Book Lovers Attend Reading in the Park

Berkley and Huntington Woods kids came out in droves Sunday to have their favorite books signed by their authors during Read in the Park at Berkley High School.

Michigan authors Bryan Chick, Won Herbert Yee and Scott Seegert, along with illustrator John Martin and BHS English teacher Natalie Taylor all read excerpts from their books during the event sponsored by the Berkley School District and The Book Beat in Oak Park.

Evan Blake, 7, was eager to have Martin sign his book Vordak the Incomprehensible: How to Grow Up and Rule the World.

“It’s all about ruling the world,” Blake said. “I want to rule the world.”

Vordak the Incomprehensible is a comic book supervillian who gives advice on how to become a supervillian. 

Author Scott Seegert, who lives in Farmington, has one adult book, It’s a Guy Thing. Changing directions, he shared how he enjoys marketing his humor to a younger audience.  “Kids are interested in reading,” Seegert said. “It’s more fun to be at schools.”

After a recent trip to Burton Elementary School, author Bryan Chick had a long line of eager young readers. Chick’s self-published book is the first in his The Secret Zoo series.  The Book Beat was selling copies of The Secret Zoo and his second book, Secret and Shadows. A cross between mystery and fantasy, the series' third book, Riddles and Danger, will come out Sept. 27.

Berkley High School English teacher, Natalie Taylor talked about her memoir, Signs of Life, which she wrote after dealing with the sudden death of her husband when she was five months pregnant.

Taylor said that although she has a close, supportive network of family and friends, she found comfort in telling her story.

“Reading and writing were the only two things that gave me any relief,” Taylor said. 

She hopes her story will help motivate her readers through difficult life experiences when they feel like they are going crazy.

Through sharing her story, Taylor found: “I am not crazy; I am having a very human experience."

Berkley resident Molly Prudhamm said she couldn’t put Taylor’s book down. Prudhamm is thankful she has not had to deal with such a devastating loss, but has used Taylor’s experience to help her console friends dealing with incredible sadness.

Taylor’s story is not a complete tearjerker. Prudhamm said she found it “interesting how she incorporated literary figures in her quest for survival.” And Taylor joked about trying to find a family-friendly excerpt to read, given the crowd – one that did not talk about cleavage.

All featured authors have their books for sale at The Book Beat.

For more information, call Book Beat at (248) 968-1190. The locally owned, independent book shop is located at 26010 Greenfield Road in Oak Park.

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