Library Hosts First Authors Festival

Mark your calendars and get out your cameras. Saturday, the Cartersville Public Library is hosting its first Authors Festival featuring more than 15 writers.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak in person with such well-know authors as New York Times bestseller of the Red Hat Club series, Haywood Smith, as well as author Patricia Sprinkle, local authors Jim Haigler, Joe Dabney, Sal Amico, Jonathan Maxwell and many others.

Each author will be at an individual table with autographed books available, giving attendees the unique opportunity to interact with them at length.

“For young writers in Cartersville, this is great because they receive a chance to get their name in public and get their book out there," said Colleen Knight, Adult Services coordinator. “For the public it’s a chance to meet authors in a personal, one-on-one kind of way and ask questions and get some autographed books.”

The attending authors are just as enthusiastic.

“I’m very excited about being in Cartersville,” said Haywood Smith. “I love the opportunity to meet my readers; it’s always very fun.”

Like the other authors, Smith will have several books with her to sign, including Ladies of the Lake, Waking up in Dixie and Red Hat Club book three, Wedding Bells.  

“I went through a bad divorce about 10 years ago,” said Smith. “I told myself I wouldn’t read or write another thing that couldn’t make me laugh. I want to bring hope and encouragement to my readers.”

The library plans to host more Author Festivals in the future, expanding the itineraries to include aspects such as question-and-answer sessions, workshops and other interactive activities with the authors.

Cameras and photography are welcome. The 2 to 4 p.m. event in Nathan Deal Community Rooms A and B is free of charge.

For more information on this and other events hosted by the Bartow County Library System, visit the website at bartowlibraryonline.org or call 770-382-4203.