By NANCY HILER
The Merrick author was there for more than a book signing for her latest work, "Sleepaway Girls." She came to meet her young fans, to chat with them about the characters she creates, how she became a writer and anything else the girls expressed an interest in.
Calonita was the first of three writers scheduled to take part this summer in a "Beach Bag Book Club," sponsored by the Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick and North Merrick public libraries.
"It's cool to meet the authors," said Madison McGlone, 13, of Bellmore. "You never get to do that."
"It's something different, it's fun, not just a book discussion," explained North Bellmore Library's young adult librarian Jessica Tymecki. She said it was rare for a library event to be this popular among girls of this age group. "We're not going to quiz them about the books. It's just a conversation with your group, with your friends."
Tymecki jointly created the program last year with the Bellmore Memorial Library's Pat Gleiberman, the Merrick Library's Larissa Simonovski and the North Merrick Library's Kelly Rechsteiner.
"It's a very happy team effort," said Simonovski. The author meetings take place in a small house-like annex, making for a warm, cozy setting. "Everybody likes that it's in this separate building," Simonovski said.
The program centers around the colorful beach bags provided to each girl who joins the group, which contain notepads, pens and other goodies, to which they are expected to add any books they plan to read this summer, including selections by the authors they meet.
At each meeting, the girls file into a small room where they sign in, enjoy free snacks, such as brownies and iced tea, and briefly meet the author. Then they move into a larger, charmingly wallpapered room with a fireplace that could pass for an old-time parlor for an informal discussion.
"It's an amazing opportunity for our libraries to get such popular teen authors out to Long Island to discuss their books and their writing with our girls," Tymecki said.
Youngsters had loved the program so much last summer that many had asked during the year if the libraries were going to run it again, she explained. The free program also features raffles, giveaways and discounted books available for purchase.
During the club's first session in June, Calonita planted herself in a comfortable wingchair, while the teenagers sat in rows surrounding her, bubbling over with questions and seeming to hang on her every word.
One youngster asked how she got started writing. "When I was in sixth grade, I kept a journal," she said. "After that, I just never stopped writing."
Another asked what books she likes to read. "I try to stick with things that are light and fun," she replied, "including teen fiction."
With a friendly, chatty manner and with an almost conspiratorial tone, she spoke about the artwork for her book covers. "Each one looks a little like a handbag," she pointed out.
She told the group that the characters she creates are fictional, based on combinations of various personalities she has known and imagines. She told them, however, that she does name her characters after actual people she knows. These have included some of the girls in last summer's book club whose ideas inspired her, and to whom she partly dedicated this latest book.
"Write as much as you can," she advised the aspiring young authors in the room. "And keep everything. I wish I had kept my high school diaries. And don't worry when you have writer's block. Not everyone's going to be creative every day."
Following the session, which included a handful of free raffles and lasted about an hour, Calonita stayed to chat again and to sign books.
"Her books are very realistic," said returning club member Brianna Paoli,13, of Bellmore after the discussion, "and she's like that, too."
"I like the raffles. I like the books. I like everything," her friend Madison McGlone, 13, also of Bellmore, concluded.
This summer's Beach Bag Book Club featured two additional authors. In July, best-selling author Sara Shepard spoke to the group about the latest book in her "Pretty Little Liars" series, "Killer." On Aug. 17, Claudia Gray will discuss "Stargazer," the second book in her best-selling vampire series, "Evernight."
Attendance at all three programs is not required, but is encouraged. Teens interested in participating can sign up at any one of the four local library branches.
The popularity of Beach Bag Book Club has prompted the librarians to consider extending the program through the fall, North Bellmore Library's Tymecki said. "The paranormal is very popular with this age group," she said, "so in September we may have an author who writes about vampires."
Comments about this story? nhiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 234.
