Writers, publishing companies and organizations interested in preserving the area's history will gather Saturday in Monessen to talk shop.
Organized by the Greater Monessen Historical Society, the Book Fair will be held noon-4 p.m. in the gymnasium at Epiphany of Our Lord School on Donner Avenue.
'We're just trying to bring a literary awareness to our area and help people to see what's out there,' said Susanna Swade, chairwoman of the event. 'I think we just scratched the surface.'
'I think it's a great idea not just for my book, but for anybody's book,' said Arthur Parker, one of the authors who will be on hand at the fair.
Parker, a native of Pittsburgh who now lives in Elizabeth Township, wrote a book titled 'The Monongahela: River of Dreams, River of Sweat,' which is filled with stories and memories about the Monongahela River.
'Book fairs are great ideas because it's a good way to get people to read,' Parker said. 'It can awaken the interest.'
It was this philosophy and a hope of bringing more culture to the area that inspired the historical society to organize its first book fair last summer.
When Swade took on the role as chairwoman for this year's event, she was surprised by how many local authors and publishing companies came out of the woodwork.
'One reference has led to another and an another,' she said, adding the group has now attracted as many as 14 authors as well as publishing companies, historical societies and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
All the wares, which will be offered at a 10 percent discount, are either about western Pennsylvania or have been written by an author from the area.
'This is not Barnes and Noble. We're not trying to compete with the regular book stores. There you can get anything you want and maybe their prices are a little better, but this will kind of get a little more personal,' Swade said.
She admits there is also an 'ulterior motive.'
According to Swade, the historical society is attempting to raise $5,000 to match funds coming from a Pennsylvania Humanities Council grant. The money will be used to restore the historical society's building located along the river in Monessen.
The Monessen Heritage Museum will be located in the old Cooper's Building of the former Pittsburgh Steel Co. The historical society acquired the building along Route 906 in 1998 when it was donated by Westmoreland County.
Built after the turn of the century, the building served as a workshop where wooden kegs were made to hold 100 pounds of wire nails. When the company stopped making the kegs and switched to boxes in the 1950s, the site became a carpenter's shop.
Today, it sits vacant and is in need of utilities and a new roof, doors and windows. Additionally, the exterior brick needs cleaned and repointed.
All these improvements have been recommended by an architect.
The historical society is now working on the second phase of the project - implementation of the plan to make the museum a reality within the next few years.
The group will continue fund-raisers efforts this fall by offering boat trips on the Monongahela River.
Writers at the book fair include:
Emile Etheridge of Lemont Furnace wrote 'Can Emile?' It's a story of how one person coped with tragedy. Etheridge is an educator, author, publisher and motivational speaker.
Phillip Garrow of California will bring his book 'Souls of Steel' to the book fair. 'Souls of Steel' is the first of five books Garrow hopes to write about the steel industry. The novel is set in the Monongahela Valley around 1974 to 1985. Lovers Tad and Laura, who hail respectively from California and Monongahela, lead the reader through the collapse of the American steel industry in a time of 'families torn apart, divorce, death, suicide and madness.'
Ralph Hass wrote 'Dear Esther' about the letters of a member of the Ringgold Cavalry during the Civil War. These were the painful thoughts of a western Pennsylvania soldier far away at battle writing home to his beloved.
Albert Lexie is the subject of a chapter in John Kasich's book 'Courage is Contagious.' A native of Monessen, Lexie has become famous for his ability to inspire others with his spirit of generosity. A bootblack, Lexie shines shoes throughout the Mon Valley and donates his proceeds to help sick kids at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Oakland. Kasich, a congressman from Ohio whose father lived in Monessen, featured Lexie in a chapter of his book about extraordinary Americans who take it upon themselves to help others. Albert will be signing this book at the fair. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Children's Hospital.
Tara Manderino of Monessen goes into the world of the occult in her first book 'Soul Guardian.' Lucien Marquees, her main character, is a vampire. Throughout the book, he struggles to gain mortality, but he cannot do it until he finds the ancient book filled with secrets and answers that were lost centuries ago. 'Soul Guardian' is published as an e-book, meaning it is available on the Internet. You can visit the Web page at www.ebooksonthe.net, read a sample and download it on a computer. Payment for the book is taken through a credit card. One can also go to a book store and buy the book on compact disc. The CD will be available at the book fair.
Nancy E. Meyer of Greensburg is one of the contributors to two books 'Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul' and 'More Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul.' Meyer is a psychic who has worked with police departments in Pennsylvania to solve crimes.
D. Nunley and K.J. Elliott, both of Wexford, collaborated on 'A Taste of Pennsylvania History.' Debbie Nunley and Karen Jane Elliott visited 116 inns, taverns, train stations, schoolhouses and roadside hostelries in Pennsylvania. Each experience is an entry in their book complete with a review, a history and a couple of recipes. Area restaurants featured in the book include The Back Porch in Speers and Century Inn in Scenery Hill. They are working on 'A Taste of Ohio History' and then will move on to 'A Taste of Virginia History.'
Arthur Parker of Elizabeth Township penned 'The Monongahela: A River of Dreams, River of Sweat' is a picture book filled with stories and memories about the Monongahela River. There are 50 color and 29 black and white images in a text that covers 200 pages. The book covers the river from the days of George Washington to the days of the declining steel industry. The book follows the river from West Virginia to its confluence at the Point in Pittsburgh. It gives Monessen's waterfront a double-page spread and two pages of history. A native of Pittsburgh, Parker was executive vice president of the Waterways Association of Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1993 and also served from 1959 to 1988 as executive director of the Mon Yough Chamber of Commerce, which then represented 40 communities in the Mon Valley area.
Patrick Picciarelli of Monessen spent his life working as a New York City Police Officer and a private detective. He was inspired to write a book about a colleague and authored 'Jimmy the Wags: Street Stories of a Private Eye.' Picciarelli also wrote 'Blood Shot Eyes,' another intriguing crime story. Picciarelli holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
David Swaltzer of Cooperstown wrote 'A Friend Among the Seneca.' Based on the journal of Henry Simmons, the book offers a look at Seneca culture of the period, including their festivals and games, division of labor and cult of dreams, which affected many of their actions.
William J. Switala, a professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, is the author of several textbooks on Pennsylvania history. He will sign copies of 'The Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania' at the book fair. This book retraces routes, discusses the large city networks, identifies houses and sites where escapees found refuge and records the names of people who risked their lives to support the operation. Switala has been researching the Underground Railroad for more than 10 years and has lectured extensively on the subject.
Cassandra Vivian of Monessen is the author of 14 books and numerous magazine articles. She will have several books at the fair including 'The Western Desert of Egypt: An Explorer's Handbook,' and 'Immigrant's Kitchen Italian,' a cookbook celebrating Italian-American foods and traditions.
Publishers at the book fair include Closson Press, MacDonald/Sward Publishing Co. and Stackpole Books, which are area companies that publish books on local topics.
