Austin Carty, Batt Humphreys to sign books

Austin Carty, a "Survivor" alumni, has written a new book, "High Points and Lows: Life, Faith and Figuring it All Out."

He will be at Literary Bookpost Saturday, Feb. 20, 3:30-5 p.m., to speak and sign his books.

Carty, a High Point native, was known as "the Christian guy" on "Survivor: Panama" in 2006. In an amusing chapter in his book, "Chicks Dig Ace," he describes the celebrity hierarchy in High Point: Chris Daughtry, a veteran of season five of "American Idol," is president of the "(Un)official Bureau of High Point Reality Stars." Having sold millions of records and appeared all over television, he's well known.

Vice president of the group, according to Carty, is Fantasia Barrino, also of "Idol" fame. She has even appeared on Broadway.

Carty calls himself the intern and says he's sometimes recognized as "that guy" who was on television at posh restaurants like Pizza Hut.

Carty writes about his Christian journey and tells about his discussion with Bobby, the attorney on the show. His mother joins Carty at a party for the cast and Bobby tells her that Carty's answer to his theological questions meant more than anyone trying to explain it, point-by-point. Carty told him ,"I honestly don't know. I just have faith."

The book is totally approachable with a light, conversational style. He also confesses his shortcomings, including an immature faith that included a lot of sound and fury.

And he goes so far as to blame the popular tween show, "Saved by the Bell," for fostering materialistic and selfish values.

Don't worry, he also dishes on what it was like to be on "Survivor" and what unpleasant things he learned about himself.

The book has won praise for being uninhibited, having "sweet-tea theology" and being "genuinely funny and uncommonly humble."

He will also speak at Livingstone College on Monday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m.

He is a Christian speaker these days and blogs at www.austincarty.com.

Author tries to right a wrong

Author Batt Humphreys, whose book is reviewed on this page, will read and sign books at Literary Bookpost on Saturday, Feb. 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m., just before Austin Carty’s appearance.

Humphreys book is published by Joggling Board Press, in collaboration with the Evening Post Publishing Co., the parent company of the Salisbury Post.

Humphreys and his family live on a farm outside Charleston, S.C.