August Newsletter & HNWA Updates
Hometown Novel Writers Association, Inc.
HNWA is officially a non-profit corporation in the State of Georgia. Our by-laws state clearly, HNWA is a Board of Trustee managed organization for conducting business affairs. However, its mission remains writer centric: HNWA exists to introduce local authors to local audiences south of Atlanta, and to encourage writers helping writers on the journey to publishing and promoting their books.
HNWA’s Board is busy opening a bank account and already received generous donations from a handful of our most supportive authors. HNWA welcomes writers of all levels to take part in the upcoming HNWA writers’ groups and workshops and ultimately becomes one of the published writers featured at a HNWA Author event.
HNWA invites every writer to become a supporting patron by donating a minimum of $25.00 annually or become a lifetime patron for $100.00. The names of HNWA Patrons will receive recognition on the HNWA website, future newsletters, and on social media. Published Author Patrons will have a special page on the HNWA website identifying their published books with links to purchase them. Patrons can attend any of the HNWA writing groups or workshops without charge.
Watch for notification about when and where to send your patron donations, or contact a HNWA Board Member for details.
HNWA Logo Ideas Wanted
HNWA seeks an identifiable logo to reflect our organize’s mission, which can appear on banners, posters, handouts, etc. at events and programs. Send us your design.
Coweta F.O.R.C.E. Author Event August 18th 6:30-8:00 PM
Sharpsburg Book Fair August 27th
Hometown Novel Writers News July 2022
Sharpsburg Book Fair News
Saturday, August 27th, 10 AM – 5 PM — Town of Sharpsburg and Hometown Novel Writers co-hosting an all-day author event, free to the public.
All net proceeds from the Sharpsburg Book Fair to sponsor a scholarship for selected high school students to attend Atlanta Writers Conference, and support Coweta FERST READERS, where the love for books begins with children from birth up to Kindergarten.
Guest Authors, Martha Boone and Mark Wallace Maguire, will join a host of local Georgia authors talking about their books and other topics related to the world of books today.
Sign up today to receive Hometown Novel Writers’ monthly newsletter. Discover all the ongoing author programs where authors discuss their latest published books, and aspiring writers can attend workshops and writer’s critique/support groups. Email hometownnovel@hotmail.com
Authors: Want to Register for the Book Fair?
Download the registration form and send it completed with your payment. You can contact Mike Brown at mike@tmbrownauthor.com or Angie Moore at aobridgescc@sharpsburg-ga.gov with questions about the Sharpsburg Book Fair.
All author spaces are reserved on a paid, first come, first serve basis for both indoor and outdoor (pavilion) spaces. Confirmation email will be sent to confirm space requested. Authors interested in participating in panel discussions, contact Mike Brown.
HNWA Coweta Force Author Program June 16th 2022
Hometown Novel Writers News June 2022
Hometown Novel Writers – June 2022 Schedule
June 3, 6:00-8:00 PM (Newnan Train Depot) Hometown Author Night and Celebration — Opening Night of the Southern LitFest—featuring C. Matthew Smith, Danielle Thorne, Alex McRae, Angela McRae, Susie Berta, Joe McNabb, Emily Kimbell, and Joanna Webster/Lee St. John with Michael Scott of Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation and T. M. (Mike) Brown as co-hosts.
June 4, 10:00-2:00 PM Market Day Hometown Author Sidewalk Book Signings— up to eight local authors with books on the Book Nook shelves inside Corner Arts Gallery, Studios, and Gifts will be seated out front of the store, two blocks of time: 10AM – Noon & Noon – 2PM. NOTE: First come, first serve! Contact Mike ASAP.
Coming August 27th, All-day Sharpsburg Book Fair!
August 27 (Sharpsburg Community Center & Pavilion) Sharpsburg Book Fair— Open to all authors. Watch for information regarding registration to reserve tables. There will be author panel discussions and readings throughout the day. Proceeds will provide scholarships for selected high school students to attend the upcoming Atlanta Writers Conference in November and to support Coweta FERST Readers program.Co-hosted by Town of Sharpsburg & Hometown Novel Writers Association.
