Family-Friendly Bookstore to Connect Book Lovers, Authors Online

By Josh Kimball, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 08, 2008

A family-friendly online bookstore will be connecting avid readers with their favorite authors through bi-weekly chats it plans to host on its website.

Beginning July 16, Abunga.com will be hosting the "Authors at Abunga" chats, starting with psychological thriller fiction writer Melanie Wells.

"'Authors at Abunga' will allow readers to join with writers of family-friendly book genres without leaving their home," pointed out Abunga.com Chairman Lee Martin in a press release.

According to the bookstore, the moderated chats will be held every other Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, and will feature fiction and nonfiction writers.

One week prior to each chat, readers can visit the chat Web page to submit questions for upcoming authors. While questions will also be accepted during chats, all will be screened prior to being presented to the author.

"Melanie Wells is the perfect person to launch our chats," commented Martin. "She is not only a gifted author but also a licensed therapist and fiddle player. Because of this unique combination of talents, I am certain readers of all ages will be intrigued by her insights."

Wells is best known for her series chronicling eccentric and slightly compulsive university psychology professor Dylan Foster, who can't seem to shake her personal inner-demon, Peter Terry.

The newly-released "My Soul to Keep" – the third book in Well's Dylan Foster series – follows "When the Day of Evil Comes" and "The Soul Hunter."

"Authors such as Melanie let us into their minds and imaginations through their books," Abunga's Martin commented.

"The 'Authors at Abunga' chats will provide the opportunity for readers to go deeper, learning firsthand what lies behind the author's storylines, knowledge and creativity," she added.

Transcripts of each chat session will be posted the following day on the "Authors at Abunga" chat page. Anyone who registers to be an Abunga.com community member can sign up to receive e-mail notification of transcript postings.

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Abunga.com offers more than 1.6 million family-friendly products, savings through distributor-direct prices and support to nonprofit organizations by donating 5 percent of each transaction to a customer-selected charity.

On the Web: www.Abunga.com