Book Fair Provides Break From Shopping

Anyone looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping today can head to Corrales for a book fair featuring all-local authors.

The Friends of the Corrales Library is hosting this year’s Author Book Fair and Celebration previously sponsored by the Corrales Historical Society. It will be held, as in years past, at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church, 966 Old Church Road. Nancy Rutland, a member of the Friends group, said the historical society asked the group to take over the event this year.

The Friends of the Corrales Library is a nonprofit that, through fundraising, is able to provide support and materials for the library.

However, Rutland said today’s event will not be a fund-raiser, but a way to share the works of local authors.

The event starts at 12:30 p.m. with cookbook author and cook Jane Butel doing a 30-minute cooking demonstration and tasting.

“It’s a fun way to kick-off the event with one of the authors,” Rutland said. “She’s very well known.”

There will be 31 authors at the fair, including Butel, who will talk with attendees and sell their books.

There will a variety of fiction and nonfiction books available for both children and adults, including some by Antonio Garcez, who writes about ghosts of the Southwest. Other authors include Martha Egan, Barbe Awalt, Paul Rhetts, Loretta Hall, Robert Torrez, Jack Hudson, Ana Baca, Sabra Steinsiek, Sunny Birklund, Lynn Pomeranz, Pat Kirby, Francelle Alexander, Gale Cooper, Nasario Garcia, Mario Martinez, David Sutliff, Vaunda Nelson, Jim Belshaw and Barbara Klein.

There will be hot cider and cookies and a raffle for a Nook ebook reader from Barnes & Noble.

The Friends of the Corrales Library bought the library’s DVD and periodicals collection and comfortable furniture, pays for the Internet service and provides funding for programs, including magicians, artists and musicians, that are brought to the library.

The Friends have also taken on the ambitious task of raising money to build a 700-square-foot adult reading room, which is estimated will cost about $200,000.
— This article appeared on page 24 of the Albuquerque Journal