Huntington-area authors among LI writers to be honored

Oheka Castle in Huntington, subject of a book by Robert King

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

When Melville native Robert King was in high school, he remembers seeing the Oheka Castle in Huntington looming above the trees one day. At the time, it was being held in lieu of back taxes until developer Gary Melius purchased the site and later hired King to document the painstaking restoration of the 109,000-square-foot mansion in 1984.

“The mansion-filled Gold Coast represents the heyday of Long Island,” said King, who had previously written a book on nearby Ferguson’s Castle in Huntington Bay in 1976. “Having grown up on Long Island, I witnessed the decline of the Gold Coast firsthand, but there was so little written about the homes. My goal is to preserve this era so the memory of these architectural masterpieces can live on.”

King isn’t alone in his passion of the pen. Throughout Long Island, there’s a laundry list of Long Islanders who race home every night to sit in a dimly-lit room with a laptop and a drop of inspiration, according to local writer Valentina Janek of West Hempstead.

"There’s a lot of great writers on Long Island that people don’t even know about,” said Janek, president of Profusion, a local public relations agency. “Sure, we might not be household names, but with the right information and motivation anyone can write a book.”

For the last year, Janek – in conjunction with The Friends of the West Hempstead Public Library – has been planning a celebratory reception to honor little-known writers who call Long Island their home. On Thursday, Oct. 18, the event will materialize when 15 authors – and as many as to 300 visitors – come together in an intimate meet-and-greet fundraiser for the West Hempstead Public Library, which unveils its new $10 million facility this week.

The top honoree is King, who’s authored three books on Long Island’s Gold Coast – including “Raising a Fallen Treasure” in 1984 – which tells the restoration story of Oheka. Another local honoree is Kevin Durst of Greenlawn, whose book, “Glitter That was Once Gold,” is a self-proclaimed, 100-page “bathroom read” filled with trivia on Long Island’s Gilded Age.

“My box of photos and clippings got too big, so I decided to put it into book form,” joked Durst, left, a healthcare manager for New York Hospital of Queens, who sells about 25 books a month through the Book Revue in Huntington. “There’s a lot of people writing stuff who aren’t getting recognized, so this event helps raise awareness for Long Island authors.”

The third local honoree is Jim Ryan of Northport, an inspirational speaker whose book, “Simple Happiness,” shows us how everyday can be a new opportunity to experience joy.

“Writers aren’t always taken seriously, and that’s why this reception is so important,” said Janek, who ultimately hopes to expand the event to other Long Island libraries. “Our local authors are a dedicated bunch, and it’s an honor to give them the spotlight.”

Other authors to be honored are Steven H. Post of Farmingdale, Diane Baumann-Corrado of Baldwin, Gerri Harkins of Port Jefferson Station, Lynn Broder of Rockville Centre, Sheila and Letty Sustrin of Deer Park, Tim McHeffey of Center Moriches, and Lori Gershon of Bethpage.

The Long Island Distinctive Authors Reception is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. Tickets are $50, and proceeds benefit the West Hempstead Public Library and its programs.