By Brett McMahon
The Friends of the Homer Community Library will host their inaugural book fair on Saturday, November 5 at the Homer Community Building. Beginning at 9 a.m., the three-hour event will include a dozen authors and illustrators that have ties to the Homer community and Heritage School district. Events will include meet-and-greets, refreshments, children’s programs, prizes, a magician, a face painting and balloon twisting entertainer, and the Heritage Hawk, mascot of Heritage School.
The idea for the event came about after the Friends of the Homer Community Library, along with other staff, realized how many books were on the shelves by local authors. Some have as many as 12 books in the library, available to be checked out. The library will also have sign-ups for library cards along with some non-traditional items like special bookmarks and browsing bags. Plans have been in the works for about three months with authors being contacted through local connections and personal relationships. Though the event is geared for all ages, in an effort to encourage reading and children’s participation, the National Honors Society at Heritage High was asked this week to read to grade school children, sharing stories from authors that will be attending the event.
Authors in attendance will include Raymond K. Cunningham, who has written much of the history of Homer, and Dr. David Fletcher, who practices in Champaign but has ties to Homer. Fletcher, who focuses on sports, recently learned his book, Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and Transformation of Chicago has been nominated by the Chicago Writer’s Association for Book of the Year. Other authors are offering special motivation to purchase books. For instance, Janet Hall will give four of her world-famous chocolate chip cookies to anyone who buys any of her books, while C.C. Wills is offering three Shawnee Quarters from 2016 that were minted at three different locations: Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco to anyone who purchases his Treasure Trilogy. Those who purchase books also have the option to have them personally autographed.
As this is the first event of its kind, there are no expectations of how many might attend, but all are welcome not only from Homer but also from surrounding communities.
