Local author Stacy Barton reads from her new novella.

Posted on by Thor

On July 2nd, I went to Writer’s Block Bookstore, 124 Welbuorne Avenue Winter Park FL, to go to a book signing and reading by local author Stacy Barton of her new novella Lilly Harp. The bookstore owner, Lauren Zimmerman had been at the opening of my exhibit in the Winter Park Chambers and she had asked me to bring a framed print to her store to hang in the hallway. Lauren wasn’t at the book signing but I left the print tucked safely away in a back reading room. The bookstore feels much like an intimate home with multiple book lined bedrooms where you can stop linger and read in comfy chairs.

Stacy’s book Lilly Harp is set on a small Florida island only accessible by boat. Her protagonist is a young female art student returning to the island. Rich enveloping deep rooted mangroves welcome the artist who has found out she is pregnant. I first heard Stacy read from a draft of the book several years ago at Infusion tea. This story has gestated for quite some time. Stacy explained that she had shopped it around to many of the large publishers but they don’t get the notion of a novella. She ultimately went with Word Farm Press the publisher of her book of short stories, Surviving Nashville.

At the book signing, I got to meet Stacy’s daughter Meredith Lynelle Barton who is a dancer and a visual artist from Miami. That is a rare combination of talents. She asked about my art supplies, so perhaps she will branch out and start sketching her own life events. I can vouch for the fact that sketching dance rehearsals offers limitless subject matter. 

It turned out that I sketched multiple generations of Stacy’s family at the reading including Gail, Stacy’s daughter in law, just by chance. In my sketch, not everyone is facing Stacy, but that is just because I
sketched them in the moments before and after the reading. Trust me, you
could hear a pin drop while Stacy was reading. The only person I didn’t sketch was Stacy’s husband Todd, who was deep in conversation right beside me most of the time. He had read aloud to Stacy the first seven chapters of her book while they relaxed at home. I can’t think of a more romantic sign of love and support than that. Lilly Harp is available locally at Writer’s Block Bookstore and Bookmark It, in East End Market 3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 109 Orlando, FL. This is clearly a book with heart felt character development and a lush Florida setting. I highly suggest you pick up a copy for yourself.

Bookmark It celebrated Florida Bookstore Day at East End Market.

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In conjunction with Florida Bookstore Day’s statewide celebration of
Florida writers and independent bookstores, Bookmark It is (3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 201, Orlando, Florida) delivered a free day-long program featuring nationally published Central
Florida authors, along with three creative writing workshops. Between 10
a.m. to 4 p.m., authors took to the Courtyard stage for casual
readings, Question and answer sessions, and book signings. Three 2-hour workshops were offered to those wanting to engage their creative writing
skills.

When I arrived,  David James Poissant was reading some of his award winning essays and short story’s. His debut short story collection, The Heaven of Animals, has garnered national attention. His second book, a novel, is due out this spring. The writing was crisp and personal describing a relationship that was stretched to its limits. Across the street, there were tree trimmers with chain saws hacking down branches and then shredding them to mulch in a loud chipper. David had to read over the weekend warrior war zone noises.

The next author to read was Lynn Waddell. Her non-fiction book was, “Fringe Florida: Travels Among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles” was the winner for National Book of the Year (bronze- travel essays). I liked her journalistic approach. She sought out Florida’s unique and quirky side. An article about The Holy Land Experience theme park was hilarious. It pointed out that the actor playing Christ could easily double as the model Fabio on dime store romance novels. When young girls talked of surrendering their souls to him, there was more than a hint of sexual innuendo. Lynn’s research lead her to Cassadega, a town devoted to psychic mediums, and somehow she convinced her husband to join her at a nudist colony. I don’t know if I’d sacrifice my clothing for the sake of a sketch and an article, but her humerus writing made me think twice.

Bookmark It is Orlando’s Best New Bookstore

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Bookmark It (3201 Corrine Drive Orlando FL) was the editors pick in the Orlando Weekly “Best of Orlando” issue. Located on the second floor of the East End Market, this bookstore offers books by local authors as well as books that further the markets mission of offering locally grown produce for restaurants and shoppers. While I was just starting this sketch, Adonal Foyle, an Orlando Magic basketball player stopped in to sign some of his books. He wrote a children’s book titled  Too-Tall Foyle Finds His Game (Volume 1) along with, Shiyana F. Valentine-Williams and illustrated by Toni Pawlowsky. Too-Tall Foyle has trouble finding a sport that fits his abilities
and the other kids keep laughing at him. He faces give up sports
entirely but hopes to find his game. The book is set in the Caribbean and features
vibrant illustrations, the book is based on the life experiences of the NBA veteran player. Proceeds from sales go to support his Kerosene Lamp Foundation which uses basketball to
engage and empower at-risk youth to grow into healthy and well-educated
leaders in the Caribbean and USA. Foyle’s very presence made the bookstore feel small.His huge meaty hands gave a firm warm handshake.

I decided to take my tablet out to sketch. I worked in a bit of a panic since I didn’t know if the battery would last. The computer offers too many choices which slowed down my workflow. Kim Britt, Bookmark It’s founder, was experiencing technical difficulties with her laptop and smart phone.  Her phone kept turning off and then gave her the “blue screen of death”. She was petrified that she would loose all her photos and contacts. She looked up an Apple Store and discovered she would need to drive up to Altamonte within the hour to get the phone repaired. Although her assistant Moriah Lorraine Russo had the day off, Kim had to call her in because the store was staying open late for a “Sip and Stroll” event. The great thing about the sip and stroll is that I got to sip white wine while I sketched. Moriah told me about Wednesday night figure drawing classes at “The Space” and I plan to stop over there soon. She was going out to dinner, so she was only able to watch the store for half an hour. Patrick Greene came in to fill in after she left. Rather than making life easier, technology caused a frantic panic as it sputtered and faltered. As I sketched I got a warning that the battery was running low. In a panic, I saved my file and sketched faster. Before my sketch was done, my computer screen blacked out. The battery had died. As I researched this article, Facebook crashed. I suspect that relying on technology for answers is not a great idea.