Authors to read works inspired by the river

ALEXANDRIA BAY — David Madden is packing his bags and preparing his voices as the featured author at the gathering of "River Authors" on Saturday at Macsherry Library, 112 Walton St.

Mr. Madden, Black Mountain, N.C., will join local authors Raymond J. "Skip" Couch, Anthony Mollica and Paul Reichert.

Mr. Madden, 77, was director of the creative writing program at Louisiana State University from 1968 to 1994 and is now LSU's Robert Penn Warren professor emeritus of creative writing. His stories have been reprinted in numerous college textbooks and twice in "Best American Short Stories." He's also the topic of "David Madden: A Writer for All Genres," consisting of original essays by scholars on his writings.

"I am also an actor, so when I read from my works, I create a dramatic context and stay in character," Mr. Madden said.

Two of Mr. Madden's books, 1978's "The Suicide's Wife" and "Abducted by Circumstance," published in April, have Thousand Islands settings and themes. ""Abducted" is set in the areas around Clayton and Watertown.

Carol, the main character in "Abducted by Circumstance," while visiting Tibbets Point Lighthouse in Cape Vincent, witnesses the abduction of a woman in her 50s, apparently by a serial rapist and killer stalking the region.

Carol projects her own emotions into the abductee's experiences. She speaks directly, sometimes out loud, to the abducted woman, Glenda, the wife of a local doctor, as she imagines her ordeal, giving her encouragement and advice.

"I begin at the beginning of the novel in my own voice as author, then shift to Carol's voice," Mr. Madden said of his scheduled reading, noting he does not mimic the sound of a female voice. "I later dramatize the voices of Glenda and the rapist. So I do five voices."

Mr. Madden, who visited the north country in 2007 to research "Abducted," has scheduled a vacation in the area with his wife, Robbie, around the library event.

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Other authors to read and talk about their works:

■ Raymond I. "Skip" Couch of Clayton is a veteran diver, a founding member of the Clayton Diving Club and author of several diving guides centered on the Thousand Islands.

■ Anthony S. Mollica Jr., Cherry Island, is the author of 11 books, including "Classic Boats of the Thousand Islands," "Building Chris-Craft: Inside the Factories," "Dodge Boats" and "Boldt Castle — The Story of an Unfinished Dream." His articles also have been published in various marine publications.

■ Paul Reichert, a summer resident of Alexandria Bay, is the author of the fictional "The Lemonade Ripple: An Adventure in Philanthropy."

The story features 5-year-old Caroline, who is inspired to start a lemonade stand to raise money for a friend in need. The act sets off a ripple that spreads throughout the town. It culminates in a townwide paddle race, similar to the Foundation for Community Betterment race held annually in Alexandria Bay.

The book is based on the mission of the foundation, which Mr. Reichert's wife, Jennifer Curley Reichert, co-founded in 2000. All proceeds of the book's sale will go to the foundation, a national organization dedicated to community enhancement.