Summer Starts Early for Teens at Beach Bag Book Club

During the summer break when most kids are hitting the beach or the pool, the Merrick Library, in conjunction with the North Bellmore, Bellmore and North Merrick Libraries, hosts the Beach Bag Book Club that inspires them to hit the books instead.

Jen Calonita is a Merrick resident and author of Belles and Secrets of my Hollywood Life and she has been affiliated with Merrick Library’s Beach Bag Book Club since its creation four years ago.

“I work with the Merrick Library very closely,” she said. “I do writing workshops here and when they came up with the idea for the Beach Bag Book Club, I was the first author they asked to come. Since then, I’ve been asking other authors to appear as well and we often get two or three per summer. A lot of the girls get to meet their favorite authors, get their books signed and just learn more about reading and writing.”

The program runs throughout the summer, and features regular visits from popular authors of teen books. In addition, to go along with the beach theme, at each meeting the girls attending receive some beach-related gift, such as a beach bag or towel.

For Calonita, writing has been a life-long passion, culminating with the release first book of her most recent series, entitled Belles.

“I’ve written ever since I can remember,” she said. “I started out as an editor at a teen magazine and that inspired my first book, which was called Secrets of My Hollywood Life. That was in 2004, and I’ve been writing books ever since.”

The Beach Bag Book Club certainly seems to be a rousing success, as the meeting was packed. The event started up with a question and answer session with Calonita, as well as guest authors Susane Colasanti and Elizabeth Eulberg. Later, they held a book signing and enjoyed light refreshments.

Author Susane Colasanti, whose sixth book, Keep Holding On, is out in stores now, was a high school science teacher for ten years before venturing into writing.

“My purpose in life is to try and reach out to teens, to try to help them in any way I can,” she said. “I started writing my first two books when I was still teaching and I loved teaching and the kids, but doing both was just really exhausting. So, I resigned five years ago to become a full-time author, which I love. It’s a dream job, really.”

Elizabeth Eulberg, originally of Wisconsin but now living outside of Manhattan, was there to talk about her latest book, Take A Bow, with her many young fans.

“I worked in publishing for more than ten years,” she said. “I started writing in 2004 and it took me five years for my first book to get in a good enough place, since I was also working full-time. Take A Bow is my third book.”

Eulberg makes a point of coming back to the Beach Bag Book Club every year.

“It’s very rare that, as an author, you get to talk to all teens,” she said. “All the kids who come here love reading and they get so excited. When I walked in, two girls ran up to me and hugged me. It’s so much fun.”

Lacy Troy, a 14-year-old, made sure to secure a front row seat for the group session.

“I really love Elizabeth Eulberg and Susane Colasanti. I haven’t read Jen Calonita’s book yet, but I’m definitely reading it,” she said. “I love Elizabeth and Susane’s books because they really relate to us – it’s like real situations; they know who we are. I love their books. They’re so cool.”

Annunziata Wilson, also 14, is also a big fan of the Beach Bag Book Club, which has really been getting her reading more and more.

“Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg is, like, the best book ever,” she said. “It’s amazing. And I love Jen Calonita, too. It’s great to be able to meet them like this.”