LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local author and columnist Gene Paleno will present his science fiction stories on two Lake County libraries this month.

Paleno will visit the Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and the Lakeport Library at 1425 N. High St. on Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m.

The events are free and open to the public.

Paleno has farmed in Lake County for nearly 50 years and been writing even longer. During most of the good part of a century of life Paleno has had more occupations and professions than you can count on both hands.

He writes to entertain. Paleno has written 15 full-length novels and several collections of stories on a wide range of subjects, and a weekly newspaper column of the animals and people he's met while he's farmed, to novels about the Civil War, Lake County history, and adult science fiction and fantasy.

Asked, “Why do you write?” his reply was, “Because I must. Writing is like breathing. It is the reason I wake each day glad to be alive. Besides,” he added, “seeing my stories in print and knowing people enjoy reading them is like having apple pie ... and I love apple pie.”

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and http://library.lakecountyca.gov, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.

For information call 707-263-8817.

Jan Cook is a technician at the Lake County Library.