Authors to gather at store for event

Regional authors have a forum to introduce local readers to their works next week at The Book Stall's Author Festival.

The Author Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the bookstore on Hayne Avenue. The six participating authors, Liz Stewart, Ed Heffelfinger, James Nestor, Debi Toporoff, Regina Ridgell and Ashley Putnam Evans, will sell and sign copies of their books, discuss the writing and publishing processes and share professional tips.

"Rather than simply sticking these books on our shelves where they might be lost among other titles, we wanted to provide a forum where emerging authors could showcase their work and meet the public face to face," said Book Stall sales associate Meg Ferguson.

Stewart is president of the Aiken-based national management and training consulting firm Stewart and Associates Inc. She will sign copies of her book "Leading the Disciplined Organization," on tightening organizational practices at work and overcoming generation gaps within the organization.

Aiken native Nestor's first book examines the importance of books themselves, especially in our development from childhood to adulthood. Copies of "The Role of Fiction: How Our Own Imaginations Enrich Our Lives" are on sale now at The Book Stall.

Heffelfinger of Aiken takes a look at the history of the immigration debate and its impact on the current political scene in "Has America's Melting Pot Become Tarnished?" This is Heffelfinger's second book, following "Will the United Nations Fail In Its Role as Protector of World Peace?"

Toporoff of Beech Island is a nurse with approximately 30 years of experience in the mental health field. She is the author of several children's and young adult books, including a series in English and Spanish starring Roscoe the Possum. Her latest is a young adults novel, "When God Came Down," the first in a new series.

Ridgell of Saluda brings her first children's book, "Baby Loggerhead's Long Journey." The picture book is appropriate for ages 2 to 7.

"Princess Prissypants Wishes the World Pink" brings Evans in from Lake Wylie. She was inspired to write the book by her 2-year-old daughter.

For more information about the Author Festival, call The Book Stall at 644-0604.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.