Happy birthday, Fred Chappell!

Monday, May 28th was the birthday of North Carolina poet of Fred Chappell. He was born in 1936 in the small town of Canton, North Carolina. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Duke University, and spent a significant portion of his teaching career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Fred Chappell is a prolific author, having written over twenty-five books and amassed a collection of local and national awards. He had a five year tenure as the Poet Laureate of North Carolina. Having written everything from Lovecraftian horror to domestic fiction, readers are bound to find a work of his that calls to them.

I Am One of You Forever is a novel about a boy named Jess growing up in Western North Carolina during World War II. It is a coming of age story with an eccentric cast of characters, each with their own story to tell. Another book by Chappell, Dagon, is also set in North Carolina, but could not be more different a tale. It is a Southern Gothic horror that plays on the Cthulhu mythos. Dagon follows the story of Peter Leland, a preacher who inherits his grandparents' farmhouse and soon finds dark secrets hidden in the world around him. Find these books, or any of the other many Fred Chappell works, at your local bookstore or library! You're sure to find something just for you.

NC Literary Map at Greensboro Bound

On May 19th we attended Greensboro Bound: a Literary Festival! Having the opportunity to talk to local literary enthusiasts and listen to local authors was an experience we won't soon forget. We hope everyone had as good a time there as we did!

Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month, which began in 2006 and celebrates the achievements of Jewish Americans

This month we are highlighting the life and works of Harry Golden. He was born in 1902 in the Austro-Hungarian empire, but moved to New York City with his family as a young boy. He grew up with a voracious appetite for reading, but it was not until later in life that he became known for his writing. Instead, he worked as a stockbroker until 1929 when his firm declared bankruptcy.

It wasn’t until 1941 that he arrived in Charlotte, NC and began his career as a writer and journalist. He became an outspoken advocate for civil rights and began his own paper, the Carolina Israelite. It endured constant criticism and a fire that destroyed their subscription list, but survived, according to Golden, due to his use of satire, which he used to combat issues of desegregation and unionization.

In 1958 Golden became a best-selling author with Only in America, a collection of humorous essays. He went on to publish over a dozen books, many of which center on the Jewish American experience, such as Jewish Roots in the Carolinas. For those who enjoy satire and biting social commentary, find his books at your local bookstore or library. His papers can be found at J. Murrey Atkins Special Collections and Archives at UNC Charlotte.

NC Literary Map at Greensboro Bound

On May 19th the NC Literary Map will be at Greensboro Bound! Greensboro Bound is a literary festival that will gather writers and poets of all sorts for an exciting weekend of words. Find us at the Greensboro Cultural Center on the first floor to find more about the NC Literary Map!