Local writers gather for 7th Authors Fair Nov. 12

“Words into Action” is the theme for the 7th Authors Fair, a gathering of 33 northern California writers who will promote sell and autograph copies of their published work for the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Center Court in Redding’s Mt. Shasta Mall.

Genres include children and young adult literature, mystery, romance, travel, self-help, crafts, history, memoir, fiction and more, said Larry Watters president of Writers Forum, a non-profit group established in 1983 to promote writing as a craft, art form and profession.

This year’s Authors Fair features a panel of writers who have taken their passion for justice, counseling and personal awareness well beyond the printed page, said George Winship, who is chairing this year’s event for Writers Forum.

Donald Mangus, a retired plastic surgeon from Chico, spent 20 years — from 1973-1993 — performing reconstructive surgery on children — the victims of war, poverty and starvation — while traveling throughout South America, South Korea, Africa, the Philippines and Mexico .

He began documenting his experiences and has since authored three books, “Chizuru 1945,” “On Thought” and “Scarlet Roads,” as well as a play and screenplay.

Redding resident Charlie Price spent many years counseling troubled youths and family members. From his experiences, he has authored four novels of fiction including a young adult novel, “The Interrogation of Gabriel James,” which won the prestigious Edgar (Allen Poe) award in 2011 from Mystery Writers of America.

His first book, “Dead Connection,” is a fictional treatment of an actual murder stemming from the disappearance of a female Shasta County teenager; his second, “Lizard People,” is set in Redding, although he has changed the town’s name to River City.’

Price’s fourth and latest novel, “Desert Angel,” has garnered critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Review. His books are translated into French, Spanish and German and distributed throughout Europe and Africa.

Shasta County resident Linda Boyden writes illustrated picture books for young children. Her first book, “The Blue Roses,” won a New Voices award from Lee & Low Books; the 2003 Patterson Prize and Book of the Year (2003) for children’s literature from Woodcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.

Boyden’s third book, “Giveaways: An ABC book of Loanwords from the Americas,” recently was a finalist in three categories at the 2011 International Book Awards.

“The fair has been popular with holiday shoppers who are seeking just the right read for their book-loving family members or friends,” said Winship.

Another popular feature of each Authors Fair is a first sentence contest that is open to the public. Prizes will be offered to winners in several age categories, he said.

The event is sponsored by the Record Searchlight and is underwritten by a generous grant from the Scripps-Howard Foundation.