SALISBURY — Literary Bookpost will have a book signing Friday, Feb. 1, 6-8 p.m., with “I’m Lonely,” by David Willingham.
It is a children’s illustrated storybook about a miniature pinscher dog and his emotions —sadness and anger when rejected, happiness when loved, fear in a storm. It has a happy ending.The book demonstrates emotions which children will recognize as part of their own lives.
A book signing Saturday, Feb. 2, 2-4 p.m., will feature “The Tales of Barnacle Bill,” by Terry Kirby. Three or four pirates will be in attendance, as well as a live parrot. The book is a saucy brew of fact and fable, legends and lies,the story of a young lad’s quest for immortality and eternal youth. He sets out on an adventure chasing his dreams in search of that rare breed, those colorful vagabonds known only as pirates. But what he finds is much more. With a roll of the bones (dice) he’s mystically spun back in time. He awakens to find himself a stowaway aboard one of the most notorious pirate vessels that ever was. Take a ride with the Brethren of Caroline as they sail straight into the face of a hurricane in pursuit of treasures from a mysterious island that does not exist. All for the love of Black Sam’s gold.
Wiley Cash will join the Literary Bookpost and the Reading Between the Wines book club to discuss his book, “A Land More Kind Than Home,” on Monday, Feb. 11 at 6p.m. It was featured in the Summer Reading Challenge.
The 2013 StatewidePoetryContest is underway. The annual event is one of the largest free literary competitions in the South and is sponsored by the N.C. State University Creative Writing Program through the Barnhardt Family Fund. This year’s guest judge is Michael Wiegers, executive editor of Copper Canyon Press.
Postmark deadline is Friday, March 1.  Wiegers will announce the winners and give a talk on his experiences as an editor on Wednesday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m.  
Open to all N.C. residents, except those who have published a book, are tenure-track professors in the UNC system, or are previous winners.
A grand prize winner ($500) and four honorable mentions will be chosen. There will also be special prizes for undergraduate and graduate student winners.
All entries must be typed and no entry is to exceed four pages ofpoetry. Participants may submit up to three poems. Previous years’ finalists must submit different poems than before. Please do not put your name on the poems so that they may be judged anonymously. Attach a separate sheet with your contact info (name, address, phone number, email). Due to volume, no poems will be returned and none may be submitted via email. 
Submit stories to: NCSU Poetry Contest, Campus Box 8105, English Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8105.