Friends of Smyrna Library Bookstore

Did you know that the Friends of Smyrna Library operate a bookstore in the Smyrna Public Library? Turn left at the staircase when you enter from the parking lot. 

Magazines are this week’s featured bargain. They are only 10 cents each everyday! We sell all we can get so please recycle your old magazines with us through a donation and get a tax deduction too. Magazines can be dropped off at the circulation desk.

Boo-O-Ween

We had a great time tonight celebrating Boo-O-Ween at the Smyrna Public Library!   

Fall Jonquil Festival Book Sale Proceeds

We raised $1,566 during the Fall Jonquil Festival this weekend.

The weather was a bit chilly and we had a great turnout.  We sold all the old books that have been in the inventory over the past couple of years.

Our inventory now is at at RECORD LOW and we need donations of gently used books.

Thanks again to everyone who volunteered!!!

MONSTER SHORTS at the Smyrna Public Library

Something for the adults....

MONSTER SHORTS

Smyrna Public Library
Wednesday, October 30
8 pm to 9 pm

Feel free to bring your refreshments. Costumes welcome. This event is for adults (18+).

When the Library closes, the monsters are released! Get in the mood for Halloween fun with a series of short films full of vampires, zombies and monsters. 

Films will be streamed from the Library's "IndieFlix" database. If you have a Smyrna Library Card, learn how you can also watch IndieFlix movies from home or mobile devices.

Permanent Civil War Exhibit Installed at Smyrna Public Library

This permanent exhibit showcases a small portion of the generous donation to the City of Smyrna by Gerald Cox. Two other exhibits are on view at City Hall and at Brawner Hall. Pop up to the second floor of the Library to see this one.

First Sunday Lecture Series: Karl Puffe, An Immigrant's Story

Long-time Smyrna resident and former Smyrna City Councilman Foster Puffe presented a slideshow and talk entitled "An Immigrant's Story". It was based on a diary that his German grandfather kept while traveling from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the United States in 1892. 

The diary provides fascinating insights into a typical immigrant's experience on shipboard and at the Ellis Island Immigration Station in New York City.  The diary is now on permanent exhibit at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. 

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: TAMAR MYERS, Special Guest

Tamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe, and Tamar grew up fluent in the local trade language.

In college Tamar began to submit novels for publication, but it took twenty-three years for her to get published. Persistence paid off, however, because Tamar is now the author of two ongoing mystery series. One is set in Pennsylvania and features Magdalena Yoder, an Amish-Mennonite sleuth who runs a bed and breakfast in the mythical town of Hernia. The other is set in the Carolinas and centers around the adventures of Abigail Timberlake, the proud owner of a Charlotte (and later Charleston) antique store, the Den of Antiquity.

Tamar now calls Charlotte, North Carolina, home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.

Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Picchu in the near future.
She is currently working on her 32nd novel. MS Myers is a member of Sisters in Crime writers' group.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Debby Giusti

Debby published in magazines when her children were young and her husband was teaching ROTC at Truman State University. As the children grew older, she put her writing on hold and focused on church ministry and community service.
For many years, Debby wrote for SOUTHERN LADY MAGAZINE, a beautiful publication filled with everything a true Southern belle loves . . . elegant tableware, delicate lace and antique linens, special shopping and dining destinations, yummy recipes and stories about women who have made a difference. Pick up a copy and see why SOUTHERN LADY is Debby's favorite magazine!

Now Debby spends most of her time writing inspirational romantic suspense. She's currently working on her Military Investigations Series for STEEPLE HILL Love Inspired Suspense. THE OFFICER'S SECRET launched the series in May 2011. The second book, THE CAPTAIN'S MISSION, followed later that year. THE GENERAL'S SECRETARY was released in January 2013. Ms Guisti is a member of Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Deborah Malone

Deborah's work as a freelance writer and photographer has appeared in the historical magazine "Georgia Backroads" since 2001. Her short stories have appeared in "Tales of the Rails" edited by Olin Jackson. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. "Death in Dahlonega" Deborah's debut cozy mystery was released October of 2011. "Death in Dahlonega" won second place in the mystery/suspense category in the American Christian Fiction Writer's Category Five Writer's Contest.

