Christian Esquevin and Judy Eby, holding a copy of her novel “Free Trade”
The word on almost everyone lips at Coronado’s second annual Night at the Library was “surprise.” This year’s theme was local writers, and it seems that few realized just how many local authors call Coronado home.
“I was praying for 10 and heard from 40,” said Brenda Jo Robyn, the organizer of the event, which benefited the Friends of the Library (FOL). The volunteer organization began in 1918 to support and encourage people to use the Coronado Public Library.
Over 200 attended the event, which was held on February 6. “Twice as many people as last year,” noted Carol Pastor, FOL President. In her welcoming remarks, Pastor said that the event’s “purpose [was] not only to gather and enjoy an evening in this beautiful facility, but also to acknowledge the variety of talented citizens who live in our community.” Her words were echoed by Heidi Wilson, chair of the city’s Cultural Arts Commission, who said, “Friday night was a terrific gathering allowing the community to meet and celebrate a fabulous array of literary artists and their work” and a confirmation of the group’s efforts to bring local artists “out of the woodwork.”
While people mingled and chatted, they were entertained by students from Coronado School of the Arts’ (CoSA) Music Department performing works by Dvorak, Mozart, Chopin and Dussek. Performers included a string trio — Ruby Marrujo (cello), Kalvin Hibi (violin) and Joel Burgess (viola) — and three pianists Ruby Marrujo, Brody Skiff and Aly Ellicone.
Brody Skiff performing Chopin’s “Nocturne in F Minor”
The writers represented a wide range of experience and interests. Some were products of prestigious writing programs, such as Tania Pryputniewicz, a graduate of the famed Iowa Writers’ workshop, who’s now a blogger, teacher and managing editor at The Fertile Source.
Others drew from experiences or knowledge gained from their original careers, as was the case with Russian specialist Carl J. Luna. Luna taught political science at Mesa College and then wrote a novel, Motherland about political intrigue in the Russia. Some of the authors simply sat down at the keyboard one day and began to write about what they were their passion, such as family, or helping women through difficult times. For Leslie Crawford, it was the history of Coronado that inspired her to write. John Hermann turned his love of travel and motorcycles into a best-selling travel book Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Beyond. And film fan Christian Esquevin, whose day job is the Coronado’s Director of Library Services, wrote Author of Adrian: Silver Screen to Custom Label and blogs at SilverScreenModes.
The genres represented were equally diverse — travel, memoir, mystery, romance, history, self-help and cooking. There were four cookbook authors on hand, including Jill O’Connor, a Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef and a food writer for the Union-Tribune. Her Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for a Serious Sweet Tooth is in its fifth printing and was named one of the top 25 books of 2007 by Food and Wine.
O’Connor was not the only best-selling, critically acclaimed author at the event. British author Belinda Jones has written 11 bestselling escapist romantic comedy novels set in dream locations from Tahiti to Capri. Her memoir about driving around the United States made The Sunday Times’ Top 10, the London version of The New York Times’ bestseller list.
Laura Rhoton McNeal’s young adult novel Dark Water was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2010. Her new book The Incident on the Bridge will be published by Knopf next year.
For those who missed the event, there is still time to get to know the authors through their books. Nineteen books by these local authors are currently available at the library. There is a list of the available books at the reference desk and copies of some of the books are displayed on a table just across from the reference desk. And more books are on the way. “We hope to eventually to have all 40 of the local author’s books in general circulation, Robyn said.
Besides celebrating Coronado’s writing talent, Night at the Library featured a demonstration the library’s new digital resources, including free ancestry.com access, which currently available at the library. Patronns can also access a historical news archive from the Union-Tribune from the library or from patrons’ home computers, allows users to easily research local news stories that were previously only available on microfilm.
The event also included a silent auction. People could bid on signed books by authors being honored, jewelry, pottery, gift baskets and a Norman Rockwell print, donated by individual FOL members and local businesses — Tartine’s, Blue Bridge Hospitality, Coronado Brewing Company, Hotel del Coronado, Lambs Players, Spa Nico, Midway Museum, Coronado Beauty Salon, and High Tide Pizza. Other local businesses provided food and libations. Smokin’ Aces Barbeque served pulled pork, green beans, coleslaw and salad; Crown City Bread Company offered a selection of quick breads and brownies, and there was sampling of hummus appetizers from Taste of Oils. Coronado Brewing Company provided the beer and Ken Pecus of Ascent Reality donated the wine.
—–Gloria Tierney
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
