Local Writer Discusses Book

Check out this new Wood Library YouTube video. Linda M. Holbrook, former Canandaigua resident, talks about her first novel, "You Wanna Go to Willard?-- a young girl's coming-of-age story set in the rural Finger Lakes. Laura's struggles and triumphs provide a message of inspiration for us all. Linda will be returning to Canandaigua to present a book talk and signing on April 29 at 7pm. Wood Library is a proud supporter of local writers. The Wood Library YouTube Channel features Read Locally -- video talks with five local authors including Kevin Andrew Cotter, Mason Winfield, Aaron Lazar, Writers for Literacy and Linda Holbrook. Click here to go there. Authors books are available for purchase at the Wood Library aStore, our special Amazon store that promotes books and DVDs featured at library programs.

Writers for Literacy Book Launch

On Tuesday March 31, 2009 at 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Writers for Literacy, a volunteer project at Wood Library, will celebrate the publication of Story Pot Luck, an anthology of sixteen stories written by local authors for adult literacy learners. The group hopes that the high interest, low vocabulary stories will encourage new adult readers to read for pleasure. The book launch event is open to the public as well as by invitation. Refreshments will be served. Drop by and meet the authors.

Members of Writers for Literacy are: Carmella Battaglia, Mazy Carson, Carol Creswell, Steve Donner, Karen Mount, Annette Mrozak, Jean Trost and Jewel Wink. The audio CD version is read by Michelle Caward and Kathy Morris. Steve Donner illustrated the book with cartoon style full color drawings. The anthology was funded by contributions from Wood Library Café, Bloomfield Rotary, and several anonymous donations.

Complimentary copies of the book and audio CD will be placed at Literacy Volunteer sites in Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming and Livingston counties and in eight libraries in the Pioneer Library System that provide literacy services, materials, and tutoring rooms. Libraries receiving copies are: Bloomfield (compliments of Bloomfield Rotary), Geneva, Macedon, Pioneer Library System Headquarters, Wadsworth, Warsaw, Williamson, and Wood Library. Story Pot Luck will be available to readers and tutors at other libraries by interlibrary loan. Copies of the book will be presented at book launch party.

Writers for Literacy members were recently interviewed for Read Locally, a local writers series on Wood Library's YouTube channel. You can watch it here or go to the Wood Library YouTube site.

Ghost Author Visits "Read Locally"

Ghosts and the supernatural are popular topics for books, TV shows and movies. Mason Winfield, "the supernatural historian of western New York", says that ghost stories happen wherever people live--and that's right here in our own backyard. Barbara Henry, Adult Services Librarian and host of Wood Library's series Read Locally, recently talked with Winfield about his newest book Haunted Rochester: The Supernatural History of the Lower Genesee. Watch the video below. Want to read the book? Click here to go to Haunted Rochester in the OWWL catalog and place a hold. By the way, you can see a list of contents in the details. If you missed earlier espisodes of Read Locally, watch them on the Wood Library YouTube Channel.

Read Locally with Aaron Paul Lazar

"Read Locally" is back for October. The monthly series features local authors talking about their books. Here is the second episode with Aaron Paul Lazar and his Gus LeGarde Mystery Series and the latest installment Tremolo: Cry of the Loon.

Watch for future episodes--October 31: Mason Winfield and his new book Haunted Rochester and December 1: Julie Cummins and her children's book Women Daredevils. Wood Library videos are posted on the Wood Library YouTube Channel.