Romance, Black experience in America among topics for February book events

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

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It may be the shortest month, but February is long on local literary events. From romancethemed presentations to more sobering explorations on the Black experience in America, authors will be sharing new releases and a broad range of messages with readers in and around North Fulton County throughout the month.

Book lovers yearning for light-hearted yarns shouldn’t miss A Novel Idea’s Dunwoody event Feb. 21. Celebrating a month of romance, A Novel Idea will present a pair of authors, Marilyn Baron and Kim Conrey, with much to say about the saucy subject.

Baron, who has won numerous writing awards in a variety of genres, including romance, will release her 29th work of

Literary Events Around North Atlanta

Saturday, Feb. 4: Dr. Sree Meleth: Meleth, a public health researcher and transformational life coach, will discuss and sign her book, “More than Peace, Power & Presence through Meditation.” Free. 11 a.m.-noon mini meditation workshop. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.

Saturday, Feb. 11: George Weinstein: Weinstein, author of seven books – ranging from historical fiction to thrillers – as well as the executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club and Atlanta Writers Conference director, will talk about his most recent release, “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” Conversation, signing. Free. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Posman Books, 4105 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 470-509-5727. posmanbooks.com

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Marilyn Baron and Kim Conrey: A Novel Idea revels in a month of romance with two authors intimately acquainted with the subject. Baron, who writes in a variety of genres, including romance, will release her 29th work of fiction, “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard,” in March, which she will discuss with local novelist Kathy Des Jardins. Conrey is the debut author of the sci-fi romance “Stealing Ares,” published not long after she and husband, author George Weinstein, were married. Conrey and Weinstein will reflect on life for a pair of writers finding love and literary success together. Signing. Free. Vintage Pizzeria Dunwoody, 5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, 470-359-5982. anovelidea.us.

Feb. 24-26: Georgia Writers Museum Writers Retreat: Numerous authors from the Appen Media reading area, including George Weinstein, Kim Conrey, Beverly Armento and Milton Davis, will be leading writing workshops and panel discussions at the second annual Writers Retreat hosted by the Georgia Writers Museum. Talks include paths to fiction in March. “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard” is Book 3 of her Massimo Domingo Mystery series, which she will discuss with local novelist Kathy Des Jardins. publication, writing short stories vs. novels, memoir writing, working with an editor, writing nonfiction, writing children’s books, and more. Several pricing options are available. Georgia Writers Museum, 109 South Jefferson Ave., Eatonton. 706-991-5119. georgiawritersmuseum.org/2023-writers-retreat

Conrey is the debut author of the sci-fi romance “Stealing Ares,” which she completed as a newlywed. Conrey and her husband of 19 months, author George Weinstein, will chat about romance – in books and in real life.

As for weightier themes, novelist Daniel Black will be discussing his debut essay collection, “Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America,” in Roswell Feb. 25 for the Atlanta Authors Series. Black, an acclaimed author and professor of African American studies at Clark Atlanta University, is the winner of the Distinguished Writer Award from the Middle-Atlantic Writer’s Association and has been nominated for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, the Ernest J. Gaines Award, the Ferro-Grumley Literary Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Issues covered in his collection, published Jan. 31, include police brutality, the AIDS crisis and the role of historically Black colleges or universities.

Saturday, Feb. 25: Sarah K. Lanier: Lanier will be reading her children’s book, “My Glasses Story: How I Learned to See Myself Clearly,” which she also illustrated. Signing. Free. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566.

Saturday, Feb. 25: Daniel Black: The Atlanta Authors Series, sponsored by the Friends of the Roswell Library and the Friends of the East Roswell Library, will host Black discussing his new book, “Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America.” Black is a professor of English and African American studies at Clark Atlanta University and author of seven novels, including “Don’t Cry For Me.” “Black on Black” is his first work of nonfiction. Bookmiser, the event’s bookseller, will have copies to purchase. Conversation, signing. Free. 2-3:30 p.m. Roswell Public Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-6129700. forl.net/atlanta-authors

Tuesday, Feb. 28: Anju Gattani: Johns Creek Books and Gifts will host “A Celebration of Diversity,” featuring Gattani, author of “Dynasties,” the first book in her newly released “Winds of Fire” series. Talk, signing, refreshments and a henna artist on site. Free. Johns Creek Books and Gifts, 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Suite B500, Johns Creek. 770-696-9999. Johnscreekbooks.com

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

Quiggle:

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Quiggle was shot by her ex-boyfriend Abdul Batin Rashid Dec. 19, 2022. Rashid had fled the scene and was found dead the next day in Sandy Springs, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

Meanwhile, Wright and Cutler did not know where Quiggle was or what her condition was.

