Celebrate the Power of Reading!  * March 18, 2006

Learn “How to Get Published” at the Seventh Annual
Lee County - Southwest Florida Reading Festival

INFORMATION RELEASE

Media Contact: Heather O'Connell

(239) 461-2924 or hoconnell@leegov.com

March 8, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A free workshop for would-be authors will be offered as part of the Lee County – Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Saturday March 18 at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers.

Whether you dream of writing the great American novel, crafting an unforgettable autobiography, composing poetry, or writing and illustrating children’s books, the biggest hurdle is often getting published,” said Reading Festival Coordinator, Karen Sloan.

“This free interactive workshop for adult writers: ‘How to Get Published – Game Plans for the Path to Success’ offers help in the quest to become a published author, from the concept of self-publishing to being accepted by a known publisher, from someone who has traveled both routes,” author/presenter Steven Krasner said.

Krasner conducts fun-filled and motivational writing workshops nationally in classrooms, at conferences and with parents and students together.  A sports writer at the Providence (RI) Journal for over 30 years, Krasner has covered the Boston Red Sox on a daily basis since 1986.  He is also the published author of six children’s books: “Why Not Call It Cow Juice?” “The Longest Game,” “Have a Nice Nap, Humphrey,” “Pedro Martinez,” “Play Ball Like the Pros,” and “Play Ball Like the Hall of Famers.”

”How to Get Published – Game Plans for the Path to Success” will be held from 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. in room C-1 of the Harborside Event Center.

The Lee County - Southwest Florida Reading Festival will be held from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2006 at the Harborside Event Center and Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. The free day of events includes an exciting line-up of best-selling authors (Carol Higgins Clark, Meg Cabot and more than 20 others) and activities for adults, teens and children.

The Lee County Library System presents the day’s festivities thanks in part to sponsorships by Bank of America, Books-A-Million, Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, Publix and media sponsors The News-Press, WINK News, Telemundo, and Comcast.

Festival-goers can also help fund this free community event by purchasing books from Books-A-Million during the festival.  Twenty percent of the days’ sales are donated to the festival. Festival authors will be signing their books at the event.

For more information about the festival, visit the Lee County Library System Web site: www.lee-county.com/library and click on the Lee County Reading Festival link, or call (239) 479-INFO(4636).

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