Authors Day, Santa at the Library of Graham next weekend

The Library of Graham is hosting local and regional authors and continuing a holiday tradition during its Authors Day and Santa at the Library events next weekend.

The events will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 at the library located at 910 Cherry St. Last year was the first time the library combined the two events and there were more than 500 visitors who attended.

“Previously, it had been two separate events and this was a good way to maximize the audience for both to have interactions,” Library Director DeAnna Bullock said. “It’s also better for our staff and for people to be able to do both.”

The fourth annual Authors Day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with 19 authors scheduled to attend.

“It’s over a variety of genres. We have six children’s authors, which is a huge growth area. That was something we focused on because the event is combined with Santa day, so there’s more children in the library,” Bullock said. 

The library works year-round to connect with authors so they can be involved in the event. The library director said the event serves as a way to connect the community with area authors.

“If somebody is wanting to write a book, or maybe they’re working on it, they can talk to these authors that have done it and get some good ideas, or know how to approach it,” Bullock said. “They can make some networking contacts and find out how to tap into other organizations.”

Santa at the Library will be held from 10 a.m. to noon with photo opportunities with Santa along with live piano music. 

“Families have an opportunity to take pictures with Santa using their own device and it’s free of charge so that’s a nice benefit for our community,” Bullock said. “All of the kids get a free book that they can select themselves.”

The Authors Day event was first started after the library received funding from Young County to support arts and literacy. The library used that funding to host the first Authors Day, Young County Poetry Gathering and create the Pollinator Pathway Children’s Garden.

Participating Authors

• Lisa Bell - Suspense, Thriller
• Pamela Campbell - Spirituality
• James Clement - Children’s Author
• Gregory Coker - Nonfiction
• Cristina Diaz - Poetry, Nonfiction
• A.W. Erwin - Graphic Novels
• Hailey Grace - Romance
• Bill Gunn - Historical Fiction, Western
• Nancy Harrison - Children’s Author
• Christine Kohler - Historical Fiction
• Kelly LaFarge - Children’s Nonfiction
• Russ Mitchell - Science Fiction
• Victoria Richards - Children’s Author
• Mike Roundtree - Children’s Author 
• Marion Surles - Christian Fiction
• Shelley Taylor - Memoir
• Amanda Thrasher - Fantasy, Adventure
• Caleb Ware - Fantasy, Science Fiction
• Tabatha Waybright - Children’s, Young Adult Author