The next chapter of Manteca’s community-based effort to bolster reading takes place this Saturday.
The Great Valley Bookfest is this Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley anchored by Bass Pro Shops.
Authors will be at the free event to discuss their books as well as share the power of reading and writing. While they will be offering their books for sale, the Great Valley Bookfest is more than just a chance to meet and greet authors.
The heart of the annual celebration of literacy is Author’s Alley. Not only will they have books for sale but they are always happy to engage people in conversation about books and writing.
The Friends of the Manteca Library will also be staging their annual used book sale. The committee works year round sorting books to make it easy to search for your favorite genre or author. Books range from 25 cents to a $2.
There is also a poets corner plus a writer’s nook.
The writer’s nook features hourly programs starting at noon that are conducted by authors.
Paula Sheil and Jim Sterling will be presented the Literacy Hero Award in a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on the main stage.
Sheil is widely recognized for her contributions to all things reading, writing and especially books.
She is the founder of Tuleburg Press, a Stockton nonprofit publishing company and The Write Place, a creative writing and books arts center. Both the parent nonprofit and the center serve all ages in pursuit of learning about “the book.”
A lifetime advocate for literacy, Sterling helped Friends of the Library found the Stanislaus County Free Library, volunteered as a literacy tutor and for adult education re-training programs.
He served as Chair of Communication and Technology for the California Retired Teachers Association, supporting classroom teachers across a spectrum of educational efforts with literacy being a high priority.
The Great Valley Bookfest enjoys tremendous support from regional businesses, educational leaders, and news media. Since 2014, the award has been used to honor local individuals.
The awards are designed to recognize people who go above and beyond to promote literacy in the region.
Last year, more than 6,500 people attended the six-hour event.
For more information on the Great Valley Bookfest go to greatvalleybookfest.org
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