"She had been able to get in touch with her sister, and her sister had given her my cell phone number because the shooter had taken her phone,” Wright said. “And so, she didn't have anybody's phone numbers.”

Cutler, who described Quiggle as a hard worker always willing to help, said when she got out of surgery, Quiggle called Wright first to tell her she had an open listing.

“Honestly, I'm not used to being on the receiving end of help,” Quiggle said. “I'm the one that wants to give the help.”

Cutler and Wright organized a GoFundMe campaign for repairs to Quiggle’s home and to pay her bills for a year. By the end of January, the fundraiser had raised nearly $15,000.

Agents who work with Quiggle at the Keller Williams South Forsyth office gave her a new bed, and 13 people volunteered to work on her home. Another agent in the Duluth office provided an air fryer.

“When one of the Keller Williams family members was knocked down, they called upon the community, which came together, to help put my home back together,” Quiggle said. “That allows me to put my life back together as well, and seeing the community come together gives me a renewed

Forsyth:

Continued from Page 1 faith in humanity.”

Commissioners also approved a $2,345,000 treatment system for the Antioch Water Treatment Plant. The commission approved a grant application for $19.1 million last September to add 7 million gallons of capacity to the plant to meet the county’s future water needs.

In other matters at the meeting, commissioners discussed adjusting county impact fees, adequate public facilities ordinances and possible alternatives to address infrastructure needs.

Impact fees are imposed upon new developments in a county to help pay for services like roads, parks, libraries and public safety. Forsyth County’s last update on its impact fee ordinance was in 2016, with no adjustments for inflation since.

County Manager David McKee said impact fees fund less than 10 percent of transportation projects in the county.

Commissioners unanimously voted to reevaluate the item in a future meeting.

Metro Atlanta businesses also provided free services and goods to prepare Quiggle’s home for her return.

Perimeter Roofing installed a new roof with no out-of-pocket costs. Sundial Plumbing replaced her cracked toilet and worked on her plumbing; and Brad Chapman of Everlast Waterproofing repaired her sheetrock and provided a fresh coat of paint to the house’s interior.

Quiggle has also received a new sliding door and dog door from Meyer Construction; landscaping services courtesy of Adams Landscaping; and kitchen cabinets from Provencal Staging.

Gary Skinner, co-owner of Junk Express, said his business removed any items tied to Rashid. Quiggle was not charged for the services.

“I think it's important for people to kind of come together and, like, support one another, regardless if it’s a good time or a bad time,” Skinner said. “We all need to be doing that all the time.”

Recovery has taken longer than Quiggle expected. She is staying with a coworker until the renovations are complete and expects to return home in the next two weeks.

Moving back into her home, she said, will also mark a big reunion for her and her son who fled the home during the shooting. Both have been separated since.

She said she hopes her experience can help others find joy in life.

“I wanted to somehow help people understand, just even in the domestic violence part, if somebody hurts you once, that they'll do it again,” Quiggle said. “I feel like even though this experience has been very painful, and we still have a long way to go in healing, I've just tried to remain positive.”

The fees will be adjusted using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2023 inflation data in March.

The commission was joined by Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Doug Rainwater to address complaints of panhandling.

Commissioners Cindy Jones Mills and John proposed the item for consideration to make possible amendments to the county’s solicitation ordinances in response to the complaints.

“In terms of Georgia, it’s a law that’s already in the books,” Rainwater said.

“Any business owner, any homeowner in Forsyth County or anyplace else in the state of Georgia, has the right to pick up the phone, dial 911. A deputy responds, and we give that person or persons a warning.”

County Attorney Ken Jarrard cautioned commissioners that any amendment to the ordinance could affect community groups such as Girl Scouts and hospitals that sometimes raise money at curbsides.

Commissioners asked Rainwater to discuss increasing roadside enforcement of panhandling with Sheriff Freeman.