In July, we had a book signing here at the library with some local authors present to sell and sign their books. I just finished reading one of those books, It’s All About the People, by Gary W. McConnell. McConnell was sheriff in nearby Chattooga County for many years. He left Chattooga to be the head of GEMA (Georgia Emergency Management Agency) under Governors Zell Miller and Roy Barnes, and he supervised the security for the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
Our Book Club read The Corpsewood Manor Murders this month. The double murders took place in Chattooga County while McConnell was sheriff, so I was interested to see what he had to say about those events. His book had quite a few pictures from the scene. That same year he was dealing with Judith Ann Neelley and that murder case. It was an interesting read and we have his book in the library.
Other authors who were there for the book signing were Dave Connis, Rex Blevins, Robert (Bobby) Bradford and Jay Jones. Dave Connis was a staff member here at our library for a while and is the author of two (YA) young adult books, The Temptation of Adam and Suggested Reading. Come and check them out.
Robert (Bobby) Bradford is also the author of two books, a YA book, Above the Pines, and Extraordinary Secrets, a mystery. Bobby was one of my students and I’m very proud of his accomplishments.
Jay Jones Jr. has written Tom and Huck’s Final Adventure, a very interesting sequel to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Ever wondered what happened to Tom and Huck all grown up? See Jay’s take on that.
Rex Blevins has written a memoir which will leave you laughing. As I Recall: Memories of a Lifetime in Dade County is just that. Many of Rex’s stories are about his father’s experiences in his years as the sheriff of Dade County and others are things Rex got up to himself. I think we should support these local authors by buying or at least checking out one of their books to read.
Trick or Treat on the Square is this Saturday, October 26, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join us as we recreate scenes from Star Wars throughout the library and collect treats along the way. A magician will be on hand as well and there will be lots of booths set up outside the library for Trick or Treat. Bring the kids and enjoy the fun and goodies.
We are very sorry to be saying good-by to our children’s specialist Faith McBrayer. She will be welcoming a new addition to her family in the near future and will be staying home with her little ones.
The Friends of the Library are having a membership drive this month. The Friends are volunteers who raise money and do volunteer work to support library programs at our library. If you can volunteer your time, we can use your help. You can be as active as you wish. If all you can do is pay your $10 membership fee, that is helpful, too.
There are membership forms at the counter at the library. Come and fill one out and leave your membership fee, or if it’s more convenient, mail your ten dollars to Friends of the Dade County Public Library, P.O. Box 340, Trenton, GA 30752. Please give us
your contact information (address, phone, and email) so that we can inform you about meetings and projects. The Friends meet quarterly.
LInda Wilson is everybody's favorite retired English teacher and a faithful Friend of the Dade County Public Library. Email her at lanew@tvn.net.
