The Friends of the Goldthwaite Library featured 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 benefitted the library with ticket sales for the luncheon, sale of extra food and individual contributions in the amount of $1,241.00. Janice Smith, President of The Friends of the Goldthwaite Library, welcomed everyone and introduced the speaker after the meal.

Lisa autographed her novels and greeted people before and after the luncheon. She talked about her newest release, Firefly Island, that is about a family moving from a northeastern city of the U.S. that is largely populated and convenient to everything to a small town in the hill country of Texas. Some of her own life experiences is weaved in part in some of her novels and Firefly Island relates to when Lisa, her husband and small son moved from Wash- ington D.C. to the small town of Lometa, Texas.

When writing a novel, Lisa writes around 7 to 10 pages a day, completes it with editing in six months and it takes a year to be published. Each new book has a cover that is not revealed until published which is a delightful surprise and promotes what’s inside. Dandelion Summer, published 2011, was praised by New York Times bestselling author Karen White as “A story beautifully told, with richly drawn characters that will...make you want to laugh and cry.” Dandelion Summer is Lisa’s favorite novel. For more information, visit her Web site at www.lisawingate.-com.

Donna Hamm, Advisory Board member, gave an update on the task of pursuing a new facililty for the Goldthwaite Library starting in 2006. The contract has been signed and they expect to move the Library to a new location in downtown Goldthwaite in April. Carol LaHue’s name was drawn to win the door prize that included one of Lisa Wingate’s novels.

The winner of a beautiful quilt on display at the Luncheon was Jane Toppert.

A large refrigerator magnet was available to those attending the luncheon that explains why you should read Firefly Island. One of the reasons is - “fiction that’s good for the soul.

Be inspired!”