Although she has retired from teaching, Idella Bodie is still a presence in South Carolina classrooms.

"I wrote my first book in 1971, and it's still in print," said Mrs. Bodie. That book, The Secret of the Telfair Inn, weaves the history of Aiken into the fabric of its mystery.

She also wrote books about South Carolinians and the Revolutionary War that are used in area classrooms.

"The teachers asked me to do a series on the Revolutionary War. They said they could find enough on the Civil War," said Mrs. Bodie, one of about a dozen authors featured at a program at the Aiken County Library on March 8.

Mrs. Bodie has written 24 books, including an autobiography called Carolina Girl . She's working on her 25th manuscript.

Having grown up during the Depression, Mrs. Bodie wanted others to know about that era and how people in South Carolina coped, she said.

Authors at the March 8 program covered a variety of topics in their books.

Christine Hurley Deriso, who works at the Medical College of Georgia, has published three books.

"I write exclusively for tweens," said Mrs. Deriso, who has published the books Do-Over and The Right-Under Club for pre-teens and the illustrated book Dreams to Grow On for younger children.

Events such as the one in Aiken provide a good opportunity to connect with readers, she said.

Other authors included Karin Gillespie, who has written the Bottom Dollar Girls series; Alexia Helsley, who has written a history of Beaufort, S.C.; and James McCallister, who was written a novel about coming of age in 1970s Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Library manager Michael Swan said it is good to be able to bring authors and readers together.

"When you read a book, you feel like you have met the author," he said. "Now you really can."

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.