Deborah would love to hear from you. Visit her website at www.deborah-malone.com. Her second novel "A Murder in Marietta" was released in October 2012. 

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Pamela V Mason

Pamela V. Mason is a hybrid native of New Orleans and Mobile, AL … two sister cities that are so alike, they polarize each other like the north and south ends of magnets. Much like Pam… and Pamela.

At WriterMason Productions she promotes her clients books on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Goodreads, and any other appropriate sites that specifically draw romance readers. She offer other avenues of promotion like contests, Tweet chats, Google + Hangouts, and Facebook and Goodread chats, and if her client feels really adventurous, she will brainstorm some other ideas out of the box.
Her idea of romance writing-Drag Queens pitted against Azalea Trail maids with some N'Awlins paranormal and Mobilian southern gentility thrown in. Pamela currently resides outside of Atlanta. If you'd like to make contact her email address is writermason@att.net.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Bryan Powell

Bryan M. Powell is the music pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Smyrna, GA. His book Stranger in the Pulpit is a faith based mystery novel set in Beaumont, Colorado. Chase Newton, an investigative reporter finds himself caught in an international conspiracy. In his quest for the truth to discover who Pastor T.J. Richards really is, he finds the truth he has been searching for all his life. Bryan other novels include Stranger in the White House, and Sisters of the Veil, which was released in January 2012.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Larissa Reinhart

Larissa considers herself lucky to have taught English in Japan, escaped a ferocious monkey in Thailand, studied archaeology in Egypt, and survived teaching high school history in the US. However, adopting her daughters from China has been her most rewarding experience. After moving around the Midwest, the South and Japan, she now lives in Georgia with her husband, daughters, two frogs, two fish, and Biscuit, a Cairn Terrier.

She loves small town characters with big attitudes, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. Her third Cherry Tucker mystery with Henery Press, HIJACK IN ABSTRACT, releases November 5, 2013, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW, (May 21, 2013) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (August 28, 2012). Portrait is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. On December 9, 2013, a Cherry Tucker prequel novella, QUICK SKETCH, will launch in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL.

When she's not writing about Southern fried chicken, she writes about Asian fried chicken at her blog about life as an ex-expat at the Expat Returneth.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Louise B Richardson

Louise B. Richardson is the 2014 president of Sisters in Crime-Atlanta. A veteran writer, with many years in PR and advertising on both the agency and client sides of the desk, she has served as an officer of two companies, as well as president of her own firm. She also taught college composition and business writing for over a decade.

Enthralled by fiction since childhood and hooked on mysteries since her 20's, Louise has recently begun to try her hand at mystery writing, inspired by many of the authors she has met through Sisters In Crime and Murder Goes South. She is excited to be among this year's panel moderators.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Lane Stone

Lane is a native Atlantan and graduate of Georgia State University. She, her husband, Larry Korb, and the real Abby divide their time between Sugar Hill, GA and Alexandria, VA.

She’s a member of both the Chessie Chapter and the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. When not writing she’s either raising money for women political candidates for Women’s Action for New Directions, hiking in various countries or playing golf.

She is the author of the Tiara Investigations mystery series. Her novels include Domestic Affairs and Current Affairs.

2014 Murder Goes South Presenter Bio: Tina Whittle

Tina Whittle's Tai Randolph/Trey Seaver series - featuring intrepid gunshop owner Tai and her corporate security agent partner Trey - has garnered starred reviews in Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal.  Published by Poisoned Pen Press, this Atlanta-based series debuted with The Dangerous Edge of Things, followed by Darker Than Any Shadow. The third book - Blood, Ash and Bone- premiered March 2013.

A nominee for Georgia Author of the Year in 2012, Whittle's short fiction has appeared in The Savannah Literary Journal, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and Gulf Stream, which selected her story "Lost Causes and Other Reasons to Live" as the 2004 winner of their Mystery Fiction contest. 

