The Heroes of the Titanic (And One Villain)

10:00 am
Stryker Center 412 N. Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA, United States

Join author and historian Bradley Harper on April 13, 2024, one day short of the 112th anniversary of the day the Titanic ended its trans-Atlantic journey to sink into legend.
Brad will speak of the heroes and villains of that fateful night and, at the end, discuss the premise for his historical novel, pitting a gang of female thieves against the son of the real-life inspiration of Professor Moriarty as they do a battle of wits over a life-sized painting of a nude Circassian woman by the French artist Blondel, which was aboard the ship.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown, John Jacob Astor, and Second Officer Lightoller are among the many notables he’ll discuss, and how the second officer earned a footnote in history in WW II.
The game’s afoot, or rather, at sea.
Life belts are optional.

Book Signing

Join Ginny Brock author & Jeff Schnader at The Stonehouse Grill in Toano, on Friday, April 12, between 3:00 - 5:00 pm, presenting and signing Ginny's latest book, "A Scent of Lemons" and Jeff's award-winning novel, "The Serpent Papers".
Hope you can make it.

Sherlock Holmes as Science Fiction

January 20
2:00 pm
Stryker Center
412 N. Boundary St
Williamsburg, VA 23185

In November 1887, the world was introduced to a detective who used science and his keen powers of observation to solve a mysterious crime. While the techniques that Sherlock Holmes employs to solve the murder portrayed in his debut Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, are familiar to us today, at the time the story was published, investigative methods used by police forces consisted almost entirely of gathering witness statements, establishing alibis, and extracting confessions.

The use of scientific evidence as a recognized tool for identifying criminals was not a reality until the second decade of the twentieth century. The founder of this new scientific discipline was a French physician who, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, made the “science fiction” of Doyle’s detective into a reality.

Join Bradley Harper, a retired Army pathologist and published author, for a one-hour presentation on the evolution of forensic science and how Sherlock Holmes inspired the use of objective evidence in the never-ending hunt to determine “whodunnit.”

Book Launch by Patti Gaustad Procopi

January 21, 2024
Patti Gaustad Procopi will be talking about her third novel “Stop Talking” on a Zoom book launch. This is the sequel to her first novel, “Please…Tell Me More.”

2023 Past Events

"Writing Your Story" with Patti Procopi

November 18, 2023
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

We all have a story to tell but sometimes it’s hard to know how to start. Join award-winning author Patti Gaustad Procopi for an illuminating presentation on writing with Storyworth, writing a memoir, and fictionalizing your life. One of those options is bound to work for you! Registration is recommended.

This program is for adults. Questions? Call 757-890-5207 or email reference@yorkcounty.gov.
Yorktown Library Auditorium

Publishing Your Book: Making “Beautiful Blue and You”

Date:
September 16
Time:
10:30 am
Williamsburg Library
515 Scotland St
Williamsburg, VA 23185

“The Making of BEAUTIFUL BLUE & YOU” will cover the challenges of co-authoring two books, on the basis of separate skills and interests (one author a photographer and the other a Doctor of Communication). As co-authors, Michael Richardson and Dr. Melinda Lincoln-Richardson, members of the Chesapeake Bay Writers guild, have learned valuable lessons on the path to publication. They created their own cover, selected fonts, and formatted original photo illustrations in addition to the selection of images and the “personification” of the Great Blue Heron residing in Williamsburg. Selection of publisher, promotions and marketing as well as distribution will be covered.

Illusions of Speech? Writing Great Dialogue Workshop

October 7, 10:30 am Williamsburg Library
515 Scotland St
Williamsburg, VA 23185

Dialogue has the power to connect the inner life of your characters with the inner life of your readers. In this interactive workshop, we will explore the elements of dialogue that harness this power to breathe life into a novel’s characters and drive its action. Through the use of examples and exercises, you will learn the forms, functions, and purposes of writing effective dialogue. Learn how to eliminate some common mistakes that undermine credibility. Leave the workshop with resources for further learning. Writers and readers who love good dialogue are welcome.

J.E.. Tobin moved to New York City after college with a journalism degree. After writing two off-Broadway plays for the Circle Repertory Company and children’s books for MacMillan, he watched helplessly as his first novel burned in a hotel fire. As a result, his writing shifted to scholarly articles and textbooks as he pursued a career as an educator and psychologist. Only when he retired did he return to writing fiction. His debut novel, When We Were Wolves, was published in May 2022 (Pale Horse Books). Whoopi Goldberg says it’s “a novel that’s going to stay with me.” Brian Castleberry called it “a timely gut-punch of a book.” His second novel, Triple Divide, will be out in the Fall. J. E. Tobin and his wife, Jean, reside in Williamsburg, the setting for When We Were Wolves.

