SHREVEPORT — Good books and the authors that wrote them will be on hand Friday through Saturday as Shreveport's Friends of the Municipal Auditorium presents "Author!Author! Shreveport's Celebration of the Written Word."

"I can't wait. I'm excited," said Dr. Bruce Hennigan, one of the featured authors who will be participating in the inspirational writing literary discussion panel.

Jefferson's own Kathy Patrick, founder of the renowned Pulpwood Queens Book Club and author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life," will be one of the featured speakers on the creative writing panel.

The book festival is at Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium, 705 Elvis Presley Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m. for sponsors and special guests and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the general public. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 12 and younger and $3 for those in the military and attendees ages 50 and older.

Fifty authors from throughout the country will be on the scene, discussing, selling and signing their latest books. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends of the Municipal Auditorium.

Hennigan, who is a radiologist and Shreveport resident, will present his new book, "The 12th Demon," a supernatural thriller that deals with good versus evil. The book is part of Hennigan's Jonathan Steel Chronicles, a series of supernatural, Christian thrillers that combines science and faith.

In the book, the main characters Jonathan and Josh encounter a demon while traveling to Dallas, who devises an evil plan to influence society. Their trip becomes a thrilling journey when they are pulled into the world of vampire clans.

"I chose vampires because everyone's fascinated with vampires. It makes a good horror story," Hennigan said in a telephone interview, adding the book gives a little history on vampires. Hennigan said he always try to include a bit of history in his books regarding subjects for his readers.

The author started writing his Jonathan Steel Chronicles series after enrolling in the Volunteer Apologist education program by the ministry Reasons to Believe.

"My main goal is not only to entertain, but make them stop and think about what they believe in and why they believe," the author said.

Ms. Patrick, owner of Beauty and the Book, a hair salon/bookstore in Jefferson, released her Pulpwood Queens book in January. The book shares how books saved her after losing her job due to industry cutbacks, how she opened her business a year later, started her book club and about her mission to promote literacy.

Hennigan, whose panel will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, said he is excited to share his tips on publishing.

"I will talk a lot about the writing process," he said. "People who like to write already have story telling skills. You have to hone these skills and maybe take courses before you try to get published."

Hennigan said he developed a love for science fiction stories at age 13 and wanted a career in writing until he was led in another direction his senior year in high school.

"I felt God had always wanted me to be a doctor," he said.

His desire for storytelling never wavered, however. He started using his writing talent in the '80s, writing Christian dramas for church. In 2001, he co-authored his first book, "Conquering Depression: A Thirty Day Plan for Finding Happiness," with the pastor of the church.

Hennigan said he took three courses through Writers Digest to become a published author.

"Most who are published authors are just ordinary people," Hennigan said. He wants aspiring authors to know that, "ordinary people who like to write can become published authors. You can make that dream come true."

He is honored to be part of the inspirational writing literary discussion panel because he believes the inspirational market is needed.

"In our society, we need to return to these good values," Hennigan said, expounding that people need to know there's a hope.

"We need to have good, positive uplifting messages out there," he continued, encouraging the public to come to the book festival.

Saturday's schedule is listed below:

Creative writing featured speakers are Jewell Parker Rhodes at 11 a.m., Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards at 11:30 a.m., Deborah LeBlanc (Writing What You Don't Know/Research) at 1 p.m. and Kathy Patrick at 3 p.m.

Literary discussion panels include inspirational writing with Roxanna Perry, Bruce Hennigan, Judy Pace Christie and Sheila Jackson from 9 to 10 a.m.; character building with Carolyn Jourdan, John Pritchard, Randy Denmon, Darden North, Kenneth Robbins and Toni McGee Causey from 10 to 11 a.m.; and From Photography to Publishing with Danny Brown at 1:30 p.m.

At noon, participants can "Delve into the Red River Campaign" with Gary Joiner, Steve Mayeux and Henry Robertson.

A romance writer panel takes place at 2 p.m. and a children's author panel will include six authors at 3:30 p.m.

Brook Carey is the featured motivational speaker at 4:30.

Literary discussion areas are 9 a.m., Melba Thomas, Racial Slurs: Discrimination or Imagination; 9:30 a.m., Jan Whitaker, How I Got Over ; 10 a.m., Jacques Couvillion,

Chicken Dance; 10:30 a.m., Ray Waddle, Against the Grain: Unconventional Wisdom from Ecclesiastes; 11:30 a.m., Lucy Adams, If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny; 1 p.m., Debi King McMartin, Beyond the Castle Door; 1:30 p.m., Victoria Chancellor, Honorable Texan; 2 p.m., Mitchel Whitington, Ghost of East Texas; 2:30 p.m., Tracy Carnes, Excess Baggage; and 3 p.m., Michael Aro, M.

Children's area discussions are 9 a.m., Rickey Pitman; 10 a.m., Margaret McManis, Ima Hogg's Great Ostrich Race; 11 a.m., Carmen Lee; noon, A.J. Rodriguez; 1 p.m., Susan Stevens; 2 p.m., Kimberly Willis Holt; and 3 p.m., Eric Gipson of SciPort.

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