The 21st Annual Authors Open House will take place at The Ginger Press Saturday December 6 from 11:00 to 3:00pm. Featuring famous local authors and great munchies, the event is an informal opportunity to meet the people who write the books about our area. Many authors will be on hand to answer questions about writing and getting published; in addition they will autograph books for Christmas giving.

“Each year, we celebrate local literary achievements by hosting a gathering of many of the writers who are documenting our community in a wide range of books for all ages. We want to both honour their writing achievements and thank the readers who support this work. Bringing writers and readers together has been the goal of The Ginger Press since it began 30 years ago,” says owner Maryann Thomas. “And this year we have much to celebrate!”

Included in the 2008 Authors Open House are: Dorothy Crysler (author, Birding in the Beaver Valley); Jake Doherty (editor, Mystery Ink); Carolyn Muir Helfenstein (author, Why Not? A Memoir in Black and White of the Teeswater News); Stephen Hogbin (author, Evaluating: The Critique in the Studio Workshop); Bonita Johnson de Matteis (author and illustrator, Going North: The True Story of the Underground Railroad); Stella Keenan McPeak (author, Memoirs: My Life in Owen Sound); Jon Radojkovic (author, Building Barns); Tracey Richardson (author, The Candidate); Judy Ross (author, A View of the Bay: Collingwood and Beyond); Patty Belle Sargent (author, Roses in December: Biography of Eddie Sargent); Richard Thomas (author, The Devil’s Chautauqua); Gary Weinger (musician, Gypsy Jive Band cd); Dennis White (author, The Wiarton Willies); and Eric Zweig (author, Star Power: The Legend of Cyclone Taylor).

Autographed copies of all books can be reserved in advance at 376-4233 if unable to attend the Authors Open House.

7. A Photographer's Owen Sound: Photographs by Gerry McDonald 1955 - 1974
This is the third in a series of a beautiful hardcover books with full-frame black and white photographs of Owen Sound. A Photographer's Owen Sound: Photographs by Gerry McDonald 1955 - 1974 will be available in a limited edition, signed and numbered hardcover edition for Christmas 2008. $100.00

6. Threads: Piecing Together the Underground Railroad by Bonita Johnson de Matteis
This wonderful new sequel to Bonita's Going North describes the quilts used to reveal safe houses and trails for the runaway slaves escaping to Canada. As Bonita says, "My understanding of early Owen Sound Black history comes from stories of my grandmother's experiences. This story is a thread from Gramma Susan (Earls) Johnson Wilson to her grandchildren and great grandchildren." With bold full colour illustrations and a lively text, Threads provides an important true story of bravery for young readers. $14.95

5. Roses in December: A Biography of Eddie Sargent by Patty Belle Sargent
Roses in December captures Eddie's enthusiasm for life. Starting as a youngster in a remote logging camp in northern Ontario through to his residency in the penthouse at the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto, this story is a social biography that chronicles the tumultuous growth, politics and change during the middle years of the last century. Eddie Sargent served as mayor of Owen Sound and MPP for the region for many decades.
now available $28.95

4. Evaluating: The Critique in the Studio Workshop by Stephen Hogbin
Featured in the February 2008 issue of Woodwork magazine, this new book describes the why of making for woodworkers. In his Foreword, Edward Cooke (Professor of Art, Yale University) says, "Evaluating by Stephen Hogbin provides a way to enter into a full examination of an object's meaning, from conception to assessment."
available in a numbered and signed edition - $24.95

3. Forward: Poems and Photographs by Susan Gibson
Susan has been living and working in the Grey-Bruce region for the past twenty years. This lovely collection of poems and photographs explores the wonders her life here.
available in a signed edition - $13.95

2. The Devil's Chautauqua: A DB Murphy Mystery set in 1925 in Owen Sound by Richard Thomas
The history in this fast-paced novel is real and the mystery is fictional. The Devil's Chautauqua is the sixth novel in the series set in the roaring twenties when alcohol was illegal and automobiles were a novelty.
available in a signed edition - $18.95
Other DB Murphy novels available:
Horseshoe to Gumshoe: The DB Murphy Omnibus containing the first three novels
(Gas Head Willy, The Lost Tire Gang and Thimblerig) $24.95
Four Deuces North $18.95
Special to the Star $18.95

1. Owen Sound: The Community View
Black and white photographs from private collections from 1866-1957. This elegant softcover book shows Owen Sound the way it was.
$35.00 (Also available in a signed, limited edition hardcover for $100)