Raphael Vineyard & Winery (39390 Main Road, Peconic, 631-765-1100) hosts an afternoon of books, wine and panel discussions for literary lovers at the first annual Indie Author Day Book Fair, taking place on Sunday, Nov. 15 from noon to 4 p.m.
The free event will bring together 18 independent authors representing nine genres: romance, fantasy, thriller, mystery, memoir, self-help, children’s literature, women’s fiction and historical fiction. Featured authors include Effie Kammenou, Elizabeth Hinton, Stefanie Nici, Kara Emerson, David Mammina, J.R. Geraci, Lindsey Cacy, Elyse Salpeter, Selin-Senol Akin, Catherine Hughes, Melanie Murphy, Bernadette Walsh, Mary Ellen Sherlock, Robert Johnson, Andrea Peponakis, April Day Garcia and Christina Testut. All 18 authors at the book fair are from Long Island except for Kara Emerson, a romance novelist from Virginia.
Visitors can meet the authors and attend genre-based panel discussions moderated by Jocelyn Manning Kaleita, owner of A Book Place (489 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-405-7902) between 12:15-3:40 p.m.
Local vendors will be on hand to offer books, sourdough bread, candles, book-themed products and custom Celtic creations, and giveaways and raffles are part of the agenda as well.
The fair was the brainchild of Effie Kammenou, a longtime member of Raphael’s wine club who approached wine club manager and special events coordinator Julie Petrocelli Vergari with the idea.
Raphael Vineyard & Winery’s tasting room. (Photo courtesy of Raphael Vineyard & Winery)
“Both of my daughters got married at the vineyard — one just recently this September,” Kammenou says. “If you know Julie, those personal ties to the vineyard make you part of their family.”
Kammenou, an award-winning author of seven novels, is a first-generation Greek American who draws on stories passed down by her parents in her work.
“I thought an event like this would be mutually beneficial to the authors and the winery. If I wasn’t an author, I most definitely would be an event planner. I love hosting beautiful parties,” says Kammenou, who has organized events at her niece’s bookstore, Book & Mortar in Mt. Sinai.
Kammenou and Petrocelli Vergari came up with the idea of a signature drink for the event and created the “Plot Twist,” a sangria-based drink with fresh apple, which will be available to attendees. Raphael’s tasting room will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with wine and small plates available for purchase; menu items have been renamed with literary puns for the occasion.
Admission to the book fair is free but advance registration is required; click here to register.
