As part of the National Novel Writing Month, Nate’s Place opened their venue up to local and Kansas authors Friday evening to display their books for community members interested in purchasing signed copies of the books or meeting the authors.

“I think this is mainly a celebration for our local authors,” hostess Pat Lyons said of the event, which featured about seven authors.

For some authors, such as Fort Scott resident Kathryn Salsbury, it was her first book, while Leigh Stites is working on a series of books, with Fort Scott and local venues such as Nate’s Place being featured in her novels.

The books on display Friday included romance novels, children’s books, a biography of a Fort Scott Community College professor and other works of fiction and nonfiction.

Topeka resident Ken Berry, a former major league baseball player, said he now enjoys visiting elementary schools and reading his children’s books he has written to the students, often bringing his World Series ring and Gold Glove Award with him.

Local historian Don Miller was also present to provide a preview for a pictorial book of Fort Scott which will be ready for purchase in the next couple months and will include photos of the city covering more than a century.

For the rest of the month of November, Lyons said they encourage writers to come to Nate’s Place to work on their own writing, saying they have already had some visit with their laptops to work on a novel.