Editor

jevans@pickenssentinel.com

PICKENS - Members of the Birchwood Center for Folk Like strongly believe in celebrating the arts of the area, whether music, visual art, or the written word.

Writers of all stripes will be on hand 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday July 27 at the Center's annual book sale at Table Rock Lodge.



"We've probably got about two dozen writers signed up to attend," said Dot Jackson, site manager for the Birchwood Center. "All kinds of writers, something from every genre."

Authors include Gil Allen, Tom Johnson, Kate Salley Palmer, Mindy Friddle and young Central author Hannah Reeves - just to name a few.

The book sale is a chance for local authors to meet their fans, make new fans, and have a venue to sell their books.

"Some of these authors have no venues for their books," Jackson said. "They're not carried in stores. Some of the authors will go home with a good little bit of money in their pockets. It's a wonderful opportunity to sell their books."

The Birchwood Center collects no money from the book sale, with all proceeds from sales going directly to the authors themselves.

"All the authors keep their profits," she said. "We encourage the buyers to come out and see what's for sale."

Wilt Browning, who has written many books about Pickens County, will be attending.

Browning's latest book is "Come Quittin' Time."

The demand for Browning's new book at a recent appearance at the Pickens County Museum quickly outstripped the supply, Jackson said.

"He's a writer who is loved by a lot of people," she said.

George Singleton's latest novel, "Work Shirts for Madmen" is about what happens when a hard-drinking Southern ice sculptor decides to get off the bottle and crosses paths with Alcoholics Anonymous, anteaters, angry Republicans and a group of kidnapped snapping turtles.

Singleton's next book, "Pep Talks, Warnings and Screeds," a collection of his own sayings and advice about writing, will be published in October.

Singleton's other work includes his first novel - the appropriately-titled "Novel" - and the short story collections "These People Are Us," "The Half-Mammals of Dixie," and "Why Dogs Chase Cars."

Local genealogist Anne Sheriff will have her many works concerning the area available.

North Carolina author Sherry Austin will also attend.

"She writes novels about the supernatural," Jackson said. "Very good stuff."

Austin's latest novel, "The Days Between the Years," was published last year. Her other works are the novel "Where the Woodbine Twines" and the collection "Mariah of the Spirits."

Jerry Vickery will be attending with Johnny Hester, the subject of Vickery's new book, "The Forgotten Society of the Keowee River Valley: a biography of a sharecropper, Johnny V. Hester."

"They're both coming," Jackson said.

Hester - known as "the bee man - will be bringing some props, Jackson said.

"He'll be bringing some relics of the bee world," she said, laughing.

Jerry Alexander will be on hand with his books, including his latest "The Antebellum Era in the Carolinas."

"His new book is really delightful," Jackson said. "People from all over the landscape are really delighted by it."

Jackson is looking forward to the "meeting of the two Jerry's."

"I think it's going to be great," she said.

Most of the booksellers will not be able to take credit cards, so bring cash or checks, Jackson said.

In addition to the buying and selling, many authors will read from the works throughout the day, Jackson said.

Refreshments will be served at the sale, Jackson said.

"It's a party atmosphere," Jackson said. "It's our yearly reception for authors and the public is invited."

For more information, call the Birchwood Center at 898-1418.