The Bath Historic Site visitor center ended its third summer of Second Saturday programs with “The Written Word.” Six authors with ties to the area fielded questions, autographed books and read excerpts from their work.
Second Saturday is a statewide initiative that brings free arts, history and cultural programs to each of the state’s 37 museums and historic sites.
Leigh Swain, Historic Bath site manager, said she was pleased with the variety of genres represented at this, their first “Written Word” event.
“The authors have been great. We���ve had … a 10-year-old who has written a couple of books and had his first book signing today. We’ve had local authors and others who traveled from different parts of the state,” Swain said.
Bea Latham, assistant manager of the Bath Historic site and organizer of the event, said finding the authors was an easy task.
“It wasn’t hard at all. Of the authors I contacted, no one turned me down,” she said.
Participants included suspense writer Don Brown, poet Joan Daniels and inspirational family author Toshiba Austin-Smith.
Brown, an attorney originally from Plymouth, shared advice on getting published and explained how being disciplined helped him write eight books while maintaining a law career.
“I try to squeeze in 1,000 words a day,” he said.
Brown started having fun with his day job once he got into writing. He said judges often say they love reading his briefs now that his flare for a good story has made an impact on them.
The rain interrupted the outdoor book signing and kept the crowds at bay.
“The weather’s been a damper on getting a crowd here today,” Swain said.
Friends of the Bath Community Library participated in the event with a book sale at the Carson Cottage across the street from the center.
Carol Cutler, president of the Friends of the Bath Community Library, said the book sale raised money to furnish and equip Bath’s future library space.
“We appreciate the strong community support and the cooperation of the Bath Historic Site with our book sale,” Cutler said. “We plan to present these tremendous book bargains to the public once more on Saturday, August 25th from 7 a.m. until noon at the Carson Cottage.”