Afternoon with the Authors
Blue Ridge Summit Free Library
(717) 794-2240
Saturday January 21, 2012 from 11-2pm EST
Mark Saturday, January 21, 2012 on your calendars and make a point to attend the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library’s “An Afternoon with the Authors”. This event proved so popular last year that it is back for the second time. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. and continues until 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day. One of our featured authors, Cheyenne Harris, will be reading two of her children’s books during the library’s Children’s Story Hour beginning at 11:00 a.m.
This year’s line-up of authors includes:
C.W. and Rhonda-Lee Whitehair – The Whitehairs from Hedgesville W. VA are authors of Civil War novels. C. W. has written Escape Across the Potomac, Saber and Roses, Gettysburg the Field of Glory, and co-authored Northern Fire with his wife Rhonda Lee. C.W. also wrote The Struggle for Harpers Ferry, an Amazon Best Selling Short Story in 2007, and he and Rhonda Lee are currently co-authoring a novel entitled The Bloody Harvest. (See www.whitehairbooks.com).
Cheyenne Harris – from Cascade MD, is the author of several recently published children’s books. Mitzy’s Race, the story about a pink mouse, was the first in her “Life’s Little Lessons Series”. This young author has many ideas about books for children, and someday hopes to surpass Dr. Seuss’s 102 publications.
Herb Flemming, from Berkeley County, W. VA., is the author of the self-published book From Hitler Youth to American Soldier. The book chronicles Flemming’s journey from Germany, in the Hitler Youth Camp, to America as a refugee and later as part of the U.S. Army forces occupying his former home – now a destroyed city. (See www.herbflemmingslife.com).
Sally Sawyer, from Gettysburg PA, has written her first novel titled: Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening. Inspired by real-life experiences of author S.D. Sawyer and her husband, this narrative begins in December 1967, when newlyweds Tom and Meg Barrington reported to his first Army station, The Old Guard, in Arlington VA. Wounded half-way through his tour of duty in Vietnam, Tom went from combat on a jungle trail to surgery in Japan and enrollment in a small college back home. As anti-war demonstrations and protests cordoned off returning veterans, many felt betrayed, deserted by their country. This novel presents a hard contrast between the repeatedly tested valor of such noble heroes, and the chilling response to them from this once-proud country.
Kevin Rawlings, From Hagerstown MD, penned his first book titled We Were Marching On Christmas Day in 1996. Mr. Rawlings has now re-released this historical account about Christmas in America during the Civil War. The book is filled with historical information, first-hand and personal accounts, and many illustrations from Harper’s Weekly during that tragic four year time period of our American experience. Just in time for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this book will be sure to please the casual or serious reader of historical non-fiction.
Maxine Beck completed her undergraduate work at Allegheny College and West Virginia University, receiving her master’s in English from Shippensburg University. She taught English at Waynesboro Area Senior High School for 17 years concentrating on working with student writers and advanced studies classes. She has worked with school theatre productions, served as student class advisor and crisis team manager, and volunteered on the boards of the local YMCA, public library, Renfrew Institute, church consistory, and other organizations. As a mother of three and mentor to scores of others, Maxine Beck has been involved with the education and development of young people for 30 years. She resides in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve.
She has written an earlier novel, Chagrin Falls, a story of teenaged angst and conflict in current family and peer dynamics, and co-authored with Marie Lanser Beck a young adult historical novel, The Royers of Renfrew – A Family Tapestry that follows the trials and tribulations of the real-life Royer family of 12 who built the stone house at Renfrew Museum and Park as seen through the eyes of 9-year-old Susan Royer from Spring 1812 to Spring 1813.
