Gallery begins Fall lecture series with author Arleen Mercorella

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery resumes its schedule of Coffee With the Authors events with a presentation by Arleen Mercorella on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. Mercorella’s book, titled A Matter of Survival, the Story of Frances, is the poignant story of her own mother’s  challenging life and descent into Alzheimer’s disease.

From the time Frances was born, the odds were stacked against her. She was born to Italian immigrants in 1917; her father resented her for being a girl, and her mother resented her for being born at all.

And when a rift in the family left the girl and her mother alone and penniless, things managed to get even worse: she wound up in an orphanage, lonely and scared.

But the same girl who spent her formative years facing feelings of abandonment and isolation managed to grow into a woman full of positivity and gratitude, overcoming astounding obstacles and never showing a hint of bitterness. Mercorella handles her tale with particular grace.

The event is free, but seating is limited so reservations are required. Call the gallery at 910.575.5999 to hold your spot or sign up online.

Upcoming Coffee With the Authors events include:

October 12. Paul Grimshaw (Travelers of the Gray Dawn and Voyagers of the Gray Dawn) Both well-reviewed books involve time travel and elements of the U.S. Civil War (more so in Travelers). Voyagers, which is loosely based on the legend of the Philadelphia Experiment, is primarily set on the East Coast of the U.S. during World War II. 

November 9. Ann Ipock (Life is Short, Pack Your Bags NOW!) Ann Ipock is an awarding-winning Southern humorist and speaker. Her sharp but gentle humor is a delight. This is her fourth novel about her approach to life.

December 14. Dana Ridenour (Behind the Mask and Beyond the Cabin)  Dana Ridenour is a retired FBI agent. She spent most of her career as an FBI undercover operative. Her first novel, Behind The Mask, is fiction but based on her personal experiences working as an agent. Beyond The Cabin, the second novel in her FBI undercover series, is set in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Both have earned her the Hal Bernard Best Novel Award presented by the Southeastern Writers Association.

About Sunset River Marketplace

Sunset River Marketplace showcases work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists, and houses some 10,000 square feet of art work in virtually every genre. Custom framing, painting and pottery classes and art workshops are also offered through the gallery. Since opening its doors in 2002, Sunset River Marketplace has supported not only the visual arts, but literary and performing arts, as well. It has become a popular community center and art hub for both NC’s Brunswick County and nearby Horry County, SC.

Sunset River Marketplace is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 910-575-5999 or visit the website: www. staging.careful-crib.flywheelsites.com. For daily updates, “like” the gallery’s Facebook page.