Local book lovers will get a chance to meet and greet three East County authors this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. as the El Cajon branch of the San Diego County Library spotlights the area’s own writing talent with a Local Authors Expo.
Lynn Manyfires, Amanda Matti and C. E. “Ed” Gauss will all be on hand to showcase their works, talk with book lovers and sign copies of their books.
“We thought it would be fun to bring local authors together for a special event that would spotlight local literary talent and give authors and readers a chance to connect with each other in person,” said Josh Mitchell, adult services manager at the El Cajon branch.
“The authors selected for this event represent part of the rich cultural diversity of San Diego’s East County, and their stories reflect the timeless themes of love, loss and hope that bind us all together.”
Matti’s book “A Foreign Affair” is a memoir of her experiences serving six years as a Russian linguist and intelligence analyst in the U. S. Navy deployed in Iraq. She fell in love with her Iraqi translator, which caused her to be investigated by the CIA, NSA and NCIS. Despite all the obstacles placed in their way, they ended up getting married and have two daughters they are raising in San Diego County.
Manyfires shares her insights and the traditions of the Lakota/Dakota nations of the Great Plains in her book “Ceremonies of the Red Road: How to Become a True Human Being.” It chronicles her spiritual journey that began while she was attending San Diego State University and offers a look at the community values of indigenous people she learned during visits with local tribes and to the Lakota/Dakota reservations.
“The Alexandria Seal” by Gauss is a thriller that follows a CIA agent back-and-forth through time mixing history and fiction as he tries to stop a nuclear device from being detonated in present day Middle East.
“San Diego County Library is dedicated to promoting literacy and supporting local authors,” said Mitchell. “From the number of inquiries we’ve gotten from other local authors since we began publicizing this event, it’s obvious that there is no shortage of literary talent here in East County.
“We are confident that this event will evolve into a series that will serve as a vehicle for local authors wishing to connect with readers on a personal level while bringing their stories to a wider audience.”
