“Why do I have to travel so FAR to find a decent Authors’ Lunch?” 

Ten-years-ago, San Clementean Betty Limberg asked that question of several friends. When she asked San Clemente Friends of the Library President Rachael Mitchell, she found a kindred soul, and within a year, they formed a committee and an Authors’ Lunch became a reality in San Clemente.

Through the years, the committee has worked to improve their creation, and at 11:30am on February 28, 2009, the 9th Annual San Clemente Friends of the Library Authors’ Luncheon will be held at Pacific Golf and Country Club, on La Pata.

Once again, a diverse trio of authors will bring their tales of hard work, serendipity and native talent all coming together to produce a book. Lisa See, who spoke to record crowds here in 2001, will return to speak of her current best-seller Peony in Love, as well as her upcoming novel. On Gold Mountain, her first book, told the story of her 100 year old grandfather’s journey to America and the trials he experienced here, culminating in his being the godfather of Los Angeles’ Chinatown. In addition, she has also authored a Red Princess Chinese mystery series, and a book, Half and Half, with stories by several Americans of mixed heritage.

Karen Essex’s focus has been on bringing the ancient worlds of Greece and Egypt to light in a series of novels, the most recent of which, Stealing Athena, follows the tale of the Elgin marbles’ transfer to England. Her novel Leonardo’s Swans, a runaway best-seller in Italy, focused on daVinci’s battling models during the period when he worked in Milan. Her biographical novels on Egypt include Kleopatra and Pharoah. Ms Essex also has written several screenplays for the movies.

Nina Revoyr’s family infuses her books, too. Born in Japan to a Japanese mother and white American father, she carries into her stories the pride, apartness and longing this creates. Her newest novel is The Age of Dreaming, about a Japanese film star in the early days of Hollywood. The Necessary Hunger, her first novel, deals with growing up in a multi-racial combined family. And Southland, set in Los Angeles, is a story of race, love, murder and history with a Japanese-American woman as protagonist. b

Reservation forms for this event will be available the last week in November. Contact Sue Peltz at 361-5789.