Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County is hosting its first book launch party 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6.

Featured book is Safe Harbor: Stories of Enduring Friendship, by local author Judy Shuler.

Shuler has been a volunteer tutor for Literacy Volunteers since 2011, meeting with students one-on-one to help them improve their command of English.

“Words matter. In our personal, professional and public lives they are our most basic medium of exchange,” Shuler says. “The Literacy Center is the perfect host for my book launch. I’m honored to be there.”

A simple act of kindness during a time of loss inspired the author to reflect on friends now living time zones away. She could no longer see or touch them. Shared coffee and meals and travel adventures were mostly just memories. Yet they stayed close and continued to be a part of each other’s lives. She wrote five of them letters, telling them why she valued their friendship. Then she talked to other people about their friends. These are stories of friendships that span age, background, time and distance. Friendships that enriched lives, and sometimes transformed them, friendships that stepped up when least expected and most needed.

Many of the stories feature people living in Northern Chautauqua County.

The book launch is a celebration of friendship and the many people who contributed their own stories for the book. For all books purchased from the author, $1 will be donated to Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County and $1 to Ahira Hall Memorial Library in Brocton.

Literacy Volunteers is located at 10/12 Park Place in Fredonia and offers services to help people to read, write and speak English. The bookstore is well stocked with used books and all proceeds go to support LVCC.