ECU to celebrate local authors at Eastern NC literary fest

East Carolina University will welcome authors and readers from across the region Oct. 14-15 at the Second Eastern North Carolina Literary Homecoming. The annual free event, offered by ECU’s J.Y. Joyner and Sheppard Memorial libraries, aims to increase appreciation for eastern North Carolina’s literary traditions.

“One attendee enjoyed last year’s event so much that she said a year had been added to her life,” said Maurice York, librarian of the North Carolina Collection at Joyner Library and event organizer. “We think this year’s Homecoming will be equally enjoyable, and we are delighted that so many talented writers with ties to eastern North Carolina have agreed to share their words and ideas with the people of this region.”

Lumberton native Jill McCorkle, author of Carolina Moon and Creatures of Habit, will be the keynote speaker at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Wright Auditorium. McCorkle’s works have been selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and she has received the North Carolina Award for Literature.

In addition to poets, mystery writers, novelists and historians, a children’s author panel will be offered this year. At 3:30 p.m. Oct. 14, the Sheppard Memorial Library will host children’s authors Eleanora Tate and Suzanne Newton, who will offer a family-friendly discussion about the importance of parental involvement with children’s literacy.

Saturday’s panel discussions include “Pass the Collards, Please!: Writing about Eastern North Carolina Traditions” and “Writing about the Outer Banks.” Panelists include Jacksonville native Lenard Moore, poet and founder of Carolina African American Writers’ Collective; Duke University poet James Applewhite of Statonsburg; historian David Cecelski of Durham; UNC-Wilmington professor Phil Gerard; fantasy fiction writer and NC State professor John Kessel; food writer Debbie Moose of Raleigh; author Bill Morris of Carteret County; author David Payne of Hillsborough; and mystery writer Sarah Shaber of Raleigh.

A barbeque lunch, with a vegetarian option, will be available for $7 on Saturday for those who have registered in advance. The conference, which is sponsored by the North Carolina Humanities Council, begins at 8:30 a.m. at Wright Auditorium at ECU.

David Stick, author of Graveyard of the Atlantic, will be honored with the Roberts Award for Literary Inspiration Oct. 14 at a 7:30 p.m. reception.