FARMINGTON — Local poet and elementary school teacher Sarah Carlson will present at the Literacy Volunteers Giant Annual Book Sale and Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Farmington Elks Lodge on School Street in West Farmington. Admission is free.

Carlson will discuss how writing poetry and taking photographs has become an integral part of her healing after the sudden death of her husband, Barry, in 2002. She uses metaphorical connections from her experiences in the natural world —hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, skiing — to give the reader glimpses of grace and tidbits of tenderness with her combinations of poetry and photos. She published 175 of these pairings in her book titled “The Radiance of Change” this past winter. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.  

The festival runs 9 to 3 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday. There are childrens’ activities, a petting farm, music and food.

Sarah Carlson