Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wordsmiths Books named “Best Place for Author Readings/Signings” in both critics and readers polls for 2008.


Wordsmiths Books, in Decatur, GA, is thrilled to announce that Georgia-focused news and lifestyle publication Creative Loafing has named them “Best Place for Author Readings/Signings” in both critics and readers polls for 2008.



Since opening its doors in June of 2007, Wordsmiths Books has presented a vast number of author events and programs on a variety of topics, subjects, and genres, from New York Times-bestselling thriller author Stuart Woods to hip-hop style icon Fonzworth Bentley, as well as a rare poetry-reading appearance by folk-singer/activist icon Ani Difranco. Wordsmiths also has shown strong support to local authors and personalities, building programs and events around appearances by Karin Gillespie, Julie L Cannon and Patricia Sprinkle, the first public post-Top Chef appearance Richard Blais and a launch party celebrating the first book released by Sandy Springs-based fantasy and science-fiction publisher Mercury Retrograde Press, amongst many others, as well as hosting a recurring poetry showcase curated by Poetry Atlanta. Wordsmiths has also become notable for pairing live music with author readings, and for co-initiating one of the first recurrent “reading series” in the Atlanta literary community with book blog BabyGotBooks.



Given Wordsmiths focus on and time & attention paid to in-store events, the praise of “Best Place For Author Readings/Signings” in both critics and readers polls for 2008 comes as welcome and high praise from Creative Loafing. With a circulation of 112,000, Creative Loafing Atlanta is an alternative newsweekly nationally known for our coverage of news, culture, contemporary music and the arts. “The amount of time and attention spent here on in-store event programming, making sure that there's a balance of genres, demographics, etc, trying to combine things people have done since the dawning of time (I am pretty sure that there are paleontologists who have evidence of raptors running around signing copies of books for their T-Rex fans) with some forward-thinking, cutting-edge stuff is quite a hefty chunk of time”, Wordsmiths Marketing and Publicity Director Russ Marshalek writes in their store blog. “The fact that we nailed both the critics AND write-in votes means something.”



Forthcoming author events at Wordsmiths Books include environmentalist writer Greg Melville, debuting his book Greasy Rider at the store on October 7th at 7:30 P.M., local poet Collin Kelley appearing with Cecilia Woloch on October 11 at 2 P.M., and Flannery O’Connor prize-winners Andrew Porter and Peter Selgin on October 17th at 7:30 P.M. Further ahead, Wordsmiths will be announcing an event co-sponsored with Atlanta-based music and culture magazine PASTE featuring Americana-chronicler Amanda Petrusich, author of “It Still Moves” for November.




Wordsmiths Books, in Decatur, GA, is located on the Square in Decatur.

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