10/12/2006 9:41:00 AM LIBRARY: Air Force author featured at Hillsboro Library
GARY LAYNE SMITH
By JENNIFER WEST Highland County District Library
U.S. Air Force chaplain and author Gary Layne Smith will be at the Highland County District Library on Nov. 2 to sign copies of his new book, "Letters from Boerdonk." Smith's family roots are in Adams County. He
was ordained in 1984 and served 31 years in the U. S. Air Force, the last 19 years as a chaplain, leading him to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
An Air Force chaplain during the time of the 9/11 attacks, Smith and his family were transferred to The Netherlands to serve the military men and women stationed there and in nearby Northern Germany and Belgium. While becoming part of the small village of Boerdonk, Smith kept in touch with family and friends back home by sending copies of his sermons by e-mail. After retiring from the Air Force in 2003, Smith compiled 32 of these "e-sermons" into his first book, "Letters from Boerdonk."
Smith will be at the Hillsboro Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6-7 p.m. and everyone is welcome to meet him.
The Let's Write writing class will continue this fall. As before, the group will meet the fourth Monday of the month, Oct. 23 and Nov. 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hillsboro Public Library.
The class, led by Carol Cartaino, concentrates on how to improve a writer's chances for publication: what all of the available markets are (and which give beginners the best chance), exactly what to submit to publishers (and how), and how to improve your writing itself for the purpose.
Cartaino has had more than 35 years experience guiding and teaching writers to do their best work: 20 years working for large national publishers and 18 years as a freelance editor, book doctor, (and occasional agent) working for publishers, literary agents and bestselling authors.
As editor-in-chief of Writer's Digest Books in Cincinnati for 10 years, she has had an unique opportunity to learn about all kinds of writing and what it takes to get it published. She has also traveled often to writer's conferences and gatherings to give workshops and speeches. She has given presentations for writer's groups in at least nine states including New York (American Society of Journalists and Authors); New Jersey (New Jersey Press Women); Detroit, Atlanta, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Kauai, Hawaii and Ohio (Kent State, Xavier University, Southern State Community College, and the Columbus Writer's Conference).
The topic of the Oct. 23 workshop will be "finding and shaping your best ideas."
This workshop is open to anyone. For more information, call the Highland County District Library at (937) 393-3114.
