March springs forth with literary events featuring bestselling authors, new releases

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia. com

When it comes to nearby book events this month, March will be in like a lion and out like a lion, too.

Kicking off a packed calendar, the Dahlonega Literary Festival returns March 4 after a twoyear pause. As it has since 2003, the festival will once again have readers and writers rushing to the historic gold-mining

Literary Events Around North Atlanta

Saturday, March 4: Dahlonega Literary Festival. Numerous authors from the Appen reading area will participate in the return of the Dahlonega Literary Festival, headlined by Pulitzer Prize-winning Rick Bragg. Free offerings will feature sessions led by North Fulton and Forsyth authors, including Colette Bennett, “Enter the Meta;” Michael Buchanan, “The Fat Boy Chronicles;” Soniah Kamal, “Unmarriageable;” Chris Negron, “The Last Super Chef;” John Pruitt, “Tell It True;” Rona Simmons, “A Gathering of Men;” Jan Slimming, “Codebreaker Girls;” and William Walsh, “Fly Fishing in Times Square.” 9 a.m.-6 p.m. See link for pricing of two ticketed events. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins Street, Dahlonega, with book sales provided by Bookmiser. literaryfestival.org

Tuesday, March 7: Bonnie Garmus. Roswell Reads will host two virtual book discussions of Garmus’s New York Times bestselling debut novel, “Lessons in Chemistry.” Online. 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. Free. Register by emailing name, city and preferred time to RoswellReadsBookDiscussions@gmail.com. Roswell Reads book discussions are moderated by volunteers (without authors) and all selections are available at Bookmiser. 770-509-5611. RoswellReads.com

Thursday, March 9: John Pruitt. Friends of Sandy Springs Library, in partnership with Bookmiser, will host Pruitt, a former Atlanta television anchor and reporter. For a halfcentury, Pruitt covered the civil rights movement, Georgia politics and major news figures, experiences that inspired his novel, “Tell It True.” 1 p.m. Talk, signing. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway NE, Atlanta. 404-612-7000. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Thursday, March 16: Zoe Fishman. The North Atlanta Author Series will celebrate Fishman, 2020 Georgia Author of the Year, with morning tea alongside her new work, “The Fun Widow’s Book Tour.” She will be in conversation with Emily Carpenter, critically acclaimed author of “Reviving the Hawthorne Sisters.” 11 a.m. Free. Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. 404-613-4402. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Thursday, March 16, Kimberly Brock. The award-winning writer will discuss her recent novel, “The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare.” Brock’s fictional tale was inspired by the true saga of the lost Roanoke Colony. 5 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com town for the prospect of seeing true literary gems.

Aiming to please in 2023, the showcase event that has previously featured such renowned authors as Diana Gabaldon and Rebecca Wells will present Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling writer, as this year’s keynote speaker. A full day of free workshops and panels is also planned, led by a host of authors from North Fulton and Forsyth counties.

Weeks of additional book activities will follow locally, culminating in Roswell as USA Today bestselling author Colleen Oakley launches her new book March 28 with mimosas and mingling.

Details about these events, as well as others, are below.

Saturday, March 18: Jan Slimming. Slimming, author of three World War II titles including “Codebreaker Girls,” will sign books at the Winston Churchill Society of Georgia. 11:30 a.m. Free. The Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs. 770-730-5600. perfectbookclub.com/jans-blog

Tuesday, March 21: Lynn Cullen. A Novel Idea hosts the bestselling author of historical fiction as she discusses her new release, “The Woman With The Cure.” Cullen’s book is based on the true story of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, whose groundbreaking research helped make the polio vaccine possible. 6 p.m. Conversation, signing. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770-509-5611.

Thursday, March 23: Jeffrey Armbruster. Armbruster will sign his book, “Some Practical Lessons in Leadership.” 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, March 25: Katie Asher. After decades spent dealing with trauma, loss, abuse and her son’s severe autism, Asher detailed her experiences in “The Book of Heaven: A Story of Hope for the Outcasts, the Broken, and Those Who Lost Faith.” 2 p.m. Talk, signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore. com

Saturday, March 25: Marilyn Baron. An award-winning author of 29 works in a variety of genres, Baron will launch her latest cozy mystery, “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard” with plenty of epicurean delights. 5 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Roswell. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/bookevents.html

Tuesday, March 28: Colleen Oakley. A USA Today bestselling author of five novels, Oakley will mix, mingle and toast the launch of her new book, “The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise” with mimosas. Oakley’s titles have been translated into over 21 languages and optioned for film. 1 p.m. Conversation, signing. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Roswell. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.