She will present her panel - and several other representative panels of the AIDS quilt - with the help of Land O' Lakes resident Jeff Thur, secretary of the board of directors of the NAMES Project Foundation. Beyond representing a cause that has become important to her - AIDS awareness and education - [Joan Thomas Nelson] wants her quilt panel to represent her son as a human being and to reflect his life and interests.

SOME BACKGROUND: "Before, During and After AIDS: A Mother's Love and Memories" is Florida author Joan Thomas Nelson's memoir about her son, King, and his battle with AIDS. She intends the book as educational for families dealing with AIDS and for parents who seek to understand their gay children.

Photo: The AIDS Memorial Quilt is unfurled on the Ellipse in Washington in 2004. Author Joan Thomas Nelson will take part in the Author-Thon in Port Richey and pledge part of her book sale proceeds to the group that maintains the quilt.