Author Talk with Kara LaBella: The French Paymaster

Did you know that Washington Irving may have based his famous "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" on a Farmington Valley folk tale? Come join us as local author Kara LaBella shows us the evidence for this theory, offering glimpses of the real-life locations, as well as Revolutionary War-era history of our region. Attempt to solve the mystery of The French Paymaster, meeting LaBella's cast of characters along the way, including General Philip Schuyler, friend to George Washington, and Vicomte Charles Dumas, officer of Rochambeau, along with actual citizens of colonial Canton's community. Come to your own conclusions over the course of this engaging evening!

Kara LaBella has a Master's degree in English Literature from Trinity College and is a Professor Emerita of the CT-State system. She has been a member of the Friends of the State Archaeologist, based at UCONN, and the Connecticut Gravestone Network -- organizations seeking to preserve our state's past for the future. Her first book, entitled The Symsbury Witches, explores the identities of real women behind a town legend dating from the 1680s. Likewise, her second novel -- The French Paymaster -- surrounds a Canton legend, combining local history with lore. Her works are sold at Simsbury, Canton and Salmon Brook Historical Societies, as well as Simsbury's The Bell & Raven shop, Canton's Kismet shop and Danbury's The Booksmiths Shoppe. She now offers events through the CT Library Consortium, lecturing for libraries, historical societies, schools, bookshops and private associations throughout the state.