Signings at Literary Bookpost

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 17, 2011

Author N.J. Simpson grew up just across the Yadkin River outside of Spencer and fondly remembers traveling across the Wil-Cox bridge heading to Salisbury. She frequently shopped along Main Street and is thrilled to come back to that same street to visit the Literary Bookpost as an author. Simpson has just released ěNot So Random,î a romantic suspense novel with a supernatural twist.
Simpson wanted to write a book for years. She knew the setting had to be North Carolina, since itís the state she knows and loves. Having graduated from Appalachian State University, she picked Boone as the primary setting.
The theme of ěNot So Randomî is good versus evil and is written from the perspective of Laina Mills, a girl who moves to Boone her senior year in high school. Laina has a sixth sense that she discovers ó through a miraculous encounter with a mysterious stranger ó can be used to help others.
She discovers one major problem: Some people have a dark secret, something evil. As the secret unfolds, the novel explores relationships, peer pressure, and how the decisions we make impact our lives forever.
Simpson previously worked at the Rowan County Health Department, and still has extended family in the area. Simpson lives with her husband, Rodney, in the Triad and works at High Point Regional in outpatient education.
She will sign copies of ěNot So Random,î at the Literary Bookpost, 110 S. Main St. in Salisbury, from noon to 2 p.m. on June 25. The book price is $16.95. For additional information about this event, call 704 630-9788 or visit www.literarybookpost.com.
Short story writer to sign
Following Simpsonís signing, Mary Rice Patterson of China Grove will sign her book, ěWriters Dozen of Short Stories.î Patterson, a sometime teacher and freelance writer, has been creating stories for years.
ěLittle things that come to mind or stories that really happened,î Patterson said. Her daughter, Deborah Young, recently collected a few of the stories into the book and had it published for her motherís 83rd birthday.
Pattersonís book includes extended stories with chapters, as well as stand-alone stories. they evoke a gentler era, after World War II and into the 1960s. Her characters are smart and driven and her settings are familiar. The characters are growing up and going places, striking out on their own or starting a marriage. They face problems they can usually solve by the end of the tale.
These stories are mostly about good people using good sense, faith and values to meet challenges and tackle them head on.
Patterson and her husband, Leonard, live in China Grove. She has a degree in religion from Lenoir-Rhyne University and has taught Bible classes, as well as creative writing. She has written book reviews for the Post and pieces fo Senior Savvy and has organized programs for seniors at Lutheran Chapel Church. Sheís taken courses in creative writing to hone her skills.
Her signing will be 3-5 p.m. next Saturday at Literary Bookpost.