREAM)
- Kathy Elstad (THE LONG-LEGGED TURTLE)
- Rosemary Kuhn (THE ANGELS’ GARDEN)
Historical Fiction
- Georgiann Baldino (AN IMPERFECT UNION)
- Marilyn Huntman-Giese (THE EYE OF GOD)
- D.L. Larson (MEMORIES TRAIL)
- Judith Nickels (A COMPETENT WITNESS)
- Wayne Turmel (THE COUNT OF THE SAHARA)
Memoir
- Joan Aubele (THE DANCE)
- Marjorie Bomben (IT’S NOT THE TRAUMA, IT’S THE DRAMA)
- Amy Chally (MAKING INDEPENDENCE HAPPEN, ONE PAW AT A TIME)
- Carole Madrzak (FADING AWAY)
- James M. O’Brien (HANG YOUR WRAPS IN THE CLOAK ROOM)
- Rania Zeithar (AMERICA THROUGH MY EYES)
Mystery & Suspense
- Debra R. Borys (BOX OF RAIN)
- Luisa Buehler (THE STATION MASTER)
- J.L.Callison (STRANDED AT ROMSON’S LODGE)
- Patricia Rockwell (FIRECRACKERED)
- Donna M. Zadunajsky (NOT FORGOTTEN)
Non-Fiction
- Kay A. Clark (CATHOLIC HOME SCHOOLING)
- Maria Malayter (CHANGE MANAGEMENT)
- W. Nikola-Lisa (THE MEN WHO MADE THE YANKEES)
- John M. O’Donnell (FROM BANKS TO BLOW-UPS)
- Ann Powers (HERBS IN MY KITCHEN)
Romance
- J. Leigh Bailey (DO-GOODER)
- Vanessa M. Knight (SOPHOMORE SLUMP)
- Nicole Leiren (REMEMBER THE NIGHT)
- Allie Pleiter (THE TEXAN’S SECOND CHANCE)
- Barbara Valentin (FLIGHT RISK)
- Margaret Watson (SAVE ME)
- Jerilyn Willin (UNLESS A LOVE BE FREE)
Women’s Literature
Young Adult Fiction
Festival programming also includes panel discussions on writing and publishing, and music provided by the Fox River Academy of Music and Art. And in addition to the authors listed above, multiple publishers and writers groups will be in attendance to provide you prospective writers with more information about the craft and business of writing, if that’s your thing. And did I mention that admission is free?
With cooler weather coming, it’s the perfect time to stock up on your new fall and winter reads by nationally-known authors and maybe a gem or two from someone who lives in your neighborhood. So, there’s plenty of reasons to head out to the Oswego Public Library at 32 West Jefferson Street this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.