The Palmerton Area Library will offer the public a chance to meet author Vincent Tobia from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday. The library is located at 401 Delaware Ave., Palmerton.

Tobia will talk about his first published book, "The Dead Divide Us." It is a dual horror fiction piece about two brothers who live on opposite sides of the United States. One brother, Robert, lives in a town much like Palmerton. He is confronted by the dangers of a virus that is turning people into flesh-hungry maniacs. His brother Paul lives with his family in Washington, where they face the challenge of waiting as the virus makes its way west."So, think of it as a physical versus psychological story. Things get pretty hairy on both sides," explains Tobia.Born and raised in Palmerton, Tobia graduated from Palmerton Area High School in 2002. Currently working in distribution, Tobia says he's been coming up with stories and plot lines all his life but only began writing short stories and longer works about six years ago. He mainly sticks to the horror and science fiction genres, but has written some literal fiction as well."I've always enjoyed the work of horror film director George A. Romero. His films seem to place real people into 'end of the world' scenarios while piling on a healthy dose of social and political satire. I think the apocalypse is a powerful storytelling vessel," he says.He says that "The Dead Divide Us" is fun and faced paced."I don't like to bog the story down with too much fluff. I tried to stick in various scenes that play on a variety of human emotions."The book is published by Death Throes Publishing.The book is also online. The eBook and paperback can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Tobia is pleased with how it is doing.Currently he is plotting out a sequel."The story from the first book will continue on, but many new things will happen as well. It is pretty crazy. I'm excited to write it," he says.He is writing two other novels and is hoping to have both of them published in the near future. One is a mystery that revolves around a dual kidnappingWhen Tobia isn't working and writing, he plays guitar in a band called "Leaders of the Press.""We do original rock and roll music along with covering many popular tunes from all of the eras of rock.""I never saw his creative side when he was growing up," says his mother, Mary Tobia. "He got his first guitar and started writing songs and it really took off from there. He started writing short stories for magazines. I remember reading one of his first articles. It was descriptive, interesting and just drew me in and I said 'Wow. This guy can write.' His dad, Joe, and I are very proud of him, not just because he wrote a book, but because he had confidence in himself and the stamina to see it through to the end result ... a published book."More information on "The Dead Divide Us" can be found on Tobia's website

www.vincenttobia.com. There is also a section on the site that has links to all of his short stories.