For the love of libraries

Alex Coolman

Novelists are famously stingy with their time. They’re known for

skimping on publicity appearances and cutting short interviews in keeping

with the single-sentence explanation Gustave Flaubert, the author of

“Madame Bovary,” gave for his success: “I stayed home and wrote.”

When it comes to libraries, though, it’s another matter altogether.

For those repositories of literature and learning, novelists are willing

to subscribe, however briefly, to an entirely different motto: “I went

out and shook as many hands as possible.”

The Costa Mesa Library foundation is working to drum up enthusiasm

(and, of course, money) for a new central library, and writers are

queuing up to lend an ink-stained hand. Laguna Beach novelist T.

Jefferson Parker, Costa Mesa novelist Jo-Ann Mapson and famed fabulist

Ray Bradbury (a resident of Los Angeles) will all appear in the weeks

ahead in “Author! Author!” a series of benefit readings for the cause, to

be held at the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

For Mapson, whose works include the Los Angeles Times bestseller “The

Wilder Sisters,” participating in the benefit is a way of recognizing the

important role the library played in her childhood.

“I read every book there was in the children’s library in Fullerton,”

Mapson said. Some of the favorite titles of the artist as a young woman

were books from the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series, along with the tale

“The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.”

Mapson explained that the time she spent with her nose in such volumes

was a major influence on her career path.

“The library was one of the reasons I became a writer,” she said. “I

strongly believe in supporting it.”

Mapson said she plans to read at the benefit a selection from her

work-in-progress, which does not yet have a title.

Parker, a writer known for such titles as “Little Saigon” and the New

York Times bestseller “Laguna Heat,” had a similar explanation for his

participation in the library drive. While he is known for vividly

capturing the settings of Southern California in his work, it was at the

library that books first captured him.

“I was a library aficionado when I was a kid,” Parker said. “Mom

always signed me up for the library reading program when I was a kid, and

I had to read the 4,000 books a summer or whatever it was.”

Parker -- who wrote his first novel while working as a reporter for

the Daily Pilot -- noted that the resources of libraries continue to play

an important role in his life.

“As a writer, I always call up the reference desk and they help me

out,” he said. “I’m a believer.”

Parker was a little vague about his plans for the upcoming reading

(“I’ll come up with something,” he said), but mentioned that he is

working on a new novel, “Red Light,” to be published in May.

“I always try to do what I can to help out libraries,” Parker said.

“It’s a terrific cause.”

Bradbury, whom most readers know for his imaginative science fiction

tales like “The Illustrated Man” and “The Martian Chronicles,” could not

be reached for comment, but Margy Johnston, the co-chair of the benefit,

was happy to supply his motive for being involved in the readings.

“He supports libraries,” Johnston said. “That’s why he’s doing this.

He feels very strongly that every community should have a good library.”

Sandy Genis, foundation president, said that around $15 million will

be needed to build a new library. Given that the foundation only expects

to raise $4,000 from the series of readings, their greatest benefit may

be simply raising community awareness about the importance of the

campaign.

“We are really very much in the beginning stages,” Johnston said.

“This is our first major fund-raiser.”

WHAT: “Author! Author!” Readings by T. Jefferson Parker, Jo-Ann Mapson

and Ray Bradbury

WHERE: The Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 West 19th St.

WHEN: Parker reads at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Mapson and Bradbury read Oct.

13 and Nov. 17, respectively.

HOW MUCH: Tickets to the entire series are $40 or $15 for a single

reading. Student tickets are $20 for the series or $7.50 for a single

reading.

TELEPHONE: (949) 650-4846