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| 4/7/2009 2:59:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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Virginia Pinkston, an author from St. Joseph, makes a point at one of last year’s author workshops at Rantoul Public Library. The library will host workshops again this year and will feature a literary cafe and signing session on Saturday, April 18. |
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Author! Author!
Writers to descend on Rantoul April 18 for workshop, author fair, literary cafe
By Dave Hinton
Rantoul Press editor
Rantoul Public Library has always been a favorite place for readers. Later this month it will become the place to be for aspiring writers.
The library will host its second annual Author's Fair and Writers Workshop Saturday, April 18.
A literary cafe, sale of books by area authors and a writers workshop are planned.
The library hosted its first writers workshop last year when two panels of authors spoke about their craft on separate nights. About 20 authors participated,
Violet Lapine, head technical library assistant, said the event was such a success that "we still have people asking us about it.
"We wanted to up the ante sort of (this year)."
Individual attention
While last year's writer workshop took place in a group setting, this year's will include more one-on-one interaction. Several writers will be available to speak with would-be wordsmiths and give them pointers.
"There are a lot more wannabe authors (in the Rantoul area) than we realize," Lapine said.
"We're excited to do this. We're here to help people, help them to write."
Published authors will be available to read and critique work.
That part of the event is open by registration only. Those wanting to participate should contact the library by April 11 in person or by calling 893-3955.
Workshops for teens and adults will be led by three Rantoul authors - Cheri Edwards, Doug Rokke and Rochelle Weber - and one who hails from Decatur - Leon Mentzer, who will speak on how authors can market their work.
Workshop for young writers
There will also be a workshop for fourth- and fifth-grade students led by Kristine Trudeau of Villa Grove that morning.
Space is limited for the workshop, and registration is required. The workshop, "Writing for Pleasure," will last for 90 minutes.
Mentzer, an author and book marketer who counts Rick Warren, who wrote "The Purpose Driven Life," and Dan Brown, who penned, "The Da Vinci Code," among his acquaintances, is enthusiastic about helping authors. Indeed, he seems enthusiastic about a lot of things, saying that his wife describes his speaking style as "talking like my pants are on fire."
Mentzer said he has spoken
around the globe on how to get published and that there are a number of good books out there that no one has ever read while some books on the Top 10 bestsellers list aren't worth reading.
The difference is they're published.
The key is for an author to get his name out there, but writers shouldn't quit their day job, Mentzer said. The average sales of first-time authors totals 1,200 to 2,500 books, and the royalties from that "aren't going to pay the electric bill."
Mentzer said an average of 21,000 to 23,000 new books are printed a month.
"There are so many people who have written great books, but they don't know how to get them published," Mentzer said.
A former CEO, Mentzer has published "Amen! A Simple Guide to Marketing Your Christian Book," and said book events like the one Rantoul Public Library is holding are fairly rare but are becoming more common.
"It is such a valuable thing," he said. "... (For one thing) it gets the community involved."
At the literary cafe, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., snacks and drinks can be purchased. All proceeds will benefit the library and its patrons.
Also that day, local authors will be selling their published works to the public.
In addition to the aforementioned authors who will lead the writer's workshop, selling their works will be Rantoul authors Geil Butler, Sisi Mosby and Phyllis Morris as well as Adam Decker and Bernard Baker, both of Danville, Charles Knox of Villa Grove, Cindy and Kirby Pringle of Pesotum, Ray Elliott, Cynthia Turner, Sara Latta, Alice McGinty, Mary Emma Thompson and Bob Auler, all of Champaign-Urbana, and Kim Busboom of Royal.
Local authors will autograph purchased items, and some will read excerpts of their work in the cafe area.
"We're still getting calls from people who want to sell their books," Lapine said. "I'll still take that information up to the 15th."
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