Books and authors focus of Manteca festival

MANTECA -- Authors from near and far will greet the reading public Saturday at the Great Valley Bookfest.

Admission is free to the event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley, off Highway 120 at Union Road.

Nearly 30 authors will be on hand. The festival will feature a costume parade, writer workshops, music, slam poetry, cooking demonstrations, and sales of books, food and beverages.

The authors include:

• Ken Albala, a University of the Pacific history professor who has written or edited 16 books on food

• Jennie Chadwick of Modesto, who writes action-adventure books for children ages 6 to 10

• Rick Deutsch, author of "One Best Hike: Yosemite's Half Dome"

• Cherish Doll of Salida, who writes magical fiction for middle-schoolers

• Jay Feldman, whose most recent book is "Manufacturing Hysteria: A History of Scapegoating, Surveillance and Secrecy in Modern America"

• Kerry Harris, author of "The Devoted Cook" blog and original owner of Main Street Café & Catering in Manteca

• Peggy Howard of Turlock, author of the murder mystery "Timing is Everything" and the memoir "Losing Brian"

• Loretta Frances Ichord of Hickman, author of children's books on the history of American food and of dentistry

• Linda Knoll of Modesto, author of the kids' picture book "Over in the Valley"

• Robert Kroese of Ripon, author of the novel "Mercury Falls" and two sequels

• William Kent Krueger, a Manteca native who writes the "Cork O'Connor" mystery series

• John Mangelos, owner of the Barnwood Restaurant in Ripon, and his sister, Ella Mangelos-Velthoen of Ripon, authors of "Greek Gourmets" cookbooks

• Michelle A.B. McKenzie of Oakdale, an attorney turned children's author who wrote "Beavers' Big Problem"

• Maureen Minnehan Jones of Oakdale, author of "Wisdom to Wellness: Healing Your Emotional Sufferings so the Physical Healing Can Follow"

• Major Mitchell of Oakdale, author of eight novels and two children's books

• Don Moyer of Ripon, author of "Tight Lines: Observations of an Outdoor Philosopher"

• Valerie Murphy of Oakdale, who writes screenplays, children's stories and poetry

• Claudia Newcorn of Modesto, author of the fantasy books "Crossover" and "Dark Fire"

• Amy Elizabeth Smith, who teaches writing and literature at UOP and wrote the travel memoir "All Roads Lead to Austen: A Year's Journey with Jane"

• Melinda Reynolds Tripp of Turlock, a teacher, writer, mentor and child safety advocate

• Kimberly Van Meter of Oakdale, author of Harlequin romances and other works.

On the Net:For more on the authors, as well as a festival schedule, see www.greatvalleybookfest. org.