The Friends of the Goldthwaite Library will feature National Bestselling Texas Author Lisa Wingate February 9th at noon at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. The Valentine's Day Author Luncheon will benefit the library with ticket sales for the luncheon, and the profits on sales of Wingate's books. The library welcomes this chance to invite book lovers of all ages to learn the story-behind-the-story of Wingate's latest novel from Bethany House Publishers. The church is located at 1101 Hutchings/4th Street, Goldthwaite.

An always entertaining national speaker, magazine columnist and author, Wingate will talk about Firefly Island and answer questions about her career as an author. Books will be for sale, including some bargain-priced titles, and Lisa will autograph any of her books purchased at the event or brought along from home. Autographed books make great gifts for Valentine's Day, friends who may be under the weather, birthdays and other occasions; so attendees are invited to shop to help the library.

"Years ago, we moved to a ranch in the Hill Country, when through a series of family connections, we were offered a chance to live and work on a ten-thousand acre spread. We knew we'd probably never have the chance to do something like this again; so, much like Mallory and Daniel in the story, we left our professional lives behind and moved, lock, stock, and barrel, bringing our pre-school aged son to a whole new world in the small town of Lometa, Texas." said Wingate. "Mallory's journey from DC congressional aid to blogger and ranch wife is fiction, of course, but I enjoyed sharing some of my own joys and frustrations as she adjusts to life far from the Washington D.C. political scene."

"Every story is part fact and part fiction," admits Wingate. "Some parts of the story are pure creatures of the moment. I found the political scandal that takes place in Firefly Island, while I was sitting next to a small town central Texas mayor at a movie premier. I won't give it away and spoil the story, but when Texans read the book, many of them will recognize something that's taking place right now in their own back yards."

Readers are sure to enjoy Wingate's latest offering, which has already been hailed by Booklist as "harrowing adventure," and a story that "Wingate's many fans, and fans of women's fiction will find this novel about one woman's struggle to discover who she is meant to be deeply satisfying."

Tickets are $10 per person or $75 for a table of 8. Reservations are needed. RSVP by February 1st. Please contact Janice Smith at 325-451-3500.