Meet the Authors Open House

Cynthia Sheward
On Sunday April 5th, in celebration of National Library Week, Quakertown Friends Meeting in Quakertown, NJ will host a “Meet the Authors” Open House from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m . Local authors Dan and Marty Campanelli, Christine Wible and Edwin York will be available for conversation and book signing.
Quakertown residents and well-known painter, Dan Campanelli and his wife, Marty, are currently working on a photographic history of Quakertown. Their earlier historical research corrected the long-held belief that British troops were garrisoned in Quakertown during the revolution. That paper is available at the Hunterdon County Library and the Historical Society. Dan and Marty will be dressed in period costume and speak with visitors about local history, their research and the upcoming book.
Christine Wible’s novel In Between Goodbyes was published on Amazon.com in January using their POD (print on demand) process. Christine’s career path has included Broadway gypsy, nurse, Episcopal deacon and novelist. She will engage visitors in conversation about writing and electronic publishing. “The days of editors like Scribner’s Maxwell Perkins nurturing a Thomas Wolfe or F. Scott Fitzgerald are gone. Electronic publishing with print on demand takes an entirely new approach.” Christine is also an avid reader of electronic books. She will display and discuss her Kindle with interested attendees.
Edwin G. York included books from Quakertown Friends Meeting in the research for his most recent work Opportunity Valley: A History of the Delaware River Valley before 1800. This book looks at the major stages of development in the Delaware River watershed in the years prior to 1800 and pays particular attention to its leadership in cradling the growth of the nation and opposing slavery. Ed’s previous work includes Historic New Jersey Occupations, Working Every Day Two Hundred Years Ago and A History of the Pennington Area Presbyterians. Ed will speak with guests about local history and his experience as a writer. He and his wife, Marguerite, live in an 1832 farmhouse near the Delaware River.
J.E. Stout (1923-2001) of Pittstown was a local historian, fireman and long time member of Quakertown Friends Meeting. His book Facts and Fantasies of Franklin was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the formation of Franklin Township from Kingwood Township (1845-1995). Ed dedicated the book “to all past and present Franklin Township officials and teachers whose combined efforts have made this community a good place to live for one hundred and fifty years…” In it, he discusses roads, communications, villages and hamlets, folklore and personal reminiscences and includes the entire 1850 census. J.T. Trader, a Bucks County librarian, will read excerpts from the book and copies will be on display.
Meet some of the writers whose work makes National Library Week possible. Refreshments will be provided.