This month I begin the big media and publicity campaign for Book 'Em North Carolina. If you're not familiar with the event, it is an annual writers conference and book fair that takes place on the last Saturday of each February in Lumberton, North Carolina. We bring together more than 75 authors, publishers, book promoters and literary agents.
Genres range from children's books to young adult to romance, mystery, historical, fantasy, non-fiction, inspirational, science fiction... just about every genre imaginable.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can sit in on panel discussions all day long. Our headliners this year are New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe and Hollywood producer Chuck Williams. It's a terrific place to meet authors face to face, chat with them one-on-one, or attend their discussions. The fact that it's completely free is a real plus in an industry that normally charges hundreds of dollars for events such as these.
If attendees buy any books, the authors and publishers have agreed to donate a minimum of 40% of each book sale to literacy campaigns. This year, like last year, money will be donated to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Robeson County to buy books for children ages 1 through 5; Communities In Schools for literacy projects in all grade levels in Robeson County; and Friends of the Robeson County Public Library for adult literacy projects.
For more information, visit www.bookemnc.org and be sure to follow the blog at www.bookemnc.blogspot.com!
I co-founded The Book 'Em Foundation more than ten years ago with Police Officer Mark Kearney of Virginia to raise awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. I began Book 'Em North Carolina in 2011 (our first event was in 2012) and co-chair it with Robeson County Librarian Katie Huneycutt.
