NEWS
Bookworms Unite
Authors Susan Rivers (left) and Julia Franks (right) were joined by Adah Fitzgerald of Main Street books during a book signing following their conversation at the 21st Annual Gathering of The Bookclubs of Davidson.
Adah Fitzgerald, proprietor of Main Street Books, introduced the moderator and authors participating in the author conversation at the 21st Annual Gathering of the Book Clubs of Davidson.
Thursday afternoon, October 19 more than 100 self-described Davidson bookworms converged at The Pines for the 21st Annual Gathering of The Book Clubs of Davidson.
Adah Fitzgerald, proprietor of Main Street Books, introduced the moderator and authors participating in the conversation. The authors addressing the group were Susan Rivers and Julia Franks. Rivers is the author of “The Second Mrs. Hockaday,” and Franks penned “Over the Plain Houses.”
The afternoon event began with a reception and was followed by an author conversation moderated by Dr. Sally McMillen, retired Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of History at Davidson College. McMillen is also the author of “Lucy Stone: An Unapologetic Life.”
Dr. Sally McMillan, retired Davidson College Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of History, served as the moderator of the book clubs’ gathering.
McMillen asked the authors a series of questions that ranged from how they had come upon the topic of their books to how extensively they research the details of their fiction. The two authors also took time to read a selected passage from their books.
The audience then asked Rivers and Franks several questions before the event wrapped up. Following the discussion, the authors remained to sign books for the guests – many of whom added new “signed” editions of these books to their libraries.
For those interested in local trivia, it turns out that Davidson is home to the most book clubs per-capita in the state of North Carolina. Our town is home to more than 32 organized book clubs.
Susan Rivers read from her book, The Second Mrs. Hockaday at the book club gathering. Rivers lives in and writes in a small town in upstate South Carolina.
Author Julia Franks lives in Atlanta, but has roots in the Appalachian Mountains where she has spent time kayaking in West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. She teaches literature and runs Loose Canon, a free-choice reading in the classroom.
If you want to watch the author conversation you can still see it on the News of Davidson Facebook page.