What I Wanted to Leave My Eleven Grandchildren & What I Actually Left My Eleven Grandchildren, and Why

The Chronicles of a Fiction Writer

by Paul Martin

Saturday, September 9, 2023
2:00 to 3:00 PM
Williamsburg Library, Schell Room

The presentation focuses on specific aspects of writing
learned while penning his book.
"The Adventures of Chuka."

Personal and Professional Writing Challenges:
Concept, Characters, Plot Development, and Conclusions.

Writing/Publishing Lessons Learned:
The current state of affairs in traditional, Print on Demand (POD), and hybrid publishing.

Paul Martin is a retired army intelligence officer who was stationed twice in Southern Arizona, where this book takes place. He's written and contributed to various nonfiction publications on South Africa, Mexico, El Salvador, and the United Nations. His "Chuka stories" began as tales that he told to his five children, and eventually his eleven grandchildren.

Always Remembering: Researching Historical Fiction

Date: July 30
Time: 1:30 pm
Williamsburg Library
515 Scotland St. Williamsburg, VA 23185 United States

Join local author Kathy Kasunich as she discusses the process of researching for her novel, which was based on the World War II experiences of both her parents. Trace the 42nd Rainbow Division as they arrive in France and fight battles along the Rhine, cross the Siegfried line, and continue the fight throughout many cities in Germany, eventually liberating the Dachau Concentration camp.

Although classified as a historical fiction romance, Always Remembering is based on a real-life couple and is historically accurate. It is told through both of their perspectives, from Helen's point of view being stateside and Mike's experiences as a medic from the 42nd Rainbow division, during boot camp, and in the European Theatre.

The program is an in-depth look at the story behind the story, why I wrote it, the research involved, and the history of the 42nd Rainbow Division. The 42nd Rainbow Division arrived in France and fought battles along the Rhine below the Battle of the Bulge, crossed the Siegfried line, and continued the fight throughout many cities in Germany, eventually liberating the Dachau Concentration camp. The book was culled from a war diary, letters, extensive research at many libraries including the Library of Congress, memorabilia, service records, interviews, and a trip to France, Germany, and Austria following the trail of the 42nd Rainbow Division. Hopefully, my talk will help others who want to write a historical fiction book. I also talk about my parents' (the real-life couple) romantic journey described in the novel. The program consists of a slide presentation, a display of World War II items and a Q & A at the end.

lthough classified as a historical fiction romance, Always Remembering is based on a real life couple and is historically accurate. It is told through both of their perspectives, from Helen's point of view being stateside and Mike's experiences as a medic from the 42nd Rainbow division, during boot camp, and in the European Theatre.

The Astute Reader
An interactive presentation
By Sally Stiles

Sunday, May 7, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.How to create an effective critique group. How to nurture creativity. How to eliminate common writing errors. How to turn criticism into acclaim. And much more!

The Stryker Center
412 N. Boundary Street, Williamsburg.
2:00 -3:30 p.m.

Presented by author and mentor Sally Stiles for the Chesapeake Bay Writers and the Williamsburg Library

https://www.wrl.org/event/how-to-effectively-critique-a-manuscript/

Newspaper Sparks
with Sally Honenberger

Saturday, April 29, 2023, 3:00 p.m.

(Note Day Changed from Sunday)
Hidden arsonist tendencies when you’re writing? Here’s your chance to try something to fan the flames of creativity. Sally will share newspaper scraps and give a few brief sparks of tinder-ready advice, then you can start your own conflagration of characters and challenges. We’ll write and read and write some more. This is not show off but show down time. We’ll read anonymously, poke the embers a bit with polite critique, and then try another newspaper spark. This will be intense fun, coals under your feet, but no pain. A chance to blaze away and send sparks across the galaxies.
Location: Settlement at Powhatan Creek, Community Center
GPS: Coordinates get you close - use 4000 River Moor Road. However, after you turn off Monticello road, pass the pond, and get to the intersection of Saunders Bridge and River Moor, turn right at the traffic circle and turn right into the parking lot.