Come to the June 25th Organizational Meeting to learn more!
Hometown Novel Writers News—May 2022
IMPORTANT: HNWA Member Meeting scheduled for May 28th at Sharpsburg Library postponed until June 25th, 11:00-12:00 before the Author Roundtable Program featuring Scott Ludwig & Angie Gallion at 1:00 PM.
Hometown Novel Writers May 19th “Budding Georgia Author” program rebroadcast on YouTube featuring Megan Wargula (Woodstock), David Dupree (Moreland), Robert Gwaltney (Atlanta), and Lauren Maguire (Senoia) with our very own congenial moderator, Scott Ludwig (Senoia). Huge thanks to Newnan Carnegie Library for hosting the event and Corner Arts Gallery, Studios and Gifts for serving as the official bookseller during the event.
Interested in joining Hometown Novel Writers?
The Birth of Hometown Novel Writers Association
Watch for more news as we form our inaugural leadership team with a slate of officers to launch the organization to accomplish its vision to promote the value of books for all ages.
What Will Hometown Novel Writers Look Like Going Forward?
We will continue to offer Hometown Novel Nights Author Programs to introduce local authors to local audiences South of Atlanta, as we have been doing. But we are expanding to more venues and locations as the number of authors continues to grow. Check the Events page for the upcoming programs already scheduled this year.
HNN Writers Group is becoming Hometown Novel Writers Group. In addition to virtual critique gatherings each month, we will offer monthly in-person writers groups to encourage and exchange conversations about the craft of writing and publishing books. And watch for quarterly, informative virtual and in-person Writers Workshops on the event page.
The Town of Sharpsburg has offered Hometown Novel Writers a centrally located, cozy venue for monthly gatherings. Beginning April 30th, the first of bimonthly Author Roundtables will take place, 1-3 PM in the Old Town Library. Then on the last Saturday of each subsequent month Hometown Novel Writers will hold bimonthly membership meetings with guest speakers talking about the craft of writing and publishing. These meetings will begin in May and alternate monthly with the Author Roundtables.
Hometown Novel Writers and Book Fairs & Festivals
In concert with the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation, many of our members will be invited to take part in the Southern LitFest 2022, June 3-5. More details are coming soon, but this will be an opportunity for boosting our presence and membership.
On August 27th, Hometown Novel Writers and the Town of Sharpsburg will host the Sharpsburg Book Fair to raise money for two high school students to attend the Atlanta Writers Conference and to donate to the COWETA FERST READERS program.
In partnership with the Carrollton Writers Guild, we have been invited to participate in the Carrollton Literary Festival, March 25, 2023.
Locally, Hometown Novel Writers will promote ample opportunities for our members to promote their books and meet other local authors at local events in Newnan, Lagrange, Warm Springs, Carrollton, Moreland, and others… Check the event page for what we have slated so far with more to be come as they pop up.
How Do I Become a Hometown Novel Writer Member?
Watch for the membership sign up information on upcoming Hometown Novel Newsletters that will be posted here, on Facebook, Instagram, and shared on our regular emailings. Send an email to hometownnovel@hotmail.com if you are not receiving our mailings yet, and ask to be added. Tell your friends as well.
We will always be a non-profit organization, and cost of membership will be nominal. Watch for sign up information on the website and social media.
What will the organization’s leadership look like, and how can I help?
By April 30th at the Organizational Meeting (11-12:30) prior to the Author Roundtable (1-3 PM) we will hold our first general membership meeting. Our inaugural slate of organization leaders will be affirmed and comments and feedback welcomed at the meeting. Please make an effort to attend at the Old Town Library in historic Sharpsburg. Then stick around for the Roundtable with Sharon Marchisello, Patricia Cruzan, Danielle Thorne, and Blue Cole talking about their books with the local audience in attendance.
HNN Author Events in April
Also available Market Day, Saturday, April 2nd, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Authors: Contact Mike Brown to sign up to participate.
CLICK ON THE EVENT IMAGES TO GET MORE INFORMATION:
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
HNN Author Round Table Book Talks
Library Town of Sharpsburg
Open to all book enthusiasts to come and learn more about the local literary talent South of Atlanta. Follow the link for more information.
