2013 Local Authors Expo

The annual Local Authors Expo is an extraordinary event showcasing up to 100 Alabama authors, including many from the Birmingham area. Come to the Central Library on Saturday, February 2, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to meet the writers and get personalized, autographed copies of their books.

This year's featured speaker is Carolyn Maull McKinstry, author of While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Rights Movement, a poignant and gripping eyewitness account of what it was like to grow up in the Jim Crow South - from the bombings, riots, and assassinations to the historic marches and triumphs that characterized the Civil Rights era. Fourteen-year-old Carolyn McKinstry was just a few feet away when the Klan-planted bomb that killed four of her friends exploded in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Writing her story nearly 50 years later, While the World Watched is a uniquely moving exploration of how racial relations have evolved over the past five decades and an incredible testament to how far we've come, and how far we have yet to go. Mrs. McKinstry will speak at 1:00 p.m., February 2, in the Richard Arrington Auditorium.

The Expo will also feature a presentation for aspiring writers: Show, Don't Tell: How to Breathe Life Into Your Writing. "Show, don't tell" is the most common piece of advice that beginning writers get from professionals, teachers, and industry insiders. BPL librarian and local author Jared Millet will clarify what "show, don't tell" actually means and demonstrate how to use writing to give readers a strong emotional experience. This program will be held at 10:30 a.m., February 2, in the Richard Arrington Auditorium.

Any authors who wish to sign up for a booth at the event may do so online at the EventBrite registration page. There is a $5 booth fee for participating authors, but attending the Expo will be free for the general public, no registration required. For more information, contact Jared Millet at (205) 226-3727.

Local Authors Expo
February 2, 2013
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Central Library - 1st Floor

"Show, Don't Tell" Writing Seminar
February 2, 2013
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Central Library - Arrington Auditorium

"While the World Watched" with Carolyn Maull McKinstry
February 2, 2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Central Library - Arrington Auditorium

2013LocalAuthors.eventbrite.com

The Local Authors Expo is presented by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library, a nonprofit association that supports Birmingham Public Library special needs by providing volunteer and financial resources.