FAIRHOPE, Ala. — This Saturday, the Pensters Writing Group brings guest lecturer Steve Hedrick to the Fairhope Public Library for a program intriguingly entitled, “Crafting a Story, Using Only a Pocket Knife.”

Hedrick is the author of Tall Tales and Sonnets of the South, and is the former head of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, where he worked from 2006 to 2008.

For 20 years before that, he led Walt Disney Company’s creative entertainment division, writing stories, song lyrics and scripts for the company, according to a news release from the Pensters group.

His work with Disney carried him throughout the country, to Europe and Asia, in jobs such as manager of talent booking and casting in Orlando, and head of Disney’s $3.2 billion theme park in Tokyo, according to press accounts.

His book “explores southern legend, humor and poetry, along with entertaining verse about easy side of southern living,” according to promotional materials. “For example, he transforms ancient forms of poetry into a tongue-and-cheek and uniquely southern verse called ‘hillbilly haiku,’ writes an homage to the invasive kudzu vine, and transports his readers to a magical pond where a bullfrog becomes a famous singer.”

Hedrick’s appearance is the second in the 2008-2009 season of the Pensters group, which brings noted authors to the area for lectures, readings and book signings.

“I joined the Pensters over 10 years ago, and I have tried not to miss a meeting in all that time,” said P.T. Paul, the group’s vice president. “For 43 years, the group has attracted some of the best writers on the Gulf Coast as speakers, who have been generous with their time and advice.”

Paul said the Penster’s new venue at the Fairhope Public Library has increased membership at each meeting.

The new season started with writer John Sledge and upcoming guests include the following: Frye Gaillard (Nov. 8); Jennifer Paddock (Jan. 10); Anastasia McFadden (Feb. 14); Sonny Brewer (March 14); Sue Walker (April 11); and Linda Busby Parker (May 9).

“(Other) programs in the offing include a joint venture with the Fairhope library for Poetry Month in April 2009, when our speaker will be Sue Walker, a past president of the group, Stokes Chair of Creative Writing at the University of South Alabama, and Poet Laureate of Alabama,” said Paul, who had a poem published this summer in Oxford American, her first in a national magazine. “Part of the Poetry Month celebration will include area high school students participating in the Poetry Out Loud Program of which (Walker) is the regional coordinator and I have been working for the past six months.”

The Pensters Writing Group meets the second Saturday of each month from October through May from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Fairhope Public Library auditorium.

For more information, contact P.T. Paul at ptphantazein@gmail.com.