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December 11, 2024 11:24 pm

Spotlight Artist Meet and Greet, Book Signing

Selma Civic Center, 300 N. Webb St., Selma, NC

Meet local artists featured in Johnston County Arts Council’s celebratory book, Johnston County Creates: 50 Years of Creativity on Tuesday, October 24 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Selma Civic Center, 300 N. Webb Street in downtown Selma. This free and festive event is sponsored by Activate Selma. Johnston County Creates spotlights 68 individual artists, 13 local arts and community organizations, and includes a directory of creative resources. The arts are represented by award-winning filmmaker Jason Bullock, bead artisan Pam Guthrie, inspirational romance author Hope Toler Dougherty, Remembered in Stitches crafter Rosalyn Annette Hanson, photographer and painter Yana Slutskaya, Cluttered Minds Gallery potter Chris Boyette and many other artists in the fields of culinary, dance, entertainment, fashion, film, music, painting, photography, pottery, theater, writing, and more. Angie McClure, the book’s “Rainbow Wayne” cover artist, will exhibit her original mixed media artwork. Since Johnston County Creates was released in July, it has been nominated for the 2023 Ragan Old North State Award for Non-Fiction, and sold more than 300 copies. Books will be for sale at the event, and those who purchase two or more will receive an Activate Selma canvas tote bag. Proceeds from book sales will support Artists-in-the-Schools, Grassroots Grants, Artists Support Grants, student art exhibits, and scholarships. The book is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Purchase the book anytime for local pickup through the Arts Council at www.jcartscouncil.org or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Johnston-County-Creates-Years-Creativity/dp/B0C91DKG6N. For more information contact Darlene Williford, Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council at info@jcartscouncil.org or (919) 738-9622.

Book Writing and Marketing 101 for Beginners

Selma Civic Center, 300 N. Webb St., Selma, NC

Registration is open for Triangle East Writers’ regional 2023 “On The Write Track” Workshop Series. The first workshop is February 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Selma Civic Center. The Feb. 25 workshop presenter is TV host and folklorist Oakley Dean Baldwin, author of 26 books out on Amazon, B&N and Walmart. His books are popular thrillers, true crime and family mysteries. He’s also a TV host from “Beyond Oak Island” on The History Channel, and has a dozen local history episodes on East Wake TV channel 22 and more to come. Oakley’s presentation is “Book Writing and Marketing 101 for Beginners,” along with his wife and co-author, Doris Baldwin. Attendees will enjoy a leisurely midday break to explore downtown Selma and eat lunch on their own at the nearby Old North State Food Hall. Participants of all six workshops will learn to write, edit, market, and publish their book in one journey. The fee for each workshop is $25/day for members of Triangle East Writers and $35/day for the general public. A grand prize drawing for one series attendee will earn them a one-year membership in the North Carolina Writers Network. The workshop series is sponsored by Town of Selma Parks and Recreation, Old North State Food Hall, Johnston County Arts Council and Triangle East Writers. Here are all six workshops: 1 – Writing Your Book – Saturday, February 25 - "Book Writing and Marketing 101 for Beginners,” with Oakley Dean Baldwin and Doris Baldwin, 10 am -12 noon and 2 pm - 4 pm 2 – Editing Your Manuscript – Saturday, March 11 - “Can Your Reader Follow Your Story Line?” with Julia Dorman Fisher, Phd., 10 am -12 noon and "Developmental Editing and Line Editing," with inspirational romance novelist Hope Toler Dougherty, 2 pm - 4 pm. 3 – Youth Writers 8-18 & Marketing Your Book, Part I – Saturday, March 18 – “The Joy of Writing and Characters” with L. Diane Wolfe of Dancing Lemur Press, 10 am – 12 noon for youth and Marketing Your Book for adults with Cindy Nanez of Divine Marketing Group, 2 pm – 4 pm. The morning session is free to youth. 4 – Marketing Part II & Young Adult Writers – Saturday, May 6 - “Building an Effective Marketing Strategy” with Rose Cushing of Cushing Media, 10 am – 12 noon and Young Adult Writers Meet the Publisher with Dr. Jen Lowry, 2 pm – 4 pm. 5 – Publishing Your Book – Saturday, May 13 - "Traditional and Self-Publishing: Pros, Cons, and Process” ” with L. Diane Wolfe of Dancing Lemur Press, 10 am – 12 noon and “The Self-Publishing Process,” with Donna Campbell Smith, 2 pm - 4 pm. 6 – Poetry & Screenwriting – Saturday June 10 - “Poetry” with Leslie Waugh of Write from Your Heart, 10 am - 12 noon and “Screenplay Writing to Production” with screenwriter Suzin Daly, 2 pm - 4 pm. To register, go to www.triangleeastwriters.com or email triangleeastwriters@gmail.com.

Third Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance

Selma Civic Center, 300 N. Webb St., Selma, NC

Selma Parks and Recreation will host its Third Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance Friday, Feb. 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Selma Civic Center, 300 N. Webb St., Selma. All dads are encouraged to bring their daughters 13 years of age and younger. Tickets are $15 for dads and $12 for children. The ticket price includes dinner, a DJ and a photo booth. The dress code is semi-formal. For more information, contact Selma Parks and Recreation at 919-965-9841.