Book Beat: Six recently published books with local hooks
Paperback and ebook versions of “Crazy About Words” by Joe McKay, based on his columns about — you guessed it — words, are available at amazon.com. The collection is published by Absolutely Amazing eBooks and The New Atlantian Library.
The book stemmed from a class of the same name that Mr. McKay has taught for 12 years at Peconic Landing in Greenport, where he lives. He also leads two other classes, “Poetry Appreciation” and “Reading Like a A Writer: Adventures in Mindful Reading.”
In 2009 he was asked to write a monthly column for the in-house newsletter, versions of which he began sending out to interested readers around the country. One was a publisher, who suggested he publish the collection.
• “A Place in His Heart,’ a historical romance by Rebecca DeMarino based on Southold Town founder Barnabas Horton and his wife, Mary, debuted this month with Revell, a division of Baker Publishing House.
Ms. DeMarino, who lives in the Pacific Northwest, is a descendent of the Hortons and grew up hearing stories of Barnabas. In 1999 she traveled with her mother to see where his real-life story took place. She has since returned frequently to Southold, where she led a book discussion and signed copies this past weekend at Southold Free Library.
• “Waiting on Women,” a self-published book of short stories by Gerard ‘GP’ Lane of Peconic, is now available through Amazon. The book features “five distinct stories that nevertheless share a unified theme of women worth waiting for,” according to the Amazon listing.
Mr. Lane is an interpreter for the deaf at Cleary School and other schools in Suffolk County.
• Another local publication of note is “The Healing,” a novel by Fran Pergamo of Southold. Self-published in 2011, it earned four “indie” book awards and was picked up as a Simon & Schuster ebook in 2012. The book is set on Long Island. Another novel by Ms. Pergamo, “A Time to Dance,” was published earlier this year. Both are available through Amazon.
• Elizabeth Duncombe Nehls, an artist and retired art teacher from Jamesport, has written and illustrated “Finding Faces in the Buildings of New York City.” The picture book follows an adult and two children on a walking tour during which they discover sculptural art that can be found in the city.
• First-time novelist Melissa Martin will sign copies of her book, “Harvest Road,” at three local venues in July: Raphael winery in Peconic, Thursday, July 3, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Claudio’s Restaurant in Greenport, Saturday, July 12, 1 to 4 p.m.; and North Fork Tasting Room at Baiting Hollow Commons, Sunday, July 13, noon to 3 p.m.
The novel, offered by Tate Publishing, is a romance set in Long Island wine country.
To send news of the local literary world, email [email protected], fax to 298-3287, or mail to Times/Review Newspapers, P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952. Copy deadline: 5 p.m. Wednesday to appear the following week.
