“Find out what happened at the 12th Annual Author Event in Cheshire CT”

For the last 12 years, the Cheshire Performing & Fine Arts Committee along with Friends of Artsplace, Inc. have presented an author night to promote Art Heals. Each year an author comes to speak about their writing craft and their book. The room is packed with about 200 women, who not only get to listen to the author speak and read from their novel, but also get to ask questions and have the opportunity to meet the author. This year, the featured author was Suzanne Palmieri. She is the inspiring author of four novels: The Witch of Little Italy, I’ll be Seeing You, The Witch of Belladonna Bay, and Empire Girls.

The evening began as the ladies arrived with appetizers and wine to share with their friends at their table. Many of the tables are book club groups who have attended the yearly event for the past 12 years. After some time socializing, a buffet dinner is served, and it is finally time for the evening to begin.

This particular evening, Suzanne Palmieri revealed her success did not come quickly or easily. After dropping out of college, working as a waitress, and being a single mom at 22, she decided to change something. Finally, in 1999, Suzanne earned a master’s degree from Fordham University. Today she is married with two more girls and lives in the New Haven, Connecticut area.

Suzanne explained to the group that she spins a tale of magic within her books because she wants her characters to heal themselves, nurture the child within them, and bring themselves home. She feels this is just as important for all of us, too.

“There is no measure of sorrow. Everyone has it in their own way,” Palmieri said, and many heads in the audience nodded in agreement.

Suzanne wants her books to heal a fracture and be a happy ending.

The evening wrapped up with a question and answer period, and finally a book signing and some time to speak with the author.

Some of Cheshire’s past authors have been Katherine Weber, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Chris Bohjalian, Elinor Lipman, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Stewart O’Nan, Amy Bloom, Brunonia Barry, Lisa Genova, Laura Harrington, and Carol Wallace.

If you want to check out next year’s author, you can join Friends of CPFA/Artsplace for $5.00 in order to get your first chance on buying a ticket. You can call 203-272-ARTS or visit the website at www.cpfa-artsplace.org

This fantastic author night supports the Art Heals program.

Art Heals is a free community outreach program for any Cheshire adult resident experiencing medical, emotional difficulty, or physical difficulties. The art teachers visit in the client’s home for 4 to 6 art lessons. Each visit includes all of the art supplies and lasts about an hour and a half. When the project is complete, it is also framed at no charge by area framers. The clients can choose from the following mediums: acrylic, collage, pencil, watercolor, colored pencil, mask making, multimedia, oil painting, and pen and ink.

“In our experience at Artsplace, we have found that art can have a healing impact on the spirit. If one is diagnosed with a debilitating illness or injury leaving them home-bound … being creative can give new enthusiasm for life.” Joan Pilacarczyk, Director of Art Classes at Artsplace.

So please come support Art Heals and see what happens at the 13^th Author night in Cheshire.

Best Reading,

Lori