Looking ahead to local author’s reading

Published 10:45 am Monday, April 2, 2018

The important news this week is a program that occurs early next week.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, the Clark County Public Library is delighted to welcome local author Marie Parsons as the guest speaker for April’s Writers’ Series Program. Marie is the author of “The Devil’s Back,” a story set in Eastern Kentucky about the May-December marriage of Adam and Laurey (Castle) Moore.

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Marie’s program is called “A Creation Story, or How One Novel Came to Be.” It describes the path she took to writing “The Devil’s Back.”

Marie never planned to write anything creative until several years after her retirement. At first she wrote one short story at a time every month or so. She had no deadline and no ambitious plan to write a novel. When the stories were about two-thirds written, she realized she had the makings of a novel and then began writing with the goal of creating one.

During her talk next Tuesday, Marie will trace the highs and lows in the development of “The Devil’s Back,” and she’ll even convince you that revising a piece of fiction is not only necessary but a lot of fun and where a book really comes to life.

She will read selected passages from the novel. That will be a real treat. Last summer the library sponsored a lunchtime reading for local writers. Marie read parts of “The Devil’s Back” during it and that was one of the highlights of the program. She has a wonderful reading voice and beautifully renders the accents and nuances of her characters’ voices.

Gwen Hyman Rubio, author of “Icy Sparks” and “Love and Ordinary Creatures,” was an early champion of Marie’s book.In her review, she wrote, “In her first novel, ‘The Devil’s Back,’ Marie Parsons grabs our attention as she explores the compelling story of Adam and Laurey Moore’s May-December marriage. With spirited comedy, gentle humor, and poignant reflection, the author’s roller coaster narrative whips us through a wide range of human experience, and we — as readers — emerge enlightened and delighted, as a result. A moving tale, fueled by a vivid imagination,’The Devil’s Back’ is a “must read” for all.”

Writers, readers, people interested in local history and Kentucky folkways will all enjoy Marie’s presentation. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is suggested, but not required. You can register by calling the library at 744-5661 or use the Evanced Online Registration System at www.clarkbooks.org.

Now, other programs for this week, April 2-7.

— Tuesday at 10 a.m., Internet 1. Basic internet searching. Please register to attend.

— Wednesday at 2 p.m., Kentucky Picture Show. A 2017 with an all-star acting ensemble. When a murder occurs on the train he’s travelling on, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case. Rated – PG–13.

— Wednesday at 7 p.m., Trivia Night at the Engine House Deli. Jerff Gurnee asks the questions even the scientists at CERN can’t comprehend.

— Friday at 10 a.m., Write Local. The Library’s group discusses works in progress while investigating the mysteries of life.

— Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the ever colorful Outside the Lines adult coloring group meets in the Library Board room.

Make a wonderful week even better with a stack of books and movies from the library.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.