Now read this!
Local authors gather for book signing event that one of them said, ‘screamed Ocala.’
Author J.E. Leak, the author of a series of books, “In The Shadow Of Love,”” In The Shadow Of The Past,” “In The Shadow Of Truth” and “In The Shadow Of Victory,” left, talks with Linda Koontz, center, and Linda Petersen Booher, right, during a book signing event at Koontz Furniture and Design in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, June 6, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.
As it turned out, the five guest authors at a book signing event on June 6 were joined by a couple of surprise—and noted—local penmen.
Micheal Koontz, J.E. Leak, Dave Schlenker, Cynthia Van Heyde and Carlton Reese were the advertised authors for the event, which took place at Koontz Furniture and Design.
“At the last minute, Franz Beard and Buddy Martin, both nationally respected sports writers joined Carlton Reese for their book, ‘The Golden Season,’ about the University of Florida’s latest national basketball championship,” Michael Koontz shared post-event.
Koontz recently released his book, “Pieces of Judith,” which details the life of a neglected child with a dissociative disorder living in the unspoiled beauty of north central Florida in the early 1940s. He is deep into writing a second novel.
As for the book signing event on Saturday, Koontz said he thought it “was wonderful” and that when he later asked the other authors about it, “they all seemed to be satisfied too.”
“I said that I shamelessly associated myself with those successful writers,” Koontz said by phone, letting out a laugh. “But it worked!”
“I have one book out and have gotten good results, which is thrilling to me, but I’m not a drawing card so it was nice to honor the others and sort of ride on their coattails. I’ve been really amazed because the hardest thing for a new writer is to get people to read the book. And now I’m really excited about how much they seem to like it when they do,” he shared.
Dave Schlenker is well known in the area in part for his years of writing and editing with the “Ocala Star-Banner,” among other publications. He has penned the books “Little Man Big Mouth” and “Columns, Confessions and a Brain Cyst.”
“This event screamed Ocala,” Schlenker said of the book signing. “Not only were there local authors with deep roots to the city, but we held it in a furniture store that has been in existence since 1919. Just a wonderful event. Kudos to Michael Koontz.”
Koontz said people hung around and talked with the writers during the evening.
“It was a very interesting evening and an exciting group of people because everybody was there for the same reason; they were interested in writing and writers. It was a great crowd,” he noted.
“We also had other writers contact us asking to participate, but it was too late, so we had to say no. Maybe there is a need for more of this,” he added.
Many of the author’s works are available through online outlets such as Amazon. Koontz’ book also is available at the furniture showroom at 3111 S. Pine Ave., Ocala
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