Most people have never heard of the American Italian Historical Association, but they’ve been around for a long time. In fact their 44th Annual Conference is being held from Oct. 20-22 at the Marriott Waterside Hotel and Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. The purpose of AIHA is to promote the contributions of people of Italian heritage to the USA.
Among presenters will be scholars, creative writers and poets from across our land at the Conference and this year I am honored to be one of them.

George Guida, a professor at New York City Technical College is one of the leaders of the Conference. He has assigned me to be a member on two panels. The Creative Writer Panel shall present portions of their books in a short reading. I shall be reading from my new historical novel (see: www.americanbookpubishingblog.com/promote-your-book-at-ethnic-festivals ) The Stone Cutter Genius. On the other panel the guest writers shall share their research in creating their work. Mine shall include the new book trailer just issued as well as historical works used in creating the story of the famous artist Michelangelo and the Medici Leaders of Renaissance Italy and how their faith, superstitions, legends and art come to impact the life of a Chicago teacher and his two teen sons in the present day.

This is a first for me and I must admit that I am a bit anxious about sitting with well known authors, professors and poets with my historical fiction books. But we all have a niche in civilization, I think, and mine seems to be making history come alive with a little bit of magic and tying facts together with a fictional account of what could have happened. Thus I am looking forward to being a part of the AIHA Conference.

If you are in Tampa, Florida (Marriott Waterside Hotel and Tampa Convention Center) around October 20-22 do drop in and say Hi.

(Arthur Cola is the author of the Historical Fiction novel of The Stone Cutter Genius, the magical adventures of The Shamrock Crown and Papa and the Leprechaun King as well as screenplay adaptations of the books. His newest screenplay adaptation based on The Stone Cutter Genius is under development in Hollywood at this writing. Visit his web site: www.arthurcolalegendarytales.com, e-mail: arthurcola.yahoo.com, Blog sites: www.authoradvance.com and www.arthurcolalegendarytales.wordpress.com. The Stone Cutter Genius Book Trailer may be viewed at: www.americanbookpublishingblog.com/promote-your-book-at-ethnic-festivals. His books are available at www.amazon.com/Arthur-Cola ).