Birthday party brings writers, musicians in Fairfield

Originally published in the Daily Republic on April 09 , 2015 By Ryan McCarthy
Musicians from the Young Artists Conservancy played, State Assemblyman Jim Frazier spoke and after the birthday celebration, Fairfield resident Lincoln Beals, 78, talked about writing his first book.
“It’s exhausting,” he said. “I had no idea.”
He was one of 15 local authors at the Solano County Library Foundation event marking 20 years since the group’s beginning in 1994.
The foundation has provided nearly $4 million in funding for literacy programs. The birthday event, sponsored by Bounty Books, was held at the Wooden Valley Winery on Suisun Valley Road.
Gerard Parker, Ben Mendiola and Avalon Cook, from the artists conservancy in Vacaville, played music. Frazier, D-Oakley, said that as mayor and city councilman in Oakley he gave half his salary to the libraries.
Beals, who wrote the historical novel “Take the High Road: An Irish Odyssey” about the O’Boyle and O’Donnell families, has a second book following in the series.
“Where it ends up, I don’t know,” he said.
The Fairfield resident, who can trace his family’s American roots back to 1638, is of mostly English ancestry but is sympathetic to the Irish.
“Bring your Kleenex,” he said of reading the book. “It’s teary.”
Writing a book is its own challenge – the marketing and promotion that follows is another, Beals recounted.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” he said.
But completing “Take the High Road” was satisfying and Beals’ advice to others interested in writing a book is basic.
“Keep writing. Keep reading,” he said.
Fairfield resident Carrie Hinojosa, who attended the library foundation event, bought the book “Start Here” by Jennifer Grimes.
“It’s supporting literacy,” Hinojosa said. “That’s very huge.”
Constance Boulware, president of the foundation, noted 141 adults are on a waiting list in Solano County for a tutor to help improve their reading.
A Wednesday orientation for tutors will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Call 784-1526 for more information, said Michalle Shown-Rodriguez, executive director of the foundation.