Third annual Local Author’s Night in Mayodan

By Steve Lawson

Published: September 18, 2008

The Western Friends of the Library brings together an eclectic group of authors for Monday evening’s third annual Local Author’s Night. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Mayodan Public Library, seven Rockingham County writers will share insights from their own creative experiences and offer advice for others interested in getting works published.

“I think we’ve assembled one of our best panels yet,“ said Charlotte Lankford, the Mayodan Library assistant who developed the event. “These writers represent a broad spectrum of literary work, and they’re from right here in our own backyard.“

Lankford credits one of this year’s writers with giving her the idea for starting Local Author’s Night idea. Lankford said she was in a Madison store three years ago and saw Dena Harris signing copies of her first book, “Lessons in Stalking.“

Lankford said she recognized Harris as a regular patron at the Mayodan Library but did not realize she was a writer.

“We didn’t even have her books in the library,“ Lankford said.

That chance meeting caused Lankford to start checking on how many authors were living in the Rockingham County area, and that led to the first Local Author’s night.

This year, Harris will be among the writers on the panel.

An award-winning freelance writer and author of several humor books on cats, Harris, of Ohio, married a North Carolina native and ended up in the historic district of Madison.

In addition to two books on cats, Harris has several stories and anecdotes published in collections such as “Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul,“ “I Love Cats,“ and “Cats and Kittens.“ She also teaches public speaking and networking workshops.

Only one of this year’s writers previously appeared at a Local Author’s Night. Guilio Dattero, a captain with the Reidsville Police Department, returns to the forum to discuss his second crime novel - “Revenge, My Valentine.“ Last year, Dattero told those attending the event he chose detective work for his subject because it was part of his life.

“I believe you should write about what you know, and if I don’t know police work by now, I guess there’s no hope for me,“ said Dattero, a 26-year veteran.

Dattero’s first novel, “Bloody November,“ was published in 2006 and introduces police detective Clark Dixon from the fictional town of Stuartsboro. Dixon returns in Dattero’s new novel, working through another winter in Stuartsboro to solve a 50-year-old murder after receiving an eerie phone call on a snowy Valentine’s Day. But Dixon’s interest in the case is questioned when his chief and a city councilman demand he back off and concentrate on a recent rash of burglaries.

Dattero said he spent time researching what Reidsville was like 50 years earlier, even looking through some 1957 Reidsville High School annuals to find a few names to use in the novel.

Of the remaining authors, three are from the Stoneville area, one from Mayodan and one from Madison. Maxine Crane lives in the Stoneville area. Growing up in Culpepper, she graduated from Catawba College and taught English, journalism and creative writing for 28 years before retiring in 1992.

Crane’s book, “Ask for Nothing,“ is a true story of life in Madison County, Va., from 1846 to 1925. The story revolves around the life of Frances Henderson, as related to Crane by various family members over a period of 30 years.

“My main source of information came from my aunt, Mae Yowell, who was 9 years old when Frances died,“ Crane said.

Crane’s daughter, Cheryl Crane, drew the 29 illustrations in her book.

Another Stoneville writer, Rick Eichhorn, will discuss his new fiction novel, “The Scrolls of Tora Bora: Hafsah’s Recension.“ The book centers around the discovery of scrolls discovered by U.S. Marines searching for intelligence information in a cave in Afghanistan. Studying the scrolls creates danger for a language professor, who turns to an ex-Navy Seal for help.

Eichhorn wrote the book under the pseudonym, Demi Kaeffer, because of serious questions about the history and ongoing agenda of the Islamic faith raised by the explosive thriller.

The third Stoneville writer, Marilyn Swinson, teamed with a friend from Mayodan to create “Taking the Long Way Home.“ Swinson’s collection of poems candidly describes her Christian journey from childhood to golden years. Interspersed throughout the book are stories from Swinson’s friend and co-writer, Mollie Williams.

The final member of Monday’s panel, Georgianna Penn, grew up in Madison. A graduate of Greensboro College, she has lived in Los Angeles, Virginia and other parts of North Carolina before returning to her hometown. Penn spent many years in sales, marketing and performing arts but recently rediscovered herself through poetry, creative writing, and her faith.

Penn’s book is titled, “The Many Languages and Peaces of God.“

“This book is simply about hope, love and faith,“ Penn said. “It is made up of poems and essays written over the past two years - inspired by the Holy Spirit, my church, my pain, my love for others and God ... and all the amazing graces along the way.“

The book even includes a workbook section at the back to help the reader along their own journey of faith.

The Local Author’s Night at Mayodan Library begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, call Lankford at 548-6951.

News Editor Steve Lawson can be reached at or at 548-6047.