Interesting authors at Farragut Book Fest

Sandra ClarkFarragut, Our Town Arts

The annual Farragut Book Fest moved this year to Town Hall after heavy rains left infrastructure problems at Founders Park at Campbell Station. The park at the library is a better site, but the authors and book lovers made Town Hall work for them.

Sponsored by the Farragut Arts & Beautification Committee, this free event features book signings by local authors, storytelling, art activities and entertainment.

We got to four tables during a brief visit:

Danielle “A.D.” Asher

Danielle “A.D.” Asher wrote “My Friend the Sunsphere,” a 44-page children’s book about a kid walking around Knoxville and finding the Sunsphere seeming to follow at every turn. Asher’s wonderful photography makes this book a treat for local and visiting youngsters.

Written in 2018, about the signature structure of the 1982 World’s Fair, the book contains 110 photos of the Sunsphere, of over 1,000 taken. Learn more here.

Jean Leigh Claudette is a made-up name and her books are written by twin sisters, Jean Valentine and Leigh Hartigan. Both were writers before they launched the new project in 2010. Their first book was “The Classified Files of Sweet William Farm, JD’s Adventures Begin.”

JD is a secret agent raccoon who brings bad guys to justice. He’s based on a farm in East Tennessee. Since the first, the sisters have written several books for kids and youth, including “The Legend of the Flying Snallygaster,” an adventure based on a legend about a dragon-like creature in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn more here. And with the authors being identical twins, they can alternate appearances at book signings and such. Call it a win-win.

Adele Roberts with Sammy the Skunk

Adele Roberts has made Sammy the Skunk a household name. Well, at least Sammy is one of the few skunks with its own website and Facebook page.

Roberts, a teacher, dedicated the first book to her granddaughter. The six books sell for $12 each with price breaks for multiple purchases. Each book contains three stories around Sammy’s adventures in the deep woods. Roberts also sells hand-puppet skunks. Her table was fun.

F.J. Thomas is the pen name of Sweetwater resident Jewel Thomas, who calls herself a Southern gal with a Western heart. She won the Winnie Award for Best Equine Screenplay at the Equus Film Festival.

T.A. Bouk is her partner and sometimes co-writer. They collaborated on her latest children’s book, “Beauford the Patriotic Donkey.” Bouk is a retired racehorse trainer and former professional bull rider.

Thomas is a former OHSA-carded horse-show judge, trainer and instructor. Her articles have appeared in America’s Horse, Horse & Ranch Magazine and Hoofbeats. She writes a motivational and lifestyle blog, Cowgirls with Curves, and the horse-focused writer’s blog, Talking in The Barn.

T. A. Bouk and F.J. Thomas

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