Scott Baker/Democrat photo Writers and publishers showed up on Saturday at the Lilac Mall during the 2nd Annual Rochester Writer's Festival. Pictured from left to right are Jeremy Robinson, Stanley Tremblay and Kristina Schram.

ROCHESTER — Area authors had the opportunity to meet one another and mingle, while showcasing their work for patrons at the second annual Rochester Writers Festival, sponsored by Waldenbooks in the Lilac Mall Saturday afternoon.

About 16 authors from the Rochester-Dover area turned out for the event, more than doubling last year's total of seven, Waldenbooks Manager Denise Carter said. Carter said she worked closely with mall management and Barrington author, Layne Case, to organize the event.

"It's an opportunity for them to meet the local authors," said Carter. She explained part of the goal was for authors to answer questions people may have about becoming self-published. "There are a lot of great ideas in this room."

Langeler has a new series of books coming out soon called "Let's Make Faces," which is designed to help autistic children to recognize facial expressions and how to properly respond to them. Case and Langeler will be marketing their books together in an effort to help autistic children and families with autistic children.

"This is a real tool for caregivers of autistic children," said Langeler. The first in the series of five books will be out in about two weeks.

Case, one of the authors attending the festival for the second year, shared her thoughts on the event and expressed thanks to Waldenbooks for their sponsorship.

"This is wonderful. This is great," Case said. "She (Carter) is really trying to promote literacy. She is a real advocate for literacy enrichment."

Scott Baker/Democrat photo Janice A. Johnston, RD promoted her latest book during the 2nd Annual Rochester Writer's Festival on Saturday at the Lilac Mall.

Case, 53, teamed with Jerry Langeler of Dover for some storytelling during the event. Case shared her tale of "Charlie," a book about a dog with a 3-foot tail who gets in trouble around the house for knocking into things, and then runs away to a big city. "Charlie," written for children 34 years ago, and Case, who is also the owner of AMITY Publications, used posters and illustrations to share the story.

Robinson describes his books as "Indiana Jones with monsters." Since first becoming self-published in 2005, he has released three books, including a new one titled "Anarktos Rising."

"(The festival) is really a way to meet people, and give the local fans a chance to come out. I think if we keep doing this it will become a big thing," he said.

Rebecca Rule, 53, of Northwood has been a writer for 30 years and a storyteller for 10, and was enjoying her first go-round at the festival.

"This is the first year I found out about it," said Rule. "I think it's a wonderful thing."

Scott Baker/Democrat photo Stanley Tremblay, Assistant Publisher at Variance Publishing talks with visitors to the 2nd Annual Rochester Writer's Festival at the Lilac Mall on Saturday.

Jeremy Robinson, 33, of Barrington has six book deals on the horizon, three with two different publishers, as well as a movie deal. He plans to write six books over the next three years, and an anime movie, which is being made in Singapore and China by "Upside Down Animation," is scheduled for a 2010 release.

Scott Baker/Democrat photo Layne Case, author/owner of Amity Publications, reads to several children who showed up for storytelling at the second annual Rochester Writer's Festival on Saturday at the Lilac Mall.