Library Friends to host a meet and greet luncheon
In celebration of the Southwest Florida Reading Festival scheduled for March 20, the Friends of the Pine Island Library will host a special meet-and-greet luncheon.
Among those who will speak at this year’s Reading Festival is science fiction novelist, James O’Neal, author of “The Human Disguise.” O’Neal will be on hand at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, just south of the center, beginning at noon on Friday, March 19. The meet-and-greet will begin with lunch followed by a talk presented at 1 p.m. by O’Neal. The cost to attend is $9 per person which includes drinks and a choice of lunches prepared by Little Lilly’s Island Deli. Selections include a big salad with a scoop of traditional tuna salad, roast beef and swiss on a Kaiser roll or chicken salad supreme wrap. The sandwiches also include chips and a pickle and all three menu items will be served with one of the deli’s homemade oatmeal raisin cookies.
Drawing from his career as a former law enforcement officer, O’Neal also publishes under the pen name, James O’Born and his novels are based on some aspects of his career. His third novel, “Escape, Clause” won the inaugural Florida Book Award for Best Novel. “The Human Disguise,” a futuristic science fiction police story, paints a picture of what earth would be like in the aftermath of a disease and war have destroyed life as we know it. O’Neal’s main character, Tom Wilner, is a detective from Florida who is witness to a bloody shootout and is enveloped by a conspiracy that involves the delivery of a “dirty bomb” in Florida.
“The Human Disguise” is available at area book stores or for loan at the Pine Island Public Library.
James O’Neal was named one of the 21 most Intriguing Floridians by Florida Monthly Magazine and earned rave reviews from Publisher’s Weekly.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the project spearheaded by the Friends of the Pine Island Library.
Money raised by the Friends through various fund raising efforts, which include several annual book sales, and these funds have been used to promote reading on Pine Island and Lee County. The Library Friends not only support the Lee County Reading Festival and sponsor local and national author programs for the library, but have purchased children’s furniture and mats for the Pine Island Library to use during Family Story Time, sponsor the Children’s Summer Reading Program, provide the free “Book Page” to the library, purchase children’s book bags, started the “Books for Babies” program which is free of charge for new mothers, support Library Volunteer Recognition through local trips and potluck lunches and support adult and children’s library programs throughout the year. Other donations to the Pine Island Library made by the Friends include a book carousel and glass display case, a wheelchair for use of library patrons, library program signs and computer earphones that library patrons may use free of charge.
For more information or to make reservations, call Linda at 223-0694.