The Bookmark: August Literary Happenings in Coweta
By NANCY CAROL SANKER, Special to The Paper
August … Back to School for young parents with littles. Even those of us without looming backpack decisions are impacted. Big box ads shift to safe scissors, preferred pencils and XL dorm sheets. Even the grocery promotes its offerings of colorful, easy-to-pack lunch items. And we all HAVE to notice the difference in traffic patterns.
Now take my hand as we leap into the world of permission slips. Some schools require them for books to be read, movies to be watched and of course, field trips to be enjoyed. A book I recently inhaled talked about permission slips we adults occasionally need to give ourselves. “You, Miss Serious, have permission to have fun today!” This discussion of permission slips bread-crumbed me right to book clubs. Many people feel they need “permission” to read. Book clubs provide the golden ticket.
Here are multiple platinum tickets – you are now empowered to enjoy guilt-free reading and more! Many literary events and talented, generous authors in our community await you– no permission slip required.
Coweta Public Library System (CPLS)
Please note the new summer hours:
Central, Powell, and Senoia Branches
Monday-Friday – 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Saturday – 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Grantville Branch*
Monday – Thursday- 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
*Closed Saturdays
Free Wi-Fi in all library parking lots – 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Password: Bookworm. Visit the Coweta Public Library System at www.cowetapubliclibrary.org.
The Newnan Carnegie Library (NCL)
1 Lagrange Street (www.newnancarnegie.com) – 770-683-1347.
Register for events on Eventbrite. Space is limited.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m-5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
• Tuesday, August 10 at 12:30 p.m. – Mocktail Party – Did you ever think you would go to a library to learn how to mix a cocktail? No permission slip needed for this fun event where you’ll learn how to make non-alcoholic drinks.
• Wednesday, August 11 at 3:15 p.m. – Bookclub with Lola – Register for a 15-minute session to have your elementary and middle school child listen to the ever-patient Lola, the therapy dog.
• Tuesday, August 17 at 2:30 p.m.– Medicare Info Session with Sworney & Associates.
Learn from the experts and the questions of others.
• Thursday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m.– Hometown Novel Night (HNN) and the Carnegie present a virtual evening of fun and education. Zoom along with authors Mark Wallace Maguire, Damon Poirier and John Bednarowski as they generously share their expertise.
• Monday, August 23 at 9:30 a.m. – Literary Circle Book Club – Members chose the memoir, Bettyville by George Hodgman as the focus for their August discussion, which is bound to be lively! George, “an unlikely caretaker and near-lethal cook” leaves Manhattan to care for his mother in Paris, Missouri. Warmth and humorous insight mix it up to make a memorable read you’ll be recommending
to your friends.
New!
Percolate Coffee & Boutique, 21 Market Square Way #102 offers Saturday Storytime!
• Saturday, August 7 –at 11 a.m.– Little ones can listen to Miss Emily read Dragons Love Tacos 1 and 2 while parents enjoy coffee and a donut. If you want six donuts or more call 770-683-5079
to reserve yours. What a perfect way to kick off the weekend!
Write On
• Monday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m.– Hometown Novel Nights (HNN) Virtual Writer’s Critique – This group coordinated by T.M. “Mike” Brown and Angie Gallion helps fellow writers smooth the road to publication. What a great community resource! Sign up at HNNWritersGroup on Facebook.
• Saturday, August 21, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Writers’ Gathering at Corner Arts Gallery & Studio,
30 S. Court Sq. – 678-633-5705. Join local writers to discuss, share and encourage.
That’s a powerful trifecta pointing you toward publishing success.
Road Trips
• Saturday, August 7 at 1 p.m. – Pretty Good Books, 118 Church St., LaGrange. This newly- located used bookstore is hosting a book launch of the true story Solving the Georgia Murder of Gwendolyn Moore – A Cry from the Well by Clay Bryant. Sounds car-trip worthy!
• Wednesday, August 11 , 11 -11:45 a.m. Reading with Obie at the Peachtree City Library, 201 Willowbend Rd., 770-631-2520. Obie, the Costume-wearing Wonder Dog will be reading The Three Little Pigs to children K-2nd grade. Obie will be accompanied by his trusty sidekick, Lee St. John, author of Teacher Tattles and Other Southern Shenanigans, the perfect book for this time of year. We all need a few extra laughs and this humorous author delivers!
• Saturday, August 28, 2 to 5 p.m. Warm Springs Cellars Summer Festival – Pack up your cooler with water and buckle up! No permission slip required for this field trip to this Festival featuring wine tastings by Five Points Berries Winery. T.M. “Mike” Brown will host this relaxing afternoon with author Mark Wallace Maguire, music by The Sidemen and a selection of local art. Sounds like the perfect end-of-summer afternoon.
Book Club News
• Wine & Words, a seasoned SummerGrove Book Club is continuing to focus on summer reads with Vicki Wrightson’s selection of The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews, pen name for Atlanta-based Kathy Hogan Trocheck. This literary beach cocktail blends murder, money and mystery.
• Arielle Doheny, leader of a relatively new SummerGrove Book Club, has chosen the aptly named People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. What will happen when true opposites, Alex and Poppy, give themselves another chance? I have no idea, but I bet there’s another beach involved!
• Barnes & Noble has selected The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller as their book club choice. The Paper Palace, which is also a Reese’s Book Club Selection, is filled with secrets, lies, love and … a summer beach house. But then, we already guessed that!
I hope you have filled out mental permission slips for whatever literary magic brings you joy and maybe even a spot on a beach.
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Nancy Carol Sanker landed in Newnan via Ohio, Colorado and California. The constants in her life are her love of family, friends, fundraising and books. Nine years ago, she created Lights for Linda to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of her sister. Now she looks forward to illuminating the literary opportunities and fundraisers our community offers readers of all ages. Nancy’s 11-year-old book club provides fresh, new titles while her two and eight-year-old grandchildren keep her aware of books for “littles.” Who knew a cow could type? Your contributions about book clubs, Little Free Libraries, events and fundraisers will lead The Bookmark to success!
