At Martha Clara, You'll Find Your Book!

By Eugenia Bartell

"A bottle of red, a bottle of white; at Martha Clara, you'll find your book for tonight!"

For the second time ever, Martha Clara Vineyards, located along the beautiful old pastoral and vineyard filled Sound Avenue in Riverhead, will host the second Long Island Authors Group Book Festival on Sunday, July 13th from noon until 5:00 p.m.

Location Manager Nancy Barlow, the industrious, personable local resident who loves her job living in "long island wine country" is very excited about the return event and recalls how well the first book festival in March was received. Under Nancy's capable planning and direction, the LI authors are assured of another spectacular celebration. This year it is something to beat the drums about, for the original group of sixteen authors has doubled. Their works run the gamut of genres including mystery, poetry, science fiction, short stories, romance, your adult fiction, memoirs, spiritual healing, gardening, LI history, children's books, cookbooks and even a book full of Manhattan clothing shopping tips from an elegant tightwad!

Montauk author, Richard Prince whose novel, Montauk The Disappearances, was the top seller at the March Festival, credits Newsday columnist, Aileen Jacobson, who interviewed him just before the event for the extraordinary turnout. Prince also attributes his success to the wonderful staff at Martha Clara and the fact that people from all over the world are fascinated by Montauk. To have written a mystery thriller that weaves an uncanny tale around several people who disappear without a clue during an exciting Montauk shark and surfcasting season in what is called "the fishing capital of the world" Prince has whet the appetite of those who are bewitched, beguiled and seduced by the enchanted surfing hamlet.

With interviews on WLIU, LTV and WBAZ under his belt as well as a featured book signing at Bargain Books in Centereach, Prince has become a "mini celebrity." Fans recognize the Montauk surfcaster and author easily by his trade-mark orca tooth on a chain and his mauve baseball cap with Montauk The Disappearances embroidered above the visor. "It's all a dream come true for me," describes the humble local. Perhaps his appealing novel will become a film one day.

Will Prince's novel be the best seller again at the LI Authors Group Book Fair? At the rate it has been selling on the East End it is almost a shoe-in. If more book clubs like the Jamesport Ladies Book Club, that arrived en masse at the March festival and charmed and delighted Richard with their kind words and interest, it might turn out to be a best seller on both forks. While sipping some of Martha Clara's acclaimed wine and sampling tasty tidbits, guests will have the opportunity to stroll and browse through an impressive group of books and chat with a diverse circle of personable authors. After all, as Sir Francis Bacon remarked, "Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man; and writing an exact man!" Come and join the festivities; you, too may be inspired!

Back to Contents