connecting with other local authors with recent book releases

It's amazing how other local authors are coming out of the woodwork with recently released books, soon to be released books, or a history of published works. Some of them I've known but wasn't aware they were writers, let alone published authors.
One is Gypsy Teague from the Central/Pickens/Clemson, South Carolina area. I've known her for a few years through the SCA and didn't know she'd had 4 books published and her latest due out any minute. Amazing. She's written a series of detective novels and was nominated for the 2004 American Library Assoc. Stonewall Award! The second novel in her detective series, The Massabesic Murders, is set in New Hampshire, not far from where my mom's beach house was located.

Then I recently heard from  Amy L. Alley of Greenwood, SC, who contacted me after meeting Justin Blackburn, a poet whose poetry chapbook, Female Human Whispers of Strong Masculine Gentlness, I published with my small indie press, Shadow Archer Press. Amy contacted me regarding submitting a chapbook sumbission and I learned, that as young as she is, she already has a published novel,  The Absence of Anyone Else, a book about a struggling artst and single mother who moves back to a small southern textile town after living in the arts community of Asheville, NC, one of my favorite haunts. This is a novel for all those who are involved in the arts or curious about the lifestyle. Amy is also an incredible artist with a gothic hint. You'll be amazed when you view her works here.  http://www.panpanstudios.com/
I'm hoping we can get her into an art show in Greenville so everyone can see her incredible work in person. And I look forward to collaborating with her.

Come to find out, another ATTM press author lives closeby. Steve Lindahl, the author of Motherless Soul, a book about hynpnotic regressions and past lives, which is a subject I'm interested in. I've been hypnotized a few times and found the exerperiences vivid and revealing. I'm going to attend Steve's reading and signing 23rd at Park Road Books in Charlotte on January 23 from 3:00 to 5:00.  You can find more info and listen to him reading at his blog.

There was a time in the late 90's when I was thrilled to go to book signing parties of my writer friends: Michael Buffalo Smith, a musician and writer and my former editor at Edge Magazine, wrote  a great book on southern rock and is now the Eitor of Gritz. Pat Vidler, a writer and inspiration from my hatchet writers group, wrote a mystery novel.  Attending these signings was as exciting as attending the art openings for some of my friends.  So, it's cool that I might get to ride on another carousel of signings, not just as a fan, but also as a friend.