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Tale author an old hand at public speaking events
But former college professor prefers Q&A's over long lectures
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
By Ben Beagle
bbeagle@batavianews.com
Paul L. Gaus taught chemistry at the College of Wooster for more than
30 years so talking in front of a library full of people shouldn't be
a problem for the featured author in this year's "A Tale for Three
Counties" community reading project.
But readers of his novels, including this year's Tale title Separate From the World, need not fear a long lecture when the author makes a series of visits to Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties this week.
Gaus, for one, says that's not his style.
"One of the things that I find audiences enjoy are stories of the people I've met over the years in Holmes County," Gaus says of the community where he has set each of his six books -- and which has the world's largest community of Amish. "What I do with that is I've chosen my stories to illustrate one thing or another about Amish society. So I mix a little bit of history with a little bit of personal experience."
He also looks forward to audience questions.
"I try not to go too long with any remarks I have," he says. "Sometimes the most interesting things arise as an answer to a question or an experience someone else has had with the Amish."
So bring plenty of questions. There'll be time to ask them during four talks and book signings Thursday through Saturday as part of the reading project.
The first two public programs are scheduled for Thursday: 1 p.m. in Room T102 at Genesee Community College, 1 College Rd., Batavia, which will be followed by a reception with Amish-style refreshments such as cookies, lemonade and ice tea; and 7 p.m. at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia.
Similar programs are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave., Medina; and 2 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium at Perry Elementary/Middle School, 50 Olin Ave., Perry. The latter program is hosted by the Perry Public Library with assistance from other Wyoming County libraries. Admission to each program is free.
Copies of Separate From the World, and two other Gaus mysteries -- A Prayer for the Night and Cast a Blue Shadow -- will be available for purchase at each program.
Readers can expect a talk of about 30 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period and a book signing.
"The Q-and-A's tend to be lively because most people have read the author's book ahead of time and are very interested in how and why things were done the way they were," says Leslie DeLooze, reference and community services librarian at Richmond.
DeLooze also notes that the book signing is a good time for people to have a short conversation with the author.
Separate From the World is the sixth book in Gaus' Ohio Amish mystery series. The story finds college history professor Michael Branden investigating two suspicious deaths -- that of an Amish dwarf and a female college student. Branden also discovers a rift between two Amish factions in Holmes County, one that favors the use of medicine and is participating in a college study of genetic traits particular to the Amish community, and another that rejects any outside influence.
Since January, readers in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties have been reading Separate from the World. They've discussed the books at library-organized events, local book shops and other discussion groups.
Now, they get to talk directly to the author.
Gaus says he expects to talk about Amish culture in general, Holmes County in particular and, of course, his books.
"I have a number of approaches to the stories and to Amish culture," he says. "I don't think I'll have any trouble bringing anything to each group that I meet."
He also anticipates that some people will be interested in creative writing as an endeavor, and he's prepared remarks about the good habits of successful writers.
David Sanders, director of Ohio University Press, which has published each of Gaus' mysteries, said the author's education career makes him a very capable speaker.
"He's very deliberate," Sanders says. "He conducts himself very professorial, but he does so with each audience in mind. He's a gentle man, a lot like the people in his books. He's very gracious."
Gaus says he has made frequent visits to small towns and cities that have adopted one of his books for projects and discussions, but he says Tale is easily the biggest program he's been involved in.
"People often have stories of their own to share," he says. "That's the fun stuff, that's always the fun stuff. I look forward to that."
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation