Authors meet, share secrets at Seaford Library

The tale of a weathered killer in a cat-and-mouse game with the cops met an anthology of spiritual reflections. A children’s interactive bathtime journey met the strife two manatees faced finding their own self-esteem. A comic series following fairy tale characters met a breast cancer survivor’s own fairy tale for her son. These tales, among others, were shared by the local authors who wrote them at the Seaford Public Library’s first “Author’s Meet and Greet” on Jan. 22.

“We all have a story to tell,” said Joseph Satriano, of Oceanside. “It’s great to be able to come together and share them with each other.”

Satriano is author of the novel, “In Sickness and In Health,” which he wrote under the pen name J.S. Russo as a dedication to his wife and mother who both died of cancer. Satriano was inspired by their battles to write the novel and establish The Susan Satriano Foundation. The organization grants scholarships to graduating seniors who have a parent fighting or who have fought cancer. The foundation is funded by the novel’s sales and has raised $400,000 for 700 kids across the nation. Satriano explained how the novel was so successful because of how many people know someone who has or had cancer.

Other writers shared Satriano’s strife to inspire and connect with their readers. Romaine Hoffman, of Seaford, wrote a story that both informs its readers about ecology and the environment around them, but also reminds them about universal human lessons. “High-Fiving Flippers” is a story about two manatees with a struggle to find trainers so they could be as beloved as dolphins. The novel ends with them acting as trainers for the other sea animals. “What I really focused on was self-esteem,” said Hoffman.

These local authors shared their stories of having an idea and turning it into a novel, some of which are top rated on Kindle, read at schools or awaiting their sequel. Author Linda Maria Frank spoke about her mystery novels that were inspired by her love of “Nancy Drew” and her time teaching forensic science at Seaford Middle and High schools.

Maria Salonia Belucci wrote her children’s story, “Sleep Fairy,” to capture the tale she made up for her son when he had trouble sleeping. While she struggled with breast cancer, she wrote the story and was able to get it published through a support group that allowed cancer patients to work with successful authors.

Other stories shared at the event ranged from hard-boiled thrillers to farcical comedies. Writers Dina Santorelli and Robert Dircks bonded over aspects of writing such as publishing techniques, marketability, and finding out they both went to the same school, Hofstra University.

Santorelli’s novel is a suspenseful crime story called “Baby Grand” and Dircks’ novel included a self-help spoof titled, “Unleash the Sloth,” and a science fiction/comedy titled, “Where the Hell is Tesla?” While both writers wrote about significantly different topics, they did not refrain from bonding over the craft of literature.