To promote her new book, and as part of National Library Week, Christian fiction writer Alexis Rhae visited the Russellville Public Library April 12 for a special local author event.

Rhae, who lives in the Shoals, talked with those attending the presentation about her work as an author and particularly about the process of researching, writing and publishing her latest work, “The Wonderful Professor Wolgath.”

Guest author Alexis Rhae describes her latest work to a group at the library.

“I really spent a lot of time and effort trying to put the true historical facts into the story,” said Rhae, who describes the structure as Christian historical fiction. The story, an adventure/romance, is set in the 1760s. “What I really did was write a book I would want to read. I think that helps make it interesting and hopefully helps people connect with it. I wrote a book that would make me laugh and cry and wish for more.”

In sharing about her writing philosophy, Rhae talked about her commitment to reading Christian-based works and how that commitment filtered over into her writing.

“I wanted stories were clean, wholesome, heart-warming stories I could read without fear (of unsavory content), and I find them every time in Christian fiction,” Rhae said. “Eventually I started to make up stories on my own, especially at night when I was laying bed trying to go to sleep, and I started writing some of them down and sharing them with friends. It became fun. And all the while I was also growing as a Christian, and the more I grew, the more I thought, ‘If writing is something I’m going to do a lot of, then it should have a godly focus.’ My heart and mind and activities in my personal life were focused toward God and Jesus, so my writing should be focused in that direction as well.”

Rhae also spoke in support of libraries in general, encouraging people to take advantage of their local library as a community asset.

“It’s an important place to gather – for events like this, for meetings, for clubs,” Rhae pointed out. “It’s a place to learn … It’s a place to explore new topics.

“It’s also a place to enjoy the peace and quiet. To the sleep deprived, to the worn out, to the run-over and rundown: come to the library, where your cellphone must always be silent. Soak in for a moment the gentle rasp of pages turning, the gentle swoosh of spines as they slide onto the shelves and feel the peace.”

The special event, which was held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12, was conceived by library board member Cheri McCain, who heard Rhae speak at a Book Lovers Study Club meeting.