Creativity will be in the spotlight when the Manheim Community Library hosts a Local Authors Fair on Saturday, March 28. The event will be held at the library, located in the Kreider Farms Cultural Center, 547 N. Penryn Road, Manheim, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We have a list of 11 authors who plan on attending: L. Ryan Storms, Gideon Cope, Jeannette DiLouie, Peter Belz, Heather Stigall, Elizabeth Andrews, Lindsay Bandy, Raven Eckman, John K. Williams, Stephen Nicholas and our own library director, LaTrobe Barnitz, who will be giving a breakout session talk on the journey to his novels being published," said Connor Lutz, library assistant and adult programming staff member.

Tables will be set up around the library for authors to showcase and sell their books. Breakout sessions will feature authors giving informational talks, hosting question-and-answer sessions with patrons or offering short readings from their works. The breakout sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Gideon Cope and will conclude at 2:30 p.m. with LaTrobe Barnitz.

Each of the authors will bring a unique perspective to the event, Lutz said, highlighting a few of the participants.

Gideon is only 8 years old, but he's the published author of "The Squirrel Who Was Scared of Heights," a story about a squirrel overcoming his fears.

"He loves storytelling and has even been on author panels with adult authors," Lutz said. "He plans to give a breakout session speech about the process of being published as an 8-year-old."

DiLouie, who runs Innovative Editing, is the author of "Maiden America," a historical fiction novel set in 1776 that follows 17-year-old Abigail Carpenter as she deals with the British occupation of New York City.

"She plans to give a breakout session on how research can destroy prejudice and the process of research for her historical fiction," Lutz shared.

Storms is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, the Eastern PA chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), the Alliance of Independent Authors and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).

"With a background in science and business, she writes everything from adult to young adult to picture books," Lutz said. "Her book 'Marit Unsanctioned' was a Young Adult finalist in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She will be giving a breakout session on her creative process, as well as destructive comparisons in writing, such as comparing your rough draft to a published novel."

Bandy offers writing workshops, runs an award-winning public library-based teen magazine and volunteers with the Eastern PA Chapter of SCBWI.

"Her book 'Inevitable Fate' was the IBPA Silver Medal winner in 2024," Lutz remarked. "It's about a 17-year-old art student who falls in love with a mysteriously familiar girl. He realizes she's about to die. Again. If he can't put the pieces of their past together in time to save her, he'll lose her - and himself - forever."

Lutz explained that the idea for the fair came about during an adult programming meeting at the library.

"I had brought up that we had a few local authors in before at our old location, but only one at a time to do book signings and the like, so I suggested that we have a 'local authors day' where we invite a plethora of local authors that were willing to attend, to let them sell their works and to be able to meet with the patrons that are interested in their works face to face," he said.

He hopes people will consider stopping by to learn more about local talent.

"Whether you're an aspiring author, an avid reader, someone who's curious to see what kind of books are being written around our area or just someone looking for something to do on a Saturday, this will be the event for you!" he said. "We have such a wonderful variety of authors that there will be something for everyone. Authors of children's picture books, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, memoirs, biographies and more will be attending."

No registration is required to attend the Local Authors Fair. The library will open at 9 a.m. on March 28, but the fair will not begin until 10 a.m.