Three Top Writers To Speak At Book & Author Luncheon

BETHEL — Quota International of Candlewood Valley will hold its Sixth Annual Book & Author Luncheon at the Stony Hill Inn, 50 Stony Hill Road/Route 6, on Saturday, October 16. The event will run from 11:30 to 3.

Three local authors — Justin Scott, Patricia Reilly Giff, and Elizabeth Lynn Casey (née Laura Bradford) — are scheduled to speak about their work and sign their books that will be sold at this event. This is an opportunity for people to meet the authors, purchase their books, and have them personalized and signed, enjoy a luncheon, and give back to the greater Danbury community by supporting the many Quota service projects in the local area.

Newtown resident Justin Scott, an award-winning author of 27 thrillers and mystery novels, has co-authored two recent New York Times best-selling thrillers, The Spy and The Wrecker, with author Clive Cussler.

Mr Scott has a very colorful background and it shows in all his writing. He grew up in a family of professional writers and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in American history and has traveled extensively in Russia, China, and Scotland while researching his novels.

As a mystery writer, he created the Ben Abbott detective series about a small town Connecticut real estate agent and private investigator. That small town is based on, in Mr Scott’s own words, “Newtown, Connecticut, a town that inspires Newbury, which, by the way, Ben Abbott pronounces in the New England manner, like the cheese, instead of the fruit. Neither a berry nor an event in a graveyard, but ‘Newbrie’ with a slight emphasis on the ‘New.’”

In addition to mysteries, Mr Scott is also the author of thrillers and sea stories... under the names Paul Garrison, J.S. Blazer, and Alexander Cole. All have been successful in this outstanding and interesting career. 

Two-time Newbery Honor winner (for Pictures of Hollis Woods and Lily’s Crossing) and renowned children’s book author (Kids of the Polk Street School), Patricia Reilly Giff will also be speaking and signing her newest books at this luncheon.

Ms Giff has written that “as a reading teacher for 20 years, an educational consultant for two publishing houses, an adviser and instructor to aspiring writers, and author of more than 60 books for children, I have spent my entire life surrounded by books … [and try to write books] that say ordinary people are special.”

Ms Giff will be introducing three new books at this event, including the first books in her new Zigzag Kids Series, chapter books that will introduce a new generation of readers to a multicultural group of kids who enjoy all the activities of an after-school center.

The third new book she will introduce is a middle school grade level novel, Storyteller, a story of the American Revolution through the lives of two girls, one present day and one who lived at the time of the revolution, who reflect one another as each finds her own inner strengths.

Laura Bradford, of Yorktown Heights, and formerly of Brookfield, who writes under the pen name Elizabeth Lynn Casey, will be the third guest speaker.

A national best-selling author on the Independent Mystery Book Seller List, Ms Bradford graduated from St Joseph’s School in Brookfield and in 1986 from Immaculate High School in Danbury. She is the author of the Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series.

The third book in the series, Pinned for Murder, will be introduced by Laura/Elizabeth at the luncheon. Ms Bradford, who also writes romances for Harlequin American, will talk about what made someone who always referred to herself as a mystery writer decide to write a romance novel.

Tickets for the Book & Author Luncheon are $30 and must be purchased in advance. Lunch will be a sit-down served three-course meal. There is a choice of four entrees plus two children’s choices.

Please note that due to time restrictions only books purchased at the event will be signed by the authors.

For more information and to purchase tickets contact Kathy Donnelly at 203-426-7707 or visit QuotaCV.org.