FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Fairhope musician Kathryn Scheldt and Mobile author Frye Gaillard, who have co-produced and collaborated on two CDs during the past few years, will appear Dec. 11 at Page & Palette bookstore for a musical and literary Saturday afternoon.

The program on “songwriting and the literature of Southern music” will begin with a talk and reading by Gaillard, followed by a musical performance by Scheldt, according to a news release.

“Kathryn Scheldt is a fine songwriter who is also blessed with a beautiful voice,” country music performer George Hamilton IV stated in the release.

Scheldt will be accompanied by Katy English on fiddle and mandolin.

A college student who lives in Daphne, English has studied with Mobile’s celebrated luthier and fiddle player Eldon Bryson, performing in his bluegrass band while still in her teens.

Gaillard, writer-in-residence at the University of South Alabama and author of 20 books exploring the history, politics and culture of the American South, will talk about the power of Southern music. He will read from his books “Watermelon Wine: Remembering the Golden Years of Country Music” and “With Music and Justice for All: Some Southerners and Their Passions.”

Scheldt, a Fairhope resident, will perform songs from “Southern Wind,” her latest CD, on which Gaillard provided lyrics and shared songwriting credits.

“’Southern Wind’ may be her best CD yet,” Hamilton stated.

Scheldt has played such legendary Southern venues as the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Moonlight on the Mountain in Birmingham and Thacker Mountain Radio in Oxford, Miss. “Southern Wind” is her fourth CD.

Gaillard and Scheldt will sign copies of their books and CDs at next weekend’s event.

The performance is from 2 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at Page & Palette. For more information, call 928-5295.