Ulster Publishing,
ALMANAC
Aug. 18, 2005
Hometown girl makes good, rakes muck
Erin Quinn unveils inside tale of gay marriage brouhaha at
Ariel Books in New Paltz
By Anne Pyburn
New Paltz Times scribe Erin Quinn found herself with a tiger
by the tail last year, when Mayor Jason West took the bold
step of marrying gay couples on the blacktop of Village Hall
- right out there in front of God and everybody, including
a ravenous pack of Big Media. A hometown girl, Quinn was able
to ferret out and track aspects of the story that the sound-bite
mavens wouldn't have known where to begin with. Those who followed
her coverage of this chapter of local history in the New Paltz
Times and Woodstock Times got a taste; but, as often happens,
there was even more going on behind the scenes.
Pride and Politics: The Tale of a Big Story in a Small Town
is provocative, funny and down-to-earth, and a matchless treat
for those of us who have at least a nodding acquaintance with
the setting and the characters. Written by a keenly observant
and enormously compassionate woman, it's bound to appeal to
many, many people who've never set foot in Ulster County.
For us lucky homies, it's party time indeed. The familiar
faces and places take on a fresh luster, bringing a new awareness
of what a cool place this really is. And the place to be on
Saturday, August 20 at 7 p.m. is definitely Ariel Booksellers,
one of many locations that feature in the story. Authors' events
at Ariel are always special; this one, the debut of a gifted
wordsmith who's slaked her lust for literature there for many
a year and a book that taps the very arteries of the village
itself, promises to be a first-class blowout. One wonders how
many of the characters (and they sure are characters!) will
stop by in the flesh.
The book is published locally, too: the first literary venture
to emerge from the Hudson Valley Media Arts Center. There's
more information at their website, hvmac.com. Call (845) 255-8041
for further details on Saturday's booksigning.
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