What if the next Great American Novel hasn’t come out yet because you’re the one who’s supposed to write it? Is that spy novel you’ve been working on for years – you know, the one that’s now over 1,000 pages – ever going to see the light of day? Ever thought, “Oh, I could write that,” after sighing and tearfully putting down a romance novel?
Just what if … now is finally the time? The Chapel Hill/Durham area is chockablock with writers, writers’ groups, readings, signings and classes, so all you really need to do is find the one that kick-starts your creativity. Maybe you’ll discover that quitting your day job to write full-time isn’t your path. But just maybe all your inner Hemingway – or Seuss, or Grisham – needs is an invitation to come out and play.
Current Durham resident, raiser of chickens and food lover Jennifer Lohmann has found true-love success as author of four Harlequin’s Super Romance novels, including The First Move and A Promise for the Baby. Her latest, Weekends in Carolina, is due out this month. Join Jennifer for a meet-the-author tea and discussion of her own books and the popularity of the romance novel, sponsored by Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library.
Horse stall-mucker-turned-bartender-turned-author Nancy Peacock hosts an adult writing class at Flyleaf Books. Held the second Saturday of each month, the atmosphere is playful and supportive, and the group works using prompts and a 15-minute timer. Nancy is the author of five books, including The New York Times Notable Book Life Without Water. Her most recent novel, The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson, is heart breakingly beautiful.
Over the next couple of columns, we’re going to go inside a handful of local meet-up groups, several just for aspiring writers, some that are just plain intriguing – Snob Free Wine, Ethnic Foods, “I’ve Always Wanted to Try That,” and Triangle Polyamory … so stay tuned!
Meet the Author Tea with romance novelist Jennifer Lohmann
Thu. June 12, 3:30-5pm – Free
Chapel Hill Public Library
http://www.friendschpl.org
919-968-2780
Prompt Writing Class with Nancy Peacock
Sat. June 14, 10am-noon – Free
Flyleaf Books
Chapel Hill
http://www.flyleafbooks.com
919-942-7373
WORDS AND NOTES, NOTES AND WORDS SHUFFLE
My Cross to Bear + In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Gregg Allman)
100 Love Sonnets (Pablo Neruda) + The Lovers Cantata (Samuel Barber)
Goodnight, Keith Moon (Bruce Worden) + Tommy (The Who)
A Reliable Wife (Robert Goolrick) + Kind of Blue (Miles Davis)
Jeffery Deaver
We connected on the phone that recent Friday when tornados were threatening, so we made a plan in case we got disconnected. Ten minutes in, hail was bouncing off the windows so fast and furious that I could barely hear him. We didn’t know what was happening in Chapel Hill (me in Durham, he in California), but we both fretted about our homes and dogs (he has a show-winning Briard). I’m thinking under my breath “holy moley, I’m talking with award-winning-international-bestselling-author Jeffery Deaver about the ‘hood, dogs, bookstores and Harris Teeter.”He’s a big fan of Flyleaf and they of him. “We’re incredibly excited to host Jeffery again,” Fiocco added. “He’s a wonderful presenter and is really funny and clever. In fact you never quite know what he’s going to do but you can be assured it will be entertaining!”
simmer2sizzle 