Authors Take the Red Carpet at SJC

The first annual Authors Unlimited was held at in Patchogue on Saturday.

At the event, 13 accomplished authors of books and comics geared towards a teenage and young adult audience came to meet their fans and sign copies of their books.

The authors arrived on campus to a red carpet rolled out, and a marching band playing. A large crowd of their fans gathered to welcome them like a Hollywood premiere. The authors that attended were:

• Coe Booth
• Daniel Ehrenhaft
• Adam Gidwitz
• Anna Godbersen
• Tonya Hurley
• Robert Lipsyte
• Jim McCann/Janet Lee
• George O'Connor
• Tricia Rayburn
• Alyssa Sheinmel
• Rita Williams-Garcia
• Maryrose Wood

Following their arrival, they sat on stage in a discussion panel and answered questions from their fans. No matter how silly or embarrassing the question may be, they answered it. Some of them included: "What condiment would you like to be able to pull out of your belly button?" "Have you ever kicked a vending machine?" and "Who would win in a fight, a ninja or a pirate?" Their responses had the audience laughing.

After the discussion panel, the authors divided up into separate rooms for breakout sessions. Each author sat with their fans, discussing their books and the importance of reading and writing.

"It's wonderful that they come out like this to meet their fans and actually talk with them about how valuable reading is," said a parent of children attending the event.

Barbara Moon, librarian for Suffolk Cooperative Library System, was the supervisor for the event.

"It was wonderful to welcome the authors like we did," said Moon. "To see their fans excited as they are to meet their favorite authors is just great."

In addition to the discussion panel and breakout sessions, 24 lucky fans were selected to have breakfast with their favorite author.

Check the media gallery for of the welcome procession for the authors and for from the event.

Download the movie