The discussion of IN PAIN at Roanoke County Public Library is being postponed. We expect to hold it during the fall as part of Roanoke County Public Library's ongoing offerings in the New Connections: Let's Talk series. Find the list of other upcoming events here, and let us know if something is missing.
Author: Douglas Charles Jackson
Roanoke VA based writer and community coach.
★ Artist Katherine Devine: Reading and laughter in a life of creativity (Podcast Episode 2.4)
Roanoke artist Katherine Devine joins host Douglas Jackson for a discussion of books that have shaped her identity as an artist. "Writing and Reading is really how I make decisions about my life," says Katherine. In the sense of personal transformation, Katherine is steadily at work. If you're a fan of memoir and art, creative… Continue reading ★ Artist Katherine Devine: Reading and laughter in a life of creativity (Podcast Episode 2.4)
★ STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING Book Club Notes
Tonight's session on the final chapters of Stamped from the Beginning will feature Vice Mayor Joe Cobb as our guest presenter. Note that notes and videos from the sessions are posted here at our landing page. For convenience, they're also shown below. BACKGROUND In collaboration with Roanoke Public Libraries builds, the Stamped from the Beginning… Continue reading ★ STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING Book Club Notes
★ Hoot & Holler’s Lee Hunsaker, On Profound stories and the support of a community (Podcast Episode 2.3)
Lee Hunsaker returned to Roanoke to "live authentically" near the mountains and her family. She tells us about rediscovering her true love of writing and stories and the idea for a story hoedown that's grown into a tradition of Hoot and Holler storytelling evenings, featuring "Our Stories. Out Loud." "I really push for honesty and… Continue reading ★ Hoot & Holler’s Lee Hunsaker, On Profound stories and the support of a community (Podcast Episode 2.3)
★ Gary Keel at Raleigh Court Branch, Sat. Feb 1, 2 PM
Author Gary A. Keel will appear at the Raleigh Court branch of Roanoke Public Libraries on Saturday. We got a couple of questions in as a preview. His book is Executive Order 14900. In the fictional tale, the careful balance of a democracy is tipped. Are the founding documents enough to defend the nation against an… Continue reading ★ Gary Keel at Raleigh Court Branch, Sat. Feb 1, 2 PM
★ Roanoke City Council Member Bill Bestpitch – “You oughta be reading something.” (Podcast Episode 2.2)
Season two of the BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke continues with Roanoke City Council Member Bill Bestpitch. Bestpitch offers reflections on his reading life, Roanoke's progress, and the exchange of perspectives over shared reading. Transformation, the theme of this season's episodes involves communities as well as individuals. "Everyone wants progress," says Bestpitch, "but nobody wants change." Transparency,… Continue reading ★ Roanoke City Council Member Bill Bestpitch – “You oughta be reading something.” (Podcast Episode 2.2)
★ On gathering Nourishing Stories with Journalist Christina Nifong (Podcast Episode 2.1)
Season two of the BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke podcast launches with Douglas Jackson in conversation with freelance journalist and local foods advocate Christina Nifong. In her profiles of Roanoke area residents, Nifong plays the cinematographer. "I'm always trying to decide when to go in tight and when to pull back," she says. The telling detail… Continue reading ★ On gathering Nourishing Stories with Journalist Christina Nifong (Podcast Episode 2.1)
★ Inhabiting other lives in historical fiction with Lawrence Reid Bechtel
Blacksburg-based sculptor and author Lawrence Reid Bechtel has released the novel, A Partial Sun (BQB Publishing, 2019). The story of Isaac Granger, the work of historical fiction follows the enslaved man from Monticello to Philadelphia when Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson apprentices him to a tinsmith. Bechtel, who has two pieces of sculpture in the City… Continue reading ★ Inhabiting other lives in historical fiction with Lawrence Reid Bechtel
★ Game of (micro) phones
Season two of the BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke Podcast is on its way. In fact, expect the first episode to hit your podcast service on Thursday, 1/16. That means it's time to binge all 11 episodes of season one to be ready for season two, just like you did with Stranger Things. What happened last… Continue reading ★ Game of (micro) phones
★ Winter 2020 Events
JANUARYJan. 7 ★ Stamped From the Beginning Book Discussion, 6:30 PM at Melrose LibraryJan. 14 ★ Stamped From the Beginning Book Discussion, 6:30 PM at Melrose LibraryJan 14 ★ Writing Group at South County LibraryJan. 16 ★ Hoot and Holler - Celebrity Crush, 7 PM at the GrandinJan. 18 ★ Writing Poetry about the Natural… Continue reading ★ Winter 2020 Events
BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke 