Olney Local Author Panel - In-person

at the Olney Library

Join Olney Library for a local author panel. Their novels span historical fiction to psychological thriller!

Olney Library is very pleased to welcome local authors ANNE ECHOLS, CHERYL FAGBEMI and J. HERMAN KLEIGER for an author's panel. Each author has recently published a new work of fiction, all available on Olney Library's Local Author Shelf. During the program, each will provide an overview/background of their book and give a short reading. 

• Anne Echols: Roland's Labyrinth is a story set in 1400s Provence about a young, passionate doctor who falls in love with a mentally ill young woman—and soon finds himself immersed in a web of danger, deceit, and mystery. For fans of Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders.
• Cheryl Fagbemi: Bad Seed: The Midnight Cries of an Island Girl offers a gripping, emotionally charged story of trauma, resilience, and the enduring power of truth. Perfect for readers who crave intense romance, psychological depth, and unforgettable drama.
  
• J. Herman Kleiger: Tears Are Only Water tells the story of Carmine Luedke, a shy, narcoleptic bookkeeper who hides from the world and comforts himself by reciting arcane mathematical equations and proofs. Unable to stay awake during the day, he works through the night balancing the books. But suddenly, the numbers aren’t adding up…. Like Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night, the characters in this novel grapple with their emotional scars, forcing readers to ponder whether it's better to confront their past or bury it.

Q&A and light refreshments to follow. Copies of the authors' books will be available for purchase/signing.  

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BUT SEATING IS LIMITED. Hope to see you!

BIOS
ANNE ECHOLS is the coauthor (with Marty Williams) of two nonfiction books, Between Pit and Pedestal: Women in the Middle Ages and An Annotated Index of Medieval Women. Her research for those projects inspired her to go beyond historical facts and imagine the fictional stories of ordinary women from the Middle Ages. After earning a BA and master’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Anne enjoyed a long career of teaching English to high school students with language learning disabilities. Her husband, Russ, and she have two adult children. Recently retired, she is grateful for the opportunity to divide her time between Silver Spring, Maryland, where her grandchildren live, and Atlanta, Georgia.

From the moment she could hold a book, CHERRY FAGBEMI was captivated by the magic of storytelling. Growing up in Jamaica, her childhood fascination with fantastical worlds and characters sparked her lifelong passion for writing, leading her on an extraordinary journey to becoming a published author. Whether Cheryl is penning stories for children, exploring teenage life, or delving into human emotion, each word she writes aims to educate, entertain, and inspire her readers. With faith and determination, she is dedicated to advancing her writing journey, creating stories that educate, entertain, and enlighten readers of all ages. Cherry Fagbemi is a past member of the Olney Writer's Group.

Born and raised in Denver, J. HERMAN KLEIGER journeyed from the Rocky Mountains to the New England coast. Eventually, he discovered that psychology and psychoanalysis satisfied his interest in the private struggles and conflicts that make us human: “People and their stories have constantly amazed and inspired me.” James has authored and edited six professional books. As a practicing psychologist, his passion for listening to people tell their stories ripens with age. Unable to resist the play of imagination, James published his debut novel, The 11th Inkblot, in 2020 and Tears Are Only Water in 2023. Writing fiction provides a space for deciphering intriguing psychological concepts, creating quirky, interesting characters, and humanizing their struggles and resiliency. James is a current member of the Olney Writer's Group.

Questions about this program? Contact Olney Library at 240-773-9545.

Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, MD, Inc.

Accommodation Requests

To request an accommodation, contact the library branch where you want the accommodation. If they are unable to help, or if you need an accommodation for an online resource or event, complete our Accommodation Request Form online or call Library Administration at 240-777-0002.

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