THINKING OUT OF THE BOOK: TRI KAPPA FUNDRAISER LUNCHEON

Courier-Times photo: Amanda Ryan of the New Castle Tri Kappa Alpha Tau Chapter shows the sorority's cookbook that will be for sale during the Saturday, March 11 Book and Author Luncheon. Ticket deadline is Friday, March 3.

Women of this New Castle, Indiana philanthropic organization decided to do something new and different this year to benefit their favorite charities.

The resulting Book and Author Luncheon, hosted by Tri Kappa, is 11 am. Saturday. March 11 at First Baptist Family Life Center, 709 S. Memorial Drive, New Castle. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Deadline for tickets is Friday, March 3. For tickets, email Amanda Ryan at ajryan21@gmail.com or contact Cara Taylor at FC Tucker/Crossroads Realty, phone 521-9464. Tickets are $20 each.

Along with a chicken-salad luncheon, the program consists of 10-minute talks from each of six local writers from a variety of genres and points of view. From western to a Smithsonian science project, to a memoir of a local  immigrant to essays and women's fiction, a variety of perspectives are represented.

The authors' books will be available for purchase and signing following the program. I'm honored to be part of the event. A portion of this snowy, return-to-winter day will be spent working on my 10-minute presentation. My last book's editor, Steve Dicken, dropped by the office last week and seemed skeptical that I could limit myself to 10 minutes. That's a challenge, and yes, Steve, I'll stop on a dime.

Here's what The Courier-Times printed about each speaker:

• Annette Goggin teaches AP English at New Castle High School. Her new book is Home: Three Houses. Married to Mark, a farmer, school-bus driver, and her editor, they have two grown children: Christina (husband Jason) Howard and Gus (wife Stephanie) Goggin. The author plans to keep doing what she loves: teaching, writing and enjoying the people around her. Her book includes stories of love, laughter and life spent as a preacher’s kid, teacher and farmer’s wife.

• Terry Gray is a wife, mother, grandmother and part-time office administrator at Sulphur Springs Christian Church. Her book is Unsinkable, inspired by a relative she adored whose dream was to become a U.S. citizen. She is working on a second book. Married to Kim Gray, they live in a cabin on a small farm near Sulphur Springs. They are parents to four adult children and their spouses, and grandparents to eight. They raise honeybees and Terry enjoys travel and photography.

• Mark Herbkersman has always loved the old west, reinforced from living in Idaho. He is author of a western series, Henry Family Chronicles. His work has included counseling, seminar speaker, adjunct college faculty, pastor and hospice chaplain. Married with two daughters, his passion is encouraging young people to follow their dreams. Published books are: Prodigal’s Blood, Revenge on the Mountain, The Branding of Otis Henry and Gideon’s Redemption. He is working on a fifth book.

• Sean Slagle teaches English at New Castle High School and is author of three novels: A Dirge for the Malice, Young Dreams and The Vale of Eden; four plays: Poems of the Passion, A Primetime Christmas, Sleepy Hollow High School, The Most Blessed Inn of Bethlehem, numerous skits, short stories and non-fiction articles. Married to Brooke, they have four children. Slagle is working on a Christmas romance, Santa for a Season and a Christmas devotional, What Child is This? 

• Teresa Southerland owns Every Good Thing, also known as Marilyn’s Flowers & Gifts. She has has completed several environmental education projects. Most notable is Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.  She has always loved science and is married to Jim. Their children are: Adam (Sara) Hollars, Danielle Stigall, Cara (Robby) Taylor, Lindsey (Beau) Tipton, Brock (Chelsea) Southerland. They have five grandchildren. She plans to complete a devotional for young people inspired by her daughter Cara’s life.

• Donna Cronk is Neighbors editor at The Courier-Times where she also edits her magazine for women. Her books are Sweetland of Liberty Bed & Breakfast and That Sweet Place: At Home in the Heartland. Married to Brian, they are parents of two grown sons: Sam (wife Allison) and Ben. Cronk plans to keep writing and giving inspirational programs whenever asked. She has developed a new program geared for library audiences called So You Want to Self-Publish a Book. 

The New Castle Alpha Tau chapter has been around since 1911. Their charities include a $1,000 annual philanthropic community grant; scholarships for students at New Castle, Blue River Valley, Tri and Shenandoah; sponsoring the New Castle High School Art Show, Senior Nite Club, Special Olympics, United Fund Day of Caring, Pregnancy Care Center, YMCA youth memberships and blankets for Riley Hospital. Event chair is Rebecca Hawrot.