Leslie Wind’s Know Your Neighbor is beginning a new season. The first presentation will be on Wednesday, October 25, at 7:00pm at the Seacrest Manor in Rockport. Guests for the evening will be Gloucester writers Mark S. Williams and Kathleen Valentine.

Mark S. Williams was born and raised in Gloucester. He graduated from the University of Southern Louisiana and worked as a commercial diver before returning to Gloucester where he bought a lobster boat. His non-fiction adventure/memoir F/V Black Sheep (www.fvBlackSheep.com) is a collection of stories about growing up in Gloucester, the son of professional football player Ted Williams, and about his life at sea as a commercial lobsterman. The book, which was released this summer, has received high praise both as exciting adventure story and as an accurate description of life on the Gloucester waterfront in the 1960s. Williams is currently at work on a second book based on his life as a commercial diver.

Kathleen Valentine is a Gloucester-based graphic artist and web designer known by many locals for her My View columns in the Gloucester Daily Times. Her collection of short stories, My Last Romance and other passions (www.MyLastRomance.com), has just been released this week and has won accolades from fellow writers and readers for the beauty of language and for characters that range in age from teens to eighties discovering and rediscovering the passion of falling in love. Valentine is currently finishing a novel, The Old Mermaid’s Tale: A Romance of the Great Lakes, which is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2007.

Both authors will talk about the writing of their books, take questions, and sign books. Books will also be available for purchase.

This event, formerly held at the Emerson Inn, will be hosted by Seacrest Manor at 99 Marmion Way in Rockport. This beautiful inn overlooks the ocean with views of the twin lighthouses on Thacher Island. For directions call 978-546-2211 or visit their web site at www.SeacrestManor.com.

There is no charge for the event and all are welcome.