Meet the authors!

The Jersey City Free Public Library will feature a variety of writing talent at its third annual A Tale of Our City book festival on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Van Vorst Park on Montgomery Street.
Hudson Reporter Senior Staff Writer Al Sullivan will present his book of selected stories, “Everyday People: Profiles from the Garden State,” compiled from his years of writing for the Reporter newspaper group.
Also, Seton Hall law professor John B. Wefing will read from his scholarly and definitive portrait of one of New Jersey’s most esteemed governors, “The Life and Times of Richard J. Hughes, The Politics of Civility.”
And the library will be represented by two of its own: New Jersey Room Manager Cynthia Harris with her book, “Changing Jersey City: A History in Photographs” (co-authored with local resident and historic photographer Leon Yost) and Bob Leach, Jersey City Historical Project Director, with “Young Frank Hague and the Lucky Horseshoe.”

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‘A Tale of Our City is getting well-known throughout the state, and our author roster reflects this.’ – Sonia Araujo
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Other writers scheduled to appear at the festival are: Shobhan Bantwal (“The Unexpected Son”); Morning Dew (“The Sea Flower: During the Age of the Winged Warriors”); Jemmie Adams (“Running With No Feet”); Hisani DuBose (“Do I Have to be a Starving Artist in the 21st Century?”); Cynthia Fabian (“Second Hand Art”); Kenny Hall (“Billy & Me – Kenny’s Gonna Ruin My Redneck Image”); Jacqueline Hallenbeck (“Poem-atic”); Gioya McRae (“Life Sentences: 365 Prompts, Challenges & Wild Persuasions for Write-Brained People”); Jane Pedler (“The Treasure of the Golden Hands”); Derek & Gina Roche (“Bella Goes Bump in the Night”); Sonia Roman (“My Time To Scream”); Keith Smith (“Men in My Town”); Michael Walters (“Starting and Finishing the Paper”), and Patricia Squires (“One Room Schoolhouse in Jersey City”).
But books and authors are only one part of the festival.

Something for everyone

A Tale of Our City book festival will offer author readings from Van Vorst Park’s picturesque park gazebo, and meet-and-greets with the authors to purchase their books and get them autographed.
But children will also get to enjoy face painting, storytelling and other fun activities. And a Jersey City library festival would not be complete without a free library card sign up and information on library services, publishers, books and information giveaways, and representatives from community organizations. Music and entertainment will be provided between author readings.
Looking forward to seeing the festival come off without a hitch is Assistant Library Director Sonia Araujo, who chairs the book festival committee that has been planning the festival for months.
“A Tale of Our City is getting well-known throughout the state, and our author roster reflects this,” Araujo said. “We’ve opened up from just considering Jersey City-based authors to authors throughout New Jersey because there’s so much talent out there, though Jersey City is certainly well represented.”
A Tale of Our City is presented by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and the Municipal Council, the Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Jersey City Free Public Library.
For more information, visit the Jersey City Public Library’s Web site (www.jclibrary.org).
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.