WHIPPANY, N.J. (Morris County) — The Hanover Township Cultural Arts Committee will host a free author panel featuring four published writers on Sunday, Oct. 11, offering a look at the writing and publishing process.
The program will begin at 2 p.m. in the main meeting room of the Hanover Township municipal building, 15 N. Jefferson Road.
Authors Jessika Caruso, Robert Grayson, Mark Kramer and Ken Schept will discuss their backgrounds, inspiration for their books, the writing process and the challenges involved in publishing their work.
Ed Abelew of Cedar Knolls, chair of the Hanover Township Cultural Arts Committee, said the program is intended to give attendees a better understanding of what goes into writing a book.
“All too often books are enjoyed cover to cover with little thought about the painstaking process each author goes through. Writing is an art and, as such, we in Hanover’s Cultural Arts Committee want to expand the understanding of the authoring process. We selected local authors with diverse content and publishing experiences to present their challenges. We hope all attendees enjoy the program.”
Caruso is the author of the “Rainbows of Revolution” series, a historical fiction saga set in Revolutionary War-era New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The series currently includes “Perpetual Rainbows” and “The Promise of Spring” and follows young patriot Elara Whitfield as the American Revolution reaches Morristown and she becomes a spy for the Continental Army.
Caruso has worked in libraries, publishing, ministry and education and holds degrees in writing, library science and theology. She lives in the greater Morristown area.
Grayson, a Randolph resident and former award-winning daily newspaper reporter, has written numerous books for young adults, including histories, career guides and biographies. He has also contributed five stories to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and written magazine articles on topics including crime victims’ rights and animals.
Grayson has also worked as a radio and cable television host and in public relations.
Kramer, a Rockaway resident and former Cedar Knolls resident, is the author of “Borscht Belt Boy: Recollections of a Hotel Brat.” The book draws on his experiences growing up in the Catskill Mountains, where his family owned and operated a hotel in the Borscht Belt.
The book recounts life at the resort during the 1950s and 1960s, including stories about guests, employees and entertainers. Kramer has presented programs about the history of the Borscht Belt to organizations including the Sullivan County Historical Society and the Borscht Belt Museum.
Schept grew up in New Jersey and attended Verona High School before earning his MFA from Columbia University. His debut children’s picture book, “A Gift of Feathers,” was published in January 2023 by Feiwel & Friends, a Macmillan imprint.
Now a Hoboken resident, Schept has also written three unpublished novels and serves as president of Columbia Fiction Foundry, an alumni group that offers writing workshops and online programs about the craft and business of writing.
The Hanover Township Cultural Arts Committee coordinates cultural and performing arts programs, including art, dance, music and theater, for the community.
