Georgia Southern University to Host Literary Festival

October 19, 2010

Georgia Southern University and the Statesboro Regional Library invite the University community and local residents to attend the 12^th annual Georgia Literary Festival, a unique two-day event celebrating the state’s literary heritage this month.  Opening night festivities will be held in downtown Statesboro and at the Averitt Center for the Arts, beginning at 6:30 p.m., October 22. The Haunted Halloween events feature walking ghost tours of the downtown area by lantern light; a lecture entitled “Dracula & Vampires: Tracing the Bloodlines,” discussing the role of these creatures in literature and history; and performances of the play “Dearly Departed.”

A distinguished panel of 25 Georgia authors, including keynote speaker and former U.S. Senator Max Cleland will be on hand to present lectures, workshops, readings, book signings and a variety of other activities for readers of all ages at the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., October 23.

Bede Mitchell, dean of the University’s Zach S. Henderson Library and Sharon Rowe, director of the Statesboro Regional Library, are co-chairs of the festival which has previously traveled to different cities around the state.

“We’re excited because we are the first location in southeast Georgia to host the Literary Festival. We think this is a great way to celebrate the importance of reading, and we have a diverse set of authors to appeal to readers of all ages, from the academic community to children. They will talk about their work and the writing process, be available for question and answer sessions and book signings,” said Mitchell.

According to Mitchell, each of the participants has a connection to the state of Georgia, either as a resident or through the exploration of a Georgia-themed topic in their published works. Some of the authors include Ferrol Sams, a legendary Southern storyteller, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, renowned Civil War novelist Philip Lee Williams, New York Times bestselling children’s author and illustrator Nate Evans and noted cook Damon Lee Fowler.

Four Georgia Southern University professors will also join the collection of renowned authors at the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building, including Lori Amy, Sonya Huber and Eric Nelson, professors of Writing and Linguistics, and political science professor Rebecca Davis.

Georgia Southern and the Statesboro Regional Library are local sponsors of the event, which also is partially funded by the Georgia Humanities Council through the Georgia Center for the Book.

The Georgia Literary Festival is free and open to the public, with the exception of a few pre-festival events. Admission prices will be charged only for performances of “Dearly Departed” and the lamplight ghost tours. For ticket prices and a complete schedule of events, call the Averitt Center for the Arts at 212-2787 or visit www.georgialiteraryfestival2010.org.