Our 4th annual authors' event is here!

     We are down to the wire in finalizing our fourth annual authors' event!  From this point on, things will either be ready or very scarey.  You've probably been in a situation like that too.  So, we are going to take a deep breath and smile...SMILE...smile.
     This Sunday, May 1st, "An Afternoon with the Authors" will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library.  The address (in the event you're in the vicinity) is 204 5th Street, Southeast.  You'll find us near McDonald's, Rose's Department Store, and the Museum for Colquitt County History.
     About 2 p.m. there will be an authors' group discussion in the adult reading area.  Our moderator, director Melody Jenkins, will ask the authors some interesting questions.  But better than that will be their interesting answers.
     After the discussion, the auditorium will be opened and the authors will move to their tables where the public can meet them, talk to them about their books, and purchase copies of their books.  This will be a good time to have the books autographed, too.  And remember, Mother's Day is coming up!
     There will be light refreshments of cookies, punch, and flavored tea.  A little something to soothe the stomach between lunch after church and supper time.
     As for those wonderful authors who will be on hand to talk to you, you're going to meet:

• Jackie K. Cooper of Perry, Georgia.  He is the author of six books, the latest "Back to the Garden."  This book continues his series of short stories about life in the South as seen through his eyes.  He's not only an author, but a film critic, a guest speaker on radio and television, a teacher of writing memoirs, and one of the founders of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, as well as a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
• Patience Arline-Hicks and daughter Wendi Hicks of Moultrie.  This writing team has authored two children's books, "Old Mean Molly" and "Sitting on My Mama's Porch."  Patience holds a second Master of Education degree from Grand Canyon University in special education and is employed by Williams Middle School here in Moultrie.  Wendi graduated from Mercer University in Macon and is admission counselor at Virginia College.
• Dean Poling of Valdosta is the author of "Waiting for Willie," which was nominated in the 46th annual Georgia Writers Association in the first novel category.  He's also written "Cowboy Boots and Pony Tales."  He is a multiple winner of the Georgia Press Association's first-place award for his serious and humorous newspaper columns.  Dean has been with The Valdosta Daily Times since 1989 and is the assistant managing editor.  He is also associate editor, contributing writer and photographer with Valdosta Scene magazine and teaches a "Learning in Retirement" creative writing class.
• Niles Reddick of Tifton is the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Vice President for Academic Affairs.  He recently published his second book, "Lead Me Home," which has been nominated this year for an award by the Georgia Writers Association in the category of first novel.  Dr. Reddick is originally from Hahira, and he uses the South Georgia towns of Pavo and Nashville for the book's setting.  His first book was a humorous short story collection titled "Road Kill Art and Other Oddities."
• Cheryle Reeves of Moultrie is on staff at Moultrie's Heritage Church where she is the Discipleship and Connections Coordinator.  She said she originally wrote "Authentic Life" to be used as church-wide curriculum.  However, the book was later published as a companion piece to a marriage conference where she and her husband, Roy, served on a speaking team.

     And believe it or not, when our publicity went from Tallahassee to Tifton to Valdosta to Albany, and who knows where else, we had authors contact us to ask if they could be part of our 4th annual authors' event.  Of course, it was too late to add them to this year.  BUT, people!  I do believe we have our 5th annual already in the making.  Come see us Sunday and enjoy "An Afternoon with the Authors."