Leave it to a librarian to dream up a fabulous way to meet local authors for free! On July 6, begin your summer trek along the Connecticut Authors Trail via 23 host libraries, ending with a grand finale at the Mohegan Sun Cabaret on September 14.

The Connecticut Authors Trail is more than a chance to meet authors and learn about new books. Each library visit qualifies you for a stamp in your passport (which is free at participating libraries), and those stamps add up chances to win wonderful prizes at the grand finale. Two to five stamps qualifies for a chance to win a basket of authors’ books; visit 19 to 25 of the libraries for a chance at a Mohegan Sun overnight stay with dinner for two!

This 9th annual event kicks off on July 6 in Franklin at the Janet Carlson Calvert Library, featuring Diana Ross McCain, author of historical novel, “Thy Children’s Children”. Four days later, the Bill Memorial Library in Groton hosts author Lisa Saunders and her book, “After the Loss of a Spouse, Henry VIII to Julia Child”. On July 11, the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library in Coventry welcomes DeeDee Filiatreault and her humorous collection of essays on parenthood—”Tales from the Crib”.

The pace doesn’t slow down for this event, and serious trekkers will be kept busy throughout the summer months. With such a rigorous schedule, it’s inevitable that an author or two will be missed; however, they all come together at the grand finale, so readers will still be able to meet them all and buy signed books. The Connecticut Authors Trail website lists all the libraries and authors, dates and times, and updated information about the Mohegan Sun event.

Christine Schulz, director of the Janet Carlson Calvert Library in Franklin, started this event as a way to promote local authors and encourage communities to visit their libraries. “The event has grown so much,” she says, “and now we have participating libraries from more than just our own region.” Schulz is especially pleased about the inclusion of Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC). “We’ve never had a college before,” she says. On July 18, Tom Army, an adjunct professor of history at QVCC, will present his first book, “Engineering Victory: How Technology Won the Civil War”.

Such an event is helped greatly by the generosity of sponsors like Mohegan Sun, Bank Street Books, Spin Street, BlueHost and, in the past, Connecticut Humanities, Illiano’s, and Onyx Moonshine, to name a few.

The list of hosting library towns also includes Lebanon, Sprague, Scotland, Jewett City, Moosup, East Lyme, Willington, South Windham, Waterford, Andover, New London, Stonington, Norwich, Columbia, Colchester, Preston, Voluntown, Salem, and Montville.

Not only are the libraries located far and wide, the diversity of authors is extensive. Here’s a small sample of the guest slate. Award-winning mystery author Karen E. Olson visits the Jonathan Trumbull Library in Lebanon; connection and contemplation are the focus of Katherine Hauswirth’s title, “The Book of Noticing”, which she’ll discuss at the Aldrich Library in Moosup; novelist and lawyer Christine Whitehead brings her book, “The Rage of Plum Blossoms”, to the Waterford Library.

In August, historical novelist Cuyler Overholt will be at Saxton B. Little Library in Columbia with her second book, “A Promise of Ruin”; and the Raymond Library in Montville will host motivational speaker and author Cynthia Mazzaferro, talking about “Powerful Beyond Measure”.

Bringing the trail to a final celebration, the featured speaker for the finale is Beatriz Williams, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. Beatriz is well-known for her novel, “A Hundred Summers”.

Connecticut Authors Trail information

Janet Carlson Calvert Library

5 Tyler Drive, Franklin, CT 06254

860-642-6207

janetcarlsoncalvertlibrary@yahoo.com

calvertlibrary.org