When not writing or reading, she enjoys golf, sushi, mini-pilgrimages, and spending time with her family (one husband, one daughter, one neurotic Maltese and three chickens).

2014 Murder Goes South Presenters Announced

Friends of Smyrna Library announced the presenters for the 2014 Murder Goes South - a Festival of Readers and Writers of the Southern Mystery. The festival will be held on Saturday January 25, 2014 at the Smyrna Community Center from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

TAMAR MYERS, Special Guest, author of 32 novels including thePennsylvania-Dutch Mystery with Recipes and Den of Antiquity mystery series.

Debby Giusti, author of The General’s Secretary, The Soldier’s Sister, The Colonel’s Daughter, MIA, and Countdown to Death.

Deborah Malone, author of Murder in Marietta and Death in Dahlonega.

Pamela V Mason, founder of WriterMason Productions and promoter of writers.

Bryan Powell, author of Stranger in the Pulpit, Stranger in the Whitehouse, and Sisters of the Veil.

Larissa Reinhart, author of Still Life in Brunswick Stew, Portrait of a Dead Guy, and Hijack to Abstract.

Louise B Richardson, 2014 president of Sisters in Crime - Atlanta Chapter.

Lane Stone, author of the Tiara Investigations mystery series.

Tina Whittle, author of The Dangerous Edge of Thins, Blood Ash and Bone, and Darker than Any Shadow.

Jewelry & Fused Glass Art Exhibit by Marselle Harrison-Miles Opens in Display Gallery

Growing up Marselle had always been surrounded by creative people. Her Grandfather and mother both had flourishing singing careers with a "9-5" by day and nights filled with rehearsals and performances at church or at local events. Aside from a passion for musicshe was enamored with dance, drawing and the family glass menagerie. She continuedher love of visual arts through high school by claiming to want to be artist and taking as many art classes as she possibly could. Marselle began Piedmont College with a major in the Arts supported by a basketball scholarship. She completed her studies at Georgia State University with her degree in Drawing and Painting and minoring in African/African Diaspora Arts. Right out of school, Marselle started working at the Atlanta International Museum of Art Design and Culture, now known as MODA, in Atlanta as an intern Docent/Education Coordinator. This is where Marselle's love of glass and beads was reawakened by the Ndebele of South Africa exhibit on display in the museum and the colorful Dale Chihuly vessels on display in the gift shop. It was then she started collecting beads, studying various bead weaving patterns and making beaded jewelry. 

Before long Marselle started working for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta as an Art Director who often gleaned artistic inspiration from her student programs and other Artists. Later she became the Program Director for Youth Art Connection. Marselle loved the freedom of creation, art lesson development and art instruction that exposed her to local and visiting artists monthly. She then started working as an Arts Specialist for Cobb County and slowly but surely started to learn glass fusing and slumping techniques from Teresa Barnes, a teacher at all three county centers. Though glass instruction focused on small to large platters, dishes and vessels, Marselle concentrated on developing jewelry designs. Her fused glass jewelry consists of opal and transparent glasses with irid and dischroic glass on the surface. Most jewelry designs have fine silver fused into the glass so that after firing, jump rings and other attachment mechanisms can be incorporated into the final creation as either a, ring, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. Glass Artists Evette Everette, Kate Rothra Flemming and Patti Cahill are all amazing jewelry artisans Marselle considers mentors.

Marselle is not limited to jewelry design but has also studied alternative photography processes such as polaroid and emulsion transfer techniques. A good friend and talented photographer Michael Reese taught her the basics and inspired her to experiment and find the story. While polaroid is no longer an active company, she is always looking to push the limits of film developing and transfer techniques to unusual surfaces. For the current show "Remembering", she uses special fusible paper for fusible glass that allows her to combine her love of glass fusing and special moments captured on film for moments forever captured in glass. 

Marselle resides in Metro Atlanta and works out of her home studio to create both custom and inspired fused glass art to wear and display.