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 West Harrison, NY - Harrison author Dave Donelson will be featured at the 18th Annual Westchester Library System (WLS) Book and Author Luncheon, April 16.
He will be speaking about Heart of Diamonds, his recently-released thriller about diamond smuggling in the Congo, as well as about the current humanitarian crisis in the country.
Donelson will be one of four authors on the program. Also appearing will be multiple-award-winning author Laura Lippman, whose latest novel, Life Sentences, is about a memorist who explores a story about a former classmate accused of a heinous crime. Hallie Ephron, author of Never Tell A Lie, a tale about what we know and don't know about the people in our lives. Marek Fuchs, another local author (he lives in Hastings, NY), will be talking about A Cold-Blooded Business, his true crime story of how to get away with murder--literally.
The WLS Book & Author Luncheon is held annually during National Library Week to increase awareness of the many important contributions libraries make to their communities. Donelson, who serves on the WLS board, will also be talking about the vital services libraries provide to their communities. Entergy Nuclear will receive the National Library Week Recognition Award for its continued support of the WLS and its mission to ensure that all Westchester County residents have seamless access to excellent library service. The luncheon is sponsored this year by Con Edison, Entergy, and the H.W. Wilson Foundation.
The event will be held at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown, NY. Ticket are $75 for general admission and $100 for a Library Patron, which includes an author reception at 11:15 AM. Proceeds from the luncheon are devoted to WLS advocacy efforts to raise awareness for the 38 public libraries who are members of the consortium in Westchester County. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 914-231-3226 or at www.westchesterlibraries.org .
Donelson’s novel, Heart of Diamonds, draws heavily on the author’s travels in Africa and extensive research of events in the war-ravaged land at the center of the continent. The book’s plot includes diamond smuggling, civil war in the Congo, intrigue in the White House, as well as a magnificent chase along crocodile-infested rivers, overland through raging gun battles, and into the sky in armed helicopters. One Amazon reviewer said, “There’s enough sometimes-bloody action and intense suspense to please the most demanding thriller addict.”
The novel also addresses the major issues facing the Congo and much of Africa. “More than five million people have died there since 1998—making it the deadliest conflict since World War II,” Donelson says. Donelson writes about rape as a weapon of terror, child soldiers, widespread corruption at all levels of government, and the very sad plight of the hundreds of thousands of refugees from the violence that continues to wrack the nation.
Donelson is a local freelance writer whose byline has appeared in publications as diverse as The Christian Science Monitor, Westchester Magazine, and Disney’s FamilyFun.
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