Romance author to pay visit at Gentry Library

— Arkansas writer Laura Castoro, author of numerous romance novels, will be at the Gentry Public Library, 105 E. Main Street in Gentry, at 2 p.m., Oct. 4.

Castoro’s romance novels were selected for the 2012 statewide reading program, If All Arkansas Read the Same Book. Arkansans are encouraged to read the books and participate in author events and book discussions at public libraries across the state.

Her books were chosen because of the popularity of the romance genre with Arkansas library patrons, according to Zoe Butler, Arkansas Center for the Book coordinator.

“Laura writes about the modern woman’s life as she sees it. Over the past 32 years, she has written 39 published books in such genres as historical romance, contemporary romance, Westerns, sagas and romantic suspense,” Butler said.

Her current books available in print or ebook format are “Icing on the Cake” and “Love on the Line.” “A New Lu” and “Found: One Marriage” are available in ebook format only.

Castoro is a sought-after speaker and writing workshop leader. She is president-elect of Novelists, Inc., a writers’ organization devoted exclusively to the needs of multi-published novelists. She is also a past president and remains on the board of the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow, a working writers’ residence program in Eureka Springs.

“It’s exhilarating to be able to help provide a haven for beginning as well as established writers. The gift of uninterrupted time with one’s muse is priceless,” Castoro said.

A native of Pine Bluff, Castoro was the 2005 inductee into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame, joining such writers as Dee Brown, Charles Portis and Paul Greenberg.

Castoro will make appearances in libraries across Arkansas from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15. For more information, please visit www.library. arkansas.gov/centerforthebook/Pages/default.aspx or call (501) 682-2874.

If All Arkansas Read the Same Book is presented by the Arkansas Center for the Book at the Arkansas State Library and all programs are offered free-of-charge to the public. The project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. Copies of “Icing on the Cake” are available at all 230 public libraries throughout the state.

The statewide reading program started in 2001 with author Terry Kay’s “To Dance With the White Dog.” Other past programs have featured books by Rick Bragg, Sandra Cisneros, Doug Kelly, Jennifer Paddock, Sid McMath, Jeff Shaara, Shirley Abbott and Kevin Brockmeier.

The Arkansas State Library provides the resources, services and leadership necessary to meet the educational, informational and cultural needs of the citizens of Arkansas and provides guidance and support for the development of local public libraries and library services.

News, Pages 11 on 09/26/2012