Coming of age in the 1950s and 1960s, Karen Bostrom dreamed of achieving many things. “I wanted to be a mermaid, an author, an architect, a teacher,” Bostrom, a Toms River resident, said. “But you kind of had to choose something.” As a kid Bostrom wrote many stories, won essay contests, received recognition from teachers and peers. Still, when high school was over, Bostrom had to face the “real world.” She decided to become a teacher. "[It] was one of my big dreams, not just my parents' decision," Bostrom said. "It was just the 'safer' one I chose first, because I loved to learn and share. As…

The Toms River library is abuzz with activity and excitement on any day, but this past Saturday the place looked especially festive, when authors from the region and from afar, traditionally published, self-published, and every other kind of published in between, networked with each other, while displaying their creations for the word-hungry public, as part of the 10th annual Toms River Bookfest. Toms River reference librarian Carol Zsiga was walking outside her library one day when she noticed people sitting on practically every bench outside the building, enjoying beautiful weather with …