The Bookmark: March Literary Events in and around Coweta County
By NANCY CAROL SANKER, Special to The Paper
Winning and losing. The world is still abuzz with Olympic stories about controversy and gracious winning or losing. Well … sometimes the not-so-glorious losing. But for now, let’s focus on victories.
Coweta County is on a true literary winning streak. Local writing celebrities Alex McRae and Susie Berta are introducing new books, while equally famous T.M. “Mike” Brown has passed another milestone in the development of his next book.
All books will be available at Corner Arts Gallery Studios and Gift Shop on Court Square where Jenny Jones is providing increased shelf-space to showcase over 135 titles by our local authors. Aren’t we lucky to have such a wealth of literary talent and a great place to showcase it?
Read on for additional medal-worthy events, books, author and book club news.
Coweta Public Library System (CPLS)
Free Wi-Fi in all library parking lots – 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Password: Bookworm.
Central, 85 Literary Road, 770-683-2052
Monday-Friday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday – closed.
• Cuddle up and read, every Monday at 11 a.m.
• Book Bugs, every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Powell, 25 Hospital Road, 770-253-3625
Monday-Friday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday – closed.
• Make a Bullet Journal, March 8 at 3:30 p.m.
• CAREing Paws, March 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Senoia Branch, 148 Pylant Street, 770-599-3537
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday – closed.
• Your Grab & Go Kit for Busy Hand Crafters is ready to pick up March 14 any time after 10 a.m.
• Coffee & Crafting (BYOC – Bring Your Own Coffee), March 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Grantville Branch, 100 Park Drive, 770-683-0535
Monday – Friday- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday – closed.
• Chapter Chat Book Club, March 9 at 11 a.m.
• Mystery Book Club, March 24 at 1 p.m.
For more fun activities visit the Coweta County Public Library online!
The Newnan Carnegie Library (NCL)
1 Lagrange Street, downtown Newnan (www.newnancarnegie.com) – 770-683-1347.
Register for events on Eventbrite. Space is limited.
Monday-Friday – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday – 9 a.m. – noon; Sunday – closed.
• Book signing and author discussion with Alex McRae, who will introduce Rough Draft, his first fiction novel Tuesday, March 15, 6 p.m. Alex will reveal Alabaster Cash, investigative journalist who possesses “…. stories that have sent celebrities running to rehab and politicians to prison. But a wrong move could doom a publication he loves … or put him in the grave.” Maybe you will even discover who could ever name a baby, Alabaster Cash!
• Celebrate St. Pat’s Day with Hometown Novel Nights and T.M. “Mike” Brown at the Carnegie Thursday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. Learn and laugh with the Georgia Golden Authors Panel including Terri Gillespie, Rona Simmons, Lisa Welch and Alayne Smith. These gifted authors will be discussing their new books. Wonder if they’ll all wear green?
• The Carnegie Literary Circle will discuss Loving Frank by Nancy Horan Monday, March 2, 10 to 11 a.m. Read about talented architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his unique buildings as this book takes a deep plunge into his personal life. Even if you can’t attend the Literary Circle, read this book!
Write On
• You will benefit from hearing abers’ challenges, successes and the tough lessons they’ve learned so you don’t have to repeat them. T.M. “Mike” Brown is always willing to help – http://www.TMBrownAuthor.com/.
• The newly edited and updated paperback edition of Purgatory, A Progeny’s Quest, Mike’s third in the Shiloh series, is now available.
• How lucky are we? Until St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, books in Mike’s Shiloh series are on special only at Corner Arts Gallery: buy one at $16.25, 2 at $28.50 and 3 at $37.95.
• Susie Berta has released her memoir, The Veterinarian’s Wife. This multi-talented woman reflects on life with her vet husband mixed in with tales of animals, family, friends, music, and the inevitable speed bumps. Susie’s essays reflect her ability to approach life with a helping of laughter, laced with honest truths.
• Mike Brown, author of the Shiloh Mystery Series is working on The Last Laird of Sapelo: The Randolph Spalding Story, a novel based on history cut short by Spalding’s untimely death in March 1862. Why did his freed slaves travel over 200 miles to return to the island after the Civil War ended? The slaves worked alongside Randolph’s family who returned in 1868.
Road Trips and Restaurants
Welcome Book Love – We’ve hit the book jackpot! Let’s extend a warm welcome to indie bookstore, Book Love in downtown Senoia, 53 Main St. Suite C. Owner Theresa Kiomall Decker offers us a variety of tea, scrumptious sweet treats and well-selected books for all bathed in a brightly lit shop. Special book-related workshops are also in our future. Do you need a new place for your book club to meet? Reserve your spot for up to eight members during business hours.
Book Love Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday Storytime 10:15 a.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.booklovethebookshop.com.
Book Club News
• Newnan Bookends, Wednesday, March 16, 6 p.m., Founder, Jaime Vitiritti has announced the March selection, The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf. True crime writer Wylie Lark is snowed in at an isolated farmhouse where she has retreated to work on her next book. But decades earlier two people were murdered here and things are about ready to get complicated. Bookends will discuss this intriguing mystery at Los Abuelos Mexican Grill.
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William Kent Kruger, author of This Tender Land closed a recent talk by saying, “Stories do so much more than entertain us. Stories enlighten us. Stories inspire us. Stories give us hope.”
I hope the chapter of life you are living is full of hope!
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About Nancy: A love of reading which began as a child continues. Nancy collects children’s books that have messages for readers of all ages. Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor and The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld are two of her favorite tales of faith and friendship. She looks forward to hearing about your literary news, writing workshops, Little Free Libraries and book clubs at [email protected].
Kudos! Huge thanks from all the aspiring authors in Coweta County and beyond.