Good ink - Oklahoma authors get ready to sign autographs at free event

By Karen Shade, Tulsa World
November 30, 2006

Visit a book fair, and your literary perspective could change forever.

As an example, Andrea Chancellor never considered herself a fan of science fiction books until last year’s Oklahoma, Ink, book fair at Harwelden.

“You’re walking, and you’re looking and thinking it over and thumbing through books, and then you hear a conversation down the way and think, ‘That sounds really interesting,’” she said.

With more than 20 Oklahoma authors and illustrators readying their wrists to sign copies of their latest works at Oklahoma, Ink, 2006 on Thursday night, curious readers could easily be led into a genre they’ve never ventured into before.

Last year, more than 400 participants perused the works available for sale and mingled with their favorite writers for an evening that created quite a buzz among the state’s literati, said Heather Ann Hope, book fair committee co-chairwoman.

“The idea behind Oklahoma, Ink, was to draw attention and, in fact, to honor authors from Oklahoma. So that is really the common denominator,” Hope said. “They write in every different genre from history to mystery.”

Scheduled to attend this year’s event are: William Bernhardt, Andrew Burstein, Ally Carter, Robert J. Conley, Connie Cronley, David Dary, Kim Doner, Jami Fullerton, James Patrick Hunt, Wilma Mankiller, Hannibal Johnson, Billie Letts, Malena Lott, Kandy Radzinski, Tim Tharp, Will Thomas, M.J. Van Deventer and Nancy Ingram, Michael Wallis and Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis, William Winchester and John Wooley.

Barnes & Noble will sell copies of the authors’ books. And because the book fair is also a benefit, 25 percent of the proceeds from each book sale goes to the Tulsa Press Club’s scholarship program for journalism and communications students.

Chancellor, who is helping organize the affair, said last year’s event was an opportunity for both fans and authors — fans have their questions answered, and authors get a better idea of who their public is.

But the fans also get the chance to walk away with a signature, which makes the experience even more personal.

“Just to walk up and stand there and see Wilma Mankiller, who is a national treasure, ... and to find her and her book in front of you is just a thrill,” Chancellor said. “The same for others like Billie Letts, who has done some tremendous work with ‘Shoot the Moon,’ and William Bernhardt. It’s a thrill to stand there while the author signs the book. It’s really a kick.”