SF Writer Joe Haldeman Among Florida Authors Set For Inaugural Florida Voices Book Fair March 4 at Gainesville's Santa Fe Community College

Gainesville, FL (PRWEB) February 7, 2006 -- SF scribe Joe Haldeman will be among a select group of authors participating in the first book fair dedicated to writers who call the Sunshine State home.

Along with notable writers such as Haldeman, organizers say The Florida Voices Book Fair set for March 4 at Gainesville's Santa Fe Community College has the goal of giving up and coming authors the same opportunity to meet their fans.

"We are focusing on Florida Writers, with books published within the last two years, to give new authors an opportunity which is mostly lacking in the book publishing world," says Norma Homan, executive director of the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts, the fair's lead producer. "A book fair is the ideal venue for authors to meet their reading audience and for readers to be introduced to new authors."

The Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing plenty of time for readers and fans to meet their favorite authors, purchase books and even obtain a signature or two. Additionally, there will be two panels in which authors will discuss their writing and answer questions from the audience.

Along with Haldeman, better known authors expected to be in attendance are humor writer Shelley Fraser Mickle, Robert Mason, author of New York Times bestseller Chickenhawk and poet Peter Meinke.

Haldeman says that even as a successful writer, he enjoys attending book fairs.

"Book fairs are fun, meeting your readers and other writers," Haldeman says. "You meet a lot of book collectors, and they're an interesting breed."

The Florida Voices Book Fair will take place at SFCC's Downtown Blount Center and is free of charge. For more information, visit www.artsgaca.org/bookfair or call (888)-917-7001.

The Fair is sponsored by The Florida Writers Association, the Alachua County Library District, Santa Fe Community College, the Arts Association of Alachua County and Alachua County Friends of the Library. This workshop has been financed in part by a Tourist Development Tax grant from the Alachua County Board of Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. www.visitgainesville.net

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