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The
Franciscan and The Alpha Search by William R. Park, Sr.
Local
author entertains guests at presentation
By Joshua Roberts
Wednesday,
November 14, 2001
The
city of Basehor may not seem like a wine and cheese kind of
place but that's exactly what visitors got at a recent presentation
by a local author.
On
Thursday, Nov. 8, Shawnee Mission resident William Park, author
of two books, "The Franciscan" and his latest work,
"The Alpha Search," stopped into Holyfield Wine
and Vineyard for a presentation and book signing.
The
event was sponsored by the Basehor Community Library and hosted
by vineyard owners Michelle and Les Meyer.
The
vineyard was chosen for the presentation and book signing
because of a reference Park made to the vineyard in "The
Alpha Search."
The
reference, in which Park mentions the vineyard by name and
serves a vineyard signature wine to the pope, was received
quite well by the vineyard owners.
"I
was quite tickled he mentioned the wine and that it was served
to a pope," Michelle said.
The
wine of the hour was a port wine, a wine mixed with brandy
giving it a higher alcohol content, and has a long, sometimes
combative history for the vineyard.
Previously,
the state of Kansas had tried to shut down production of the
wine because of its alcohol content. This was a move that
the vineyard owners fought and eventually won.
"It
is something that is very near and dear to our hearts because
we had to fight for it," Michelle said.
Regardless
of the wine's history, the presentation was an eventful evening
for those involved as Park spoke about his two books and then
answered questions from the audience.
The
books penned by Park, which have drawn rave reviews from some
critics, are adventurous in nature and steeped in religious
overtones.
The
two books are part of a trilogy, with the third volume on
its way.
Park
said he would probably end the tale's series with the third
book, and he would miss some of the tales and characters he
created when writing them.
"I
am going to miss those guys because I have been doing this
for a couple of books now, so I am sad to say goodbye,"
Park said. "But you never know, they might come back.
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