Local storytelling will be on full display Saturday, when 11 regional authors will take part in the third annual Local Authors Expo at the Mt. Pleasant Free Public Library.
“I’m always excited to meet people who love to read,” said Don Ammon, 62, an author from Monroeville who will take part in the expo. “People like to know about our creative process, and I’m excited to talk about my new book.”
In addition to two recent mystery thrillers, “Toxic High” and “A Boy, An Afterthought,” printed through Starlit Waters Publishing in Mt. Pleasant, Ammon is self-publishing a horror novel.
“It’s about reincarnation for the purposes of revenge,” he said. “Someone murdered in 1904 is summoned back to the present day with some scores to settle.”
Ammon will be joined by other local authors such as Jesse Bergman of Irwin, who writes under the pen name J. Donald. He recently published his first novel, “A Better Human,” about a teenage boy living in a city walled off from the outside world, who discovers he has special abilities that his father insists he keep secret.
“Writing my debut novel has been such an exciting time,” he said. “Upon publishing it, the journey of meeting other authors and readers has been tremendously fun and encouraging. I enjoy meeting other writers and artists, and getting the chance to share my story with new readers.”
During the expo — set for noon to 3 p.m. May 16 at the library, 120 S. Church St. in Mt. Pleasant — there will be book signings, an author panel, a children’s story time at 1 p.m. and more.
In addition to his new novel, Ammon also is awaiting the start of filming on a screenplay he co-wrote. “Summerlings” is a coming-of-age tale set in the 1980s during the collapse of the steel industry in Western Pennsylvania. The script won Best Feature Screenplay at the Steeltown Indie Film Festival, and Ammon said shooting will begin locally in June.
Ammon said he has enjoyed taking part in the expo the past three years.
“I love and support libraries, and I wish more people took advantage of the resources their local library offers,” he said. “I also enjoy talking with other authors, because we’re all writing in different disciplines and genres. It’s a really nice afternoon and a great way to talk about our shared passion.”