Meet Local Georgia Authors: Blue Cole, Danielle Thorne, Sharon Marchisello, and Patricia Cruzan and Moderator/Host T. M. “Mike” Brown (CLICK ON THE BELOW AUTHOR IMAGES TO LEARN MORE)
NOTE: Prior to the Author Roundtable there will be an important organizational meeting of the Hometown Novel Writers’ Association, 11:00-12:30 PM. All HNN Authors & Writers are welcome to attend.
February HNN Workshop
Authorpreneurship 101: Introduction to Author Marketing & Promoting
Featured T. M. Brown, Southern Author & Founder of Hometown Novel Programs and the HNN Writers Group, and Angela K. Durden, Blue Room Books, Decatur, GA.
March Author’s Program
To learn more about the four authors, follow the links below. Note: Terri Gillespie had a family emergency and could not be with us, but is certainly worth learning more about.
Go to our event tab to see all the upcoming HNN programs, events, and workshops on tap for 2022! We are growing. If you are an author or aspiring writer, contact us. HometownNovel@hotmail.com
HNN Writers Meeting
IMPORTANT Meeting!
March 26th, Sharpsburg Community Library, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM — ALL HNN Writers and anyone interested in participating in Hometown Novel Nights Author events and HNN Writers’ Critique Groups & Workshops should attend this organizational meeting. Future meetings at the Sharpsburg Library will be bi-monthly (May 28, July 30, September 24, November 26). Please mark your calendar and plan to attend whenever possible. Our meetings will include helpful tips and topics to help us as writers.
At this March 26th meeting, we will share more about all the 2022 events, programs, and workshops on the calendar already with several author slots still available. We will also talk about upcoming HNN affilitated/hosted author events on the calendar. You will learn more about three upcoming Book Festivals over the next 12 months.
Why attend? Hometown Novel/HNN Writers is Organizing!
What began four years ago in a coffee shop in Senoia as an idea has grown with author programs, venues, events, and workshops impacting aspiring writers, published authors, and engaged readers South of Atlanta including Fayette, Coweta, Carroll, Troup, Meriwether, Harris Counties, and beyond.
HNN venues in 2022 include: Newnan Carnegie Library; Corner Arts Gallery, Studios & Gifts, Newnan; Pretty Good Books, Lagrange; Warm Springs Cellars, Warm Springs; Rogers BBQ, Hogansville; Sharpsburg Town Library & Community Center, Sharpsburg. And, we are working with the Carrollton Writers Guild about us hosting a program this Fall in Carrollton’s County Art Center as a prelude to Carrollton’s Lit Fest in 2023.
Organizing means involvement and engagement beyond promoting and selling books!
This new HometownNovel.com website and our social media presence on Facebook & Instagram has helped us grow, and requires help to handle posts and inquiries. We can soon allow members to add relevant posts on our website and on social media pages intended to inform, edify, encourage, and entice new authors and aspiring writers to join us. We also need to reach our growing audience–avid readers that will want to attend our programs and invest in our books. Who can invest a few hours each week to help us build this website and monitor our social media pages?
Our Email mailing list is growing which means we need someone to assist Donna Black in coordinating and scheduling email communications.
Hometown Novel/HNN Writers has developed a visible branding image and we need someone to build on that image while creating event and program media promotional images.
Every program, event, and workshop requires planning and coordination. We need one or two people to assist Mike Brown & Sharon Marchisello to take the lead with upcoming events, programs, and workshops.
As the organization grows so does our need to maintain and recruit new members. We need someone to handle our membership.
We have grown without any financial involvement but we also have lost opportunities to help our fledgling organization grow even more. There are local community literacy programs and events we could sponsor. We need someone to handle our finances and banking.
This is a “writers helping writers” non-profit organization. We need everyone to lend a helping hand so we can fulfill our vision of presenting new local authors and their books to local audiences South of Atlanta, and help aspiring writers to publish their stories.
Email: hometownnovel@hotmail.com or message on Facebook We want to hear back from you.
