 | | | An overflow crowd in Moraga Library listens to So You Want to Write a Book
Photo Cathy Dausman
| | | | | | It was a best-seller event, judging from the turnout.
Sunny and 70's outside weather did not deter aspiring authors from crowding into Moraga Library's community room one recent Saturday afternoon as four East Bay authors discussed their writing journeys with a raptly attentive audience.
Librarian Melanie McCallum estimated the standing room only crowd at 95. She said a show of hands revealed some 30 attendees had a finished manuscript, 40 were working on a manuscript and another 25 were aspiring writers. Barbara Bentley, Roger Paulson (writing as Jon Cory), Alfred Garrotto and Judith Marshall devoted 90 minutes to discussions on the art and craft of writing, from building scenes, dialogue and character development, to film options, self-promotion, legal aspects and the value of networking.
The authors themselves agreed the audience size was an unexpected bonus. In comparison their visit to a similar event hosted on a "rainy Monday evening" in Clayton drew only 60 attendees.
Sallie Doull is not an author yet, but thinks she might like to write "someday." She filled the library flier with notes from her perch on a table just outside the conference room. "They had a lot of good information," said the Moraga resident, adding that she came to event because it was "so close."
The Friends of Moraga Library sponsored the event. Another writing presentation, "Turn Your Expertise into a Successful Book", with authors Patricia Evans, Catherine Accardi and Nannette Rundle Carroll will be held January 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center's (LLLC) Arts and Science room. The event is sponsored by the Friends of LLLC.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA