New York Times best-selling fiction author John Hart will be the guest speaker at the Pfeiffer University Friends of the Library annual book and author luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., on Thursday, April 3, in Goode Hall on Pfeiffer’s Misenheimer campus.
A North Carolina native, Hart has basked in favorable reviews and was nominated for the 2008 Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Both of his books, “The King of Lies” and “Down River,” his sophomore novel released last October, are New York Times bestsellers. Janet Maslin of The New York Times said of Hart, “There hasn’t been a thriller as showily literate since Scott Turow came along.”
In his latest suspense novel, “Down River,” Hart makes a memorable return to Rowan County, where he forces his characters to the edge, discovers the sinister side of human nature, and questions the elemental ability of forgiveness.
Hart chose to set both books in Rowan County, where he grew up, and will not openly say whether the characters in his novels are based on real-life associates.
“You take a risk when you set a book in your small hometown. Everybody is going to look through ‘The King of Lies’ to recognize characters and they’re going to wonder if I’ve worked some of my real-life acquaintances into the story,” said Hart in a story printed by the Salisbury Post. “There’s a thin line that weaves through the book, with fiction on one side and fact on the other. And I’ll never tell where that line is.”
Hart earned a bachelor’s degree in French literature and graduate degrees in accounting and law. Hart worked as a banker, stockbroker and attorney, but always aspired to write novels, which he now does full-time. He still lives in North Carolina with his wife and two daughters.
Cost for the luncheon is $25 for Friends’ members and $30 for non-members; a reservation is required by Thursday, March 27. For additional information about Pfeiffer University Friends of the Library’s annual book and author luncheon or to RSVP, contact Lara Little at 704-463-3353 or lara.little@pfeiffer.edu. For more about John Hart, visit www.johnhartfiction.com.
Network goes virtual
The North Carolina Writers’ Network has moved to a virtual office, with staff members working online from home offices.
“Our first responsibility is bringing together writers from across North Carolina and beyond,” said Ed Southern, who became the network’s executive director in January. “We offer a great deal more, but that’s the fundamental reason we’re here.
“The virtual office allows us to be much more efficient, flexible and responsive. We’re better using technology not just to reach our members, but to allow them to reach us.”
The network has redesigned its Web site, www.ncwriters.org, to host online forums, blogs and other interactive features.
Southern said, “We’re making it a home for comment and discussion, for lively and entertaining writing, as well as news and resources. Our conferences always spark a real sense of community among North Carolina’s writers; we hope the new Web site will make that community more inclusive and more active.”
The network closed its office in White Cross School, west of Carrboro. Past newsletters, minutes from board meetings, chapbooks and other materials were archived in the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“The staff and I obviously have to be located somewhere, but we aren’t the network. We’re just the organizers. The members themselves are the network.”