Free Charlotte Harbor Book Festival promises literature, learning and joy
Note: I've admired writer James Abraham's insights for decades, but after reading his most recent note to me, I'm floored by his energy as well.
The Charlotte County essayist, historian, bookmonger and thought-provoker has, on the heels of a grinding pandemic and a wrenching hurricane, put together a celebration of books and culture that should be just the kind of tonic we need after the kind of year(s) we've all just had.
Abraham organized the Charlotte Harbor Book Festival as “an opportunity to showcase our growing writing and publishing community in Southwest Florida,” he said. But beyond showcasing, Abraham is nurturing as well: The event is free to the public and ultra-reasonable for participating writers, in the name of building community, he says.
"We kept the registration fee so low (because) we want writers and artists to have an affordable opportunity to meet the larger community," he said. After all. as his favorite historian, Hendrik Van Loon once remarked, no good art is created by starving artists in garrets.
"Here in sunny Southwest Florida, a publishing revolution has taken off because this is an environment where a person's artistic aspirations can flourish," he notes. "Many first-time authors down here are retirees who realize that this is a place where they can give vent to their creative side. The publishing and writing industry is growing as the cost and processes of getting published are so much easier and more inclusive than they were years ago.
"We want to honor this outpouring of writing energy by channeling it through our book festival. We hope it will give writers not only a chance to sell but also an opportunity to rub shoulders with fellow writers."
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For Abraham, who's produced 15 book fairs so far, all with that same theme, it feels natural. "I came from a verbal family and was encouraged to read and write, so I found my voice early. But so many folks find their creative impulses stifled by peer pressure, the need to earn a living, and other factors.
"Now, in this glorious environment, is the time to listen to that inner spark of joy," he says. "I hope this festival both awakens and sustains that flame in our growing writing community."
Here's what else he has to say about the Feb. 25 event:
Richard Hale parlayed his Navy job in electronics into a career in multi-million-dollar companies from Silicon Valley to the business hubs of the Northeast. So when the hard-charging executive retired, he knew he’d have too much time on his hands. A counselor recommended writing. Three books later, Hale is set to lecture Feb. 25 on “The New Man” at the Charlotte Harbor Book festival.
“I found an outlet for years of pent-up emotions that I, like most men, have been taught to keep hidden and ignored,” Hale said. The Navy veteran donates money from the profits of his books to programs aimed at combatting PTSD and G.I. suicide. His memoir and two novels reflect a more holistic approach to both being a man and writing about men.
The festival, sponsored by Punta Gorda's Military Heritage Museum and Florida Humanities, will feature more than 30 local authors, artists, and performers. Featured writing lectures on subjects as diverse as “Tough Guys Talk Tough,” “The Art of the Essay, or “Finding Your Voice,” are all free and open to the public.
Charles Emma, a Boston litigator who winters in Punta Gorda, will talk on “Tough Guys Talk Tough.” He’s written a string of action and suspense novels that echo his courtroom experiences and reflect his Italian heritage.
“Lawyers will tell you it’s all in the voice,” Emma said. “Likewise, when you write you have to remember the words you use, their length, the length of a sentence, it all contributes to an imperative that can drive your narrative.”
Naomi Pringle, who will discuss “Finding Your Voice,” brings a gentler voice to the trade.
“Too many women, in particular, have been told that their words don’t matter,” Pringle said. “In my workshops on finding one’s voice, I stress the importance of valuing and developing your thoughts and words in poetry or prose.”
For those interested in writing about loved ones or publishing memoirs, Myra Alley Kingsbury will discuss the process of writing her tribute to her grandmother, “Mawzy’s Hope Chest.” She says the hardest part of such an endeavor is organizing voluminous notes, photos, and other memorabilia.
“I had to come up with a system,” said the retired financial planner. “It helped me master the material and made the book easier to organize.”
The keynote speaker for the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Military Heritage Museum, will be Pine Island's Robert Macomber, an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed lecturer, commentator for TV and film, and a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. He was named “2020 Florida Writer of the Year” by the Florida Writers Association. Macomber is best known for his “Honor” series, the popular maritime thrillers which describe the life and career of his protagonist, a U.S. naval officer, Peter Wake, from the American Civil War in Florida, beyond the Spanish-American War in 1898, and well into the 1900s.
His topic, “Getting Into Character: An Author's Research Adventures Around the World,” is guaranteed to be both hilarious and perilous as he describes research treks worldwide to write the 17 novels in his internationally renowned Honor series, which will be on sale at the festival.
The event will also feature “Booksellers’ Row,” where anyone who pays a fee ($20) can set up a table to sell books or art. Food will be on sale, and there will be live music and art displays.
Gary Butler, executive director of the Military Heritage Museum, said the book festival is in keeping with the mission of the iconic center.
“Charlotte County has a rich history of community-based, grassroots education and culture,” he said. “We propose to continue that tradition with the Charlotte Harbor Book Festival. A proud heritage of American investment in education is part of what makes our military strong.”
In keeping with the museum’s partnership with local schools, a centerpiece of the festival is a youth writing project based on “The Wall” a story about the Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C.
Matina Pulliam, social studies teacher and dean with Charlotte County Public Schools, will lead a workshop recommended for student readers in grades 3 through 8 to discuss the monument and the sacrifices made by veterans. Students will write veterans to express their appreciation. Free copies of “The Wall” will be given to participating students while supplies last.
The Charlotte Harbor Book Festival is one of only four sponsored this year by Florida Humanities, the statewide clearinghouse of arts and culture.
“The Book Festival Grants was a new funding opportunity that was launched in summer 2022,” said Florida Humanities Associate Director Patricia Putman. “To date, we've funded four in the fiscal year 2022 (Word of the South, Tallahassee; St Johns Reads, Sunshine State Book Festival, Gainesville; and the Miami Book Fair), and four in the fiscal year 2023 (ReadOut 2023, Gulfport; Charlotte Harbor Book Festival hosted by the Military Heritage Museum; BAM Festival in Palm Beach; and Orlando Book Festival). We are excited to support these wonderful events that bring the community and our shared love and appreciation of literature, literary and learning together.”
For more information on the festival, which is free and open to the public, contact James Abraham at 941-258-4920.
If you go
What: Charlotte Harbor Book Festival
When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda
Cost: Free and open to the public
Vendor fee: $20
Contact: James Abraham, 941-258-4920 or email book-broker@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Pine Island's Robert Macomber headlines Charlotte Harbor Book Festival
