Books & Authors Archives » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

John Searles has worn just about every hat the publishing world offers: novelist, editor, book critic, television pundit, and, perhaps most importantly, a passionate reader. After years of helping shape books and magazines, including a long stint at Cosmopolitan, he has written five unforgettable novels: Boy Still Missing, Strange But True (later adapted into a feature film), Help for the Haunted, Her Last Affair, and now Single Girls, a sharp, funny, and heartfelt fictionalization of Helen Gurley Brown's (HGB) first years at the helm of Cosmopolitan.

Books & Authors

Cake or Pie? with John Searles

Posted on August 13, 2026

Kawaii Art Workshop Saturday, August 8 (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) Kids can explore the playful world of Kawaii art during a beginner-friendly workshop hosted by the Islip Arts Council on Saturday, August 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The one-hour class will introduce young artists to the fundamentals of Kawaii-style drawing, including color, shapes, shading, and technique. Students will learn how to create adorable Kawaii-style animals and objects while building the skills needed for further study of the art form. The class costs $25 and will take place at the Islip Arts Council’s Offices & Gallery at South Shore Mall in Bay Shore, next to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Summer in August: Things To Do this Weekend and the Week Ahead Along the Great South Bay and on Fire Island

Posted on August 6, 2026

Rafael Algarin

Books & Authors

Pictures Speak a Thousand Words on the Walls of Patchogue-Medford Library: Fire Island News Cover Artist Rafael Algarin

Posted on August 2, 2026

id that “rejection is merely a redirection of one’s destiny.” Over 50 years ago, Charles Modica embodied this mantra.

Books & Authors

Charles Modica’s “Docs On the Bay: The Dream that Became America’s Most Unlikely Medical School”

Posted on July 31, 2026

The year 2026 marks the 115th anniversary of Tennessee Williams' birth.

Books & Authors

Tennessee Williams: Collaboration, Friendship, and Betrayal

Posted on July 30, 2026

The Fire Island Dance Festival returns to Fire Island Pines on July 18 and 19, bringing world-class dance performances to a waterfront stage overlooking the Great South Bay. The annual event combines acclaimed dance performances with the unique setting of Fire Island, drawing audiences together for a weekend of artistry, community, and philanthropy. The festival serves as a fundraiser for Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that provides support to people affected by HIV/AIDS and other critical health challenges. Leadership and patron ticket packages include cocktails and a DJ party at Whyte Hall. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the Pines Harbor. Additional information and ticket details are available at https://dradance.org/

Books & Authors

Smoke on the Water: Things To Do on Fire Island and Along the Great South Bay July 18-26

Posted on July 17, 2026

Time feels a little more precious during the summer compared to the other times of the year, making the question of how to spend it all the more consequential. Like many, I devote a great deal of my time to reading. Whether lazing in a hammock or lounging on a beach chair, this summer's stack has something for everyone: a giant glowing jellyfish, an art heist in Paris, a missed romantic connection at 30,000 feet, family secrets on Block Island, murder, mystery, and enough emotional drama to keep you slathered in sunscreen and suspense all summer long.

Books & Authors

SUMMER READING: What’s in My Beach Bag?

Posted on July 4, 2026

Before Fire Island, on one hazy 1960s summer, at a Girl Scout Camp on Long Island, a young Meryl Meisler hears whispers of a mystical realm just across the bay. On this island, they say, “fairies ran about naked and lived in little houses with charming names like Shirley’s Temple.” This opening vignette — shared by a now-renowned, longtime photographer of queer New York nightlife — sets the tone for John Dempsey’s ambitious account of Fire Island’s art history.

Books & Authors

John Dempsey’s Fire Island Art: 100 Years

Posted on June 29, 2026

“It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.,” goes the all-too-familiar lyrics of the Village People song that gets everyone moving on the dance floor, remains a crowd favorite during the seventh-inning stretch at Yankee Stadium, and easily boosts people’s spirits. But the lyrics also ring true. It is fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A., especially if you’re a college student in New York City (NYC) during the ‘80s, which is the case for Evan, the protagonist in Sloane by Kevin Banks.

Books & Authors

The Sloane House: Where ’80s NYC Art Students Found Community

Posted on June 15, 2026

Opening Friday, May 1 Awakenings The BAFFA Art Gallery will feature a multi-media exhibit by Women Sharing Art in May. The exhibit includes painting, photography, mosaics, sculpture, fiber arts, and mixed media. “Awakenings explores moments of transformation, discovery, and renewed awareness.” The show can be viewed at the Gallery, Thursdays through Sundays, from Noon to 4:00 p.m. An artists’ reception and awards for students whose work was exhibited at the student art show will take place on May 2 from 1 - 4 PMp.m. The BAFFA Gallery is located in the historic Gillette House at 47 Gillette Avenue in Sayville. This exhibition runs through May 31. The gallery is open Thursday-Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For further information: www.baffa.org or www.womensharingart.org.

Books & Authors

May Day and More: Things To Do this Weekend and Week Ahead Along Great South Bay Long Island

Posted on April 30, 2026

Ernie Fazio

Books & Authors

Ernie Fazio, Long Island Environmental Visionary (1939-2026)

Posted on April 18, 2026

It’s often said that a novel mirrors reality, and lately that feels especially true. Across genres, readers can likely pick up on details or elements that relate to their lives, the current political climate, or the broader world around them. But when Elaine Kiesling Whitehouse began writing her novel Base Alta over several years and published it last fall, she didn’t anticipate how closely its themes would align with unfolding events in the United States and beyond.

Books & Authors

Art Imitates Life in Sayville Author’s Most Recent Novel

Posted on April 15, 2026

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