Book Talk & Signing: "Shellback" by Karen Foresti Hempson

Name: Book Talk & Signing: "Shellback" by Karen Foresti Hempson
Start: 2024-11-20T18:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-11-20T20:00:00-05:00
Location: NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center

Schedule

Wed Nov 20 2024 at 06:30 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center | Auburn, NY

Join author Karen Foresti Hempson (www.karenhempsonauthor.com) as she presents her latest work, "Shellback." The first half of this young adult historical fiction takes place in Upstate New York during the twentieth century. The story focuses on a young boy named Francis (or“Fudz”), a child of Italian immigrant parents, who struggles through hard times of the Great Depression, and Prohibition. His goal is to “get outta here” and escape poverty. The second half traces his journey as a young sailor through World War II Pacific battles. Fictitious characters and events are based on true-to-life individuals and happenings.
This presentation will include a special look at artifacts relating to the Pacific Theater of WWII from the author’s personal collection and the collection of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art. The book talk will begin at 6:30 PM at the Equal Rights Heritage Center at 25 South St. on Wednesday, November 20. Admission is free, though donations will be greatly appreciated. Copies of "Shellback" will be available to purchase, and the author will remain onsite to sign books following the presentation. Contact Geoffrey Starks at [email protected] or (315) 253-8051 with any questions.
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About the Author
Karen Hempson is a resident of Skaneateles and a former lecturer of Social Studies Education at SUNY Cortland. She has published numerous written works over the years, including the book Bean Pickers, American Immigrant Portraits (2019). Hempson has received numerous awards and nominations for her writing from the National League of American Pen Women, the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, and Women on Writing.
In writing her most recent novel, Shellback, Hempson recalls:
“As a retired professor of social studies education, I realized that readers learn best through personal narratives by folks who were “there.” Utilizing oral histories, diaries, news reports, and personal accounts, I brought to life the struggles, creativity, and courage faced by numerous twentieth-century individuals.”