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Get A Clue: Library's Mystery Program Reveals Writers, Artists

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By JESSICA BAIR, The Suncoast News

Published: December 7, 2007

HUDSON - Saturday talks on writing and illustrating and a local authors fair kick off the winter adult reading program at Hudson Regional Library.

"It's a Mystery @ the Library," the reading program's theme, starts with Cal Branche of Hudson talking about Florida mystery writers at 1 p.m. Saturday. That's followed at 1:45 by Bayonet Point's Edward Gazsi, who will present "Journey Into Illustrating" and "Adventures in Getting Published."

Meanwhile, in the children's section, Diane Carr of Merritt Island will discuss her book "River Dragon," co-written with Kira Earley and illustrated by John Goldacker. Afterward, children can make a paper dragon to take home, said Elizabeth Warrick, youth services librarian.

"It's important for children and adults to see the faces behind the books they read," she said. "Anything that encourages reading in the community is a positive thing."

At 2:30 p.m., more than 20 published authors from across the Tampa area will greet the public and sell and sign their books. The writers, including Pasco Tribune correspondent Megan Hussey, work in such genres as fantasy, folk tale and historical fiction.
Light refreshments will be served.

About The Speakers

CAL BRANCHE says he taught what he enjoyed during his career: Introduction to Philosophy, British Literature, Mass Media and Mystery Fiction. He also taught John D. MacDonald's "The Deep Blue Good-bye" and "The Empty Copper Sea" as part of a mystery writing course.

From that he became involved in The JDM Bibliophile as a columnist and in 1996 was chairman of the sixth John D. MacDonald Conference. He has lectured on Florida mystery writers as part of the Florida Humanities Council Speakers' List and has presented programs on MacDonald, who wrote 78 books.

Branche operates a Web site devoted to MacDonald, jdmhomepage.org, and he and his wife are consultants in the reorganization of the John D. MacDonald Collection at the University of Florida in Gainesville, according to his Internet site.

His mystery-detective-crime fiction library numbers about 4,000 volumes and he has a complete collection of MacDonald's books.

EDWARD GAZSI has freelanced since 1971, creating art for medical and children's books, and for book covers. His clients have included National Geographic, Reader's Digest and Scholastic Book Fairs.

He resides in Bayonet Point and has completed his sixth children's book under large publishing houses including HarperCollins and Harcourt Brace, now called Harcourt Trade Publishers.

Since 1997, Gazsi has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design in Tampa, where he teaches drawing, human anatomy and illustration techniques in the animation department.

In addition, he has received many awards, his latest at the 2007 Miniature Art Society of Florida show, where he placed second in human figure painting.

For more on Gazsi, go to www.edgazsi.com.

DIANE CARR is assistant editor of the magazine Natural Awakenings and was co-author and co-editor of three children's chapter books (including "Summer Storm" and "Camp Daybreak") in a series created by the Space Coast Writers' Guild that was published in Florida Today.

She says her passion for writing started in the 1980s with short stories she wrote for her children.

In 2001, she became serious about her writing and has a "River Dragon" sequel nearly completed, other chapter books, short stories and a screenplay waiting to be sold, she added.

For information, go to www.dragonbook.com or e-mail dianelmt@bellsouth.net.

About The Reading Program

IT'S A MYSTERY @ THE LIBRARY is Hudson Regional's first winter adult reading program and it continues through February. Participants are invited to read a number of books, earn a chance to win prizes and attend seminars exploring the mystery genre.

A Mystery Film Series begins Thursday.

On Jan. 9, FBI Special Agent Bill Estevez will drop by to talk about methods of profiling fugitives.

Adult and teen sleuths are invited Feb. 7 to unravel the mystery of "WhoDunnit? The Disappearance of Angela Day."

Registration is requested for all programs. The library is at 8012 Library Road, just off Fivay Road.

For additional information, pick up the Pasco County Library Cooperative's winter calendar, with "Sherlock Sandy" on the cover, at any branch in the system; go to Hudson's calendar at pascolibraries.org/calendar/hu_all.pdf; or call (727) 861-3040.

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