About 50 local authors proudly showcased their work while they shared experiences, answered questions and engaged with the community at the 4th Annual Celebration of Local Authors at the Old Town Newhall Library.
“It’s a day to celebrate the authors in our community, help promote their work, connect to the library and connect with the public,” Jane Beebe said, a member of the board of Friends of the Library.
“It’s a way for the public to ask questions.”
Friends of the Library organized the celebration and expected around 300 to 400 people to come by to the free event and meet writers involved with various genres from romance to non-fiction.
Panels were held throughout the day to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the writing process.
“We found that in the panel discussion, the participants are wanting to be writers,” said Paula Golden, a local preschool teacher and children’s author.
Richard McNally was one of those people in attendance who has always wanted to write.
“I myself am a wannabe writer,” McNally said. “I have a lot of great ideas. Something just doesn’t let me sit down and write them out. I appreciate all of the effort that all of these writers have.”
And McNally was not the only person who admired the talent in the room.
Carolyn Beilfuss was excited to attend the celebration to support her friend Mary Baxter-Jordan, who recently completed her first book.
“I’m in awe of the creativity and that someone can be that creative artistically and verbally,” Beilfuss said.
“I don’t have those talents, so I’ll always be in appreciation of those that do.”
While it takes talent to write a book, it also takes patience.
“It’s a creative process,” Baxter-Jordan said. “It still takes time to click in your brain and figure out what is your intention, what your direction is, where it’s going to come from and how you’re going to present it.”
