On Saturday morning (1/25/2014) the dining room at the historic Woman's Club was filled with Friends of Linebaugh members. The support group for the local public library system meets each year to share news of the coming year as well as enjoy meeting a visiting author. 

Immediate Past President Carlton Miller (left photo) told members about a unique expansion that's in the works for the Linebaugh Library. It's based on the very successful high-tech facility in San Antonio. 

Miller continues on the board, as well as acting as a liaison between Linebaugh Library groups and those searching for locations for a high-tech community center.

Kris Delene (above photo, on right) is the new president of the support organization. She told WGNS her desires for 2014 . . .

Brenda Rickman Vantrease

Brenda Rickman Vantrease (left photo) was the guest speaker. This popular author told how she gets absorbed in research for her fictional books that are based on real life people and events. The Heretic's Wife includes cardinals, bishops, ladies and lords of noble heritage, merchants, and ship captains each with a story that draws the reader into the book. Vantrease' writing skills enable her to weave all of these stories together into an easy to follow and hard-to-put-down novel. She has a great respect for history and brings characters and events to life.

The Nashville resident told her many followers in the audience that she plans for her next book to focus on the British Civil War. 

Other popular writings include The Mercy Seller that places the reader in 15th century Europe, and The Illuminator that gives insight into England during Chaucer and Wycliffe's era.

Vantrease earned her masters and doctorate degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, and her undergraduate work was at Belmont, with a major in English.

Complete interview with Carlton Miller (below):

Linebaugh Public Library plans to build a high-tech branch that will better serve the needs of this community. It is based on a unique approach that was created in San Antonio, Texas. Past Friends of Linebaugh President Carlton Miller describes the new facility as a . . .