Sacred Springs, Holy Wells and Spas of
Wales: A Photographic and Poetic Journey featuring artists Phil Cope
and Suzanne Iuppa will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 in Room DL208 located on Davis Library’s Top Floor.
The Friends of theDavis Library is hosting this special “morning coffee” presentation in
conjunction the University of Rio Grande’s Madog Center for Welsh Studies. Learn
how certain natural water sources have figured prominently in Welsh culture
over time.
Students enrolled in LA100Gateway to Success may earn credit for attending this session, which is free
and open to the public.Light
refreshments will be provided.
Have any questions about this upcoming program? "Ask Us!"
Two weeks ago we celebrated National
Library Week (NLW), an annual event acknowledging the important role
libraries and librarians play in enhancing their communities.
Sponsored by the American
Library Association (ALA) and libraries throughout the United States, the
observance of NLW each year also includes special celebration days held within
the week to highlight different aspects of the types of library services and programs
available.
For example, National
Library Workers Day (NLWD)—See our 4.10.12
blog posting!—most often takes place on the Tuesday of NLW. It was established to show public
appreciation for the efforts put forth by all library employees and volunteers
to ensure free access to information and to produce positive educational and recreational
experiences for library users.
Then, National
Bookmobile Day, which usually takes place on Wednesday during NLW, was
created to promote awareness of the valuable outreach services libraries
provide.
And finally, Thursday of NLW is generally known as “Support
Teen Literature Day.” It is a time
when library services to teenagers are advocated. It is also a time when Young Adult Literature
(YAL) is recognized for its value in helping to promote a love of reading and
life-long learning for all ages as many of these types of works have a “crossover
appeal” and are enjoyed too by both younger and older readers. Hey, they are not just for teens!
Since we like to think of every week as NLW… why celebrate libraries
just once a year?! We decided not to
limit our cheers for YAL to just one day either. So, in praise of this vibrant and
growing literary genre, we are featuring here an interview with Bryna Butler, a University of Rio Grande (URG) alumna
and author of some new and popular young adult fiction books known as the Midnight Guardian Series.
What inspired you to begin writing the Midnight Guardian Series?
The
idea came to me on a commute into Gallipolis. I find the river, our beautiful
rural fields, and our small town quirkiness to be very inspiring.
What sorts of books did you enjoy reading as a young adult?
Yeah,
well, I didn't really read much as a teen or as an early 20-something. However,
that all changed when my first son was born in 2001. I found myself, a person who was a
professional workaholic, suddenly twiddling my thumbs over a sleeping baby
desperate for something...anything to do.
My mother told me about a series of kids’ books that she was reading and
she very highly recommended them. I was
extremely skeptical. Kids’ books,
right? She wouldn't take "no"
for an answer and so she brought me the first one, Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone. It was the start
of my love affair with fiction novels.
What books are your favorite today?
I read a lot of non-fiction at work, so at home
I keep it strictly light and fun, nothing “intellectual.” I prefer paranormal and mysteries. I enjoy Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series—aka SookieStackhouse/True Blood. I was
a fan before the books hit HBO. I am
also looking forward to the next in Rachel Caine's Morganville series and the Mercedes
Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. My
top non-fiction pick would have to be Michael J. Fox's A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Future.
What do you love most about being an author?
The
best part is when someone stops me on the street to share their excitement on
how a plot twist shocked them or to beg me to tell them what is going to happen
next to their favorite character. A
reader's enthusiasm makes me smile every time.
How have your educational experiences helped you in achieving your career goals?
I
earned a bachelor's in Mass Communication from URG. In fact, my first professional writing gig was
as a reporter and assistant editor of the Signals, Rio’s [student]
newspaper. Even more than the book
learning, I think that the practical experience that Rio provided me was
invaluable and gave me a definite advantage in the job market.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
There
is no such thing as over-proofreading a manuscript.
Are you interested in speaking to teacher, librarian, school or other groups about your books and work as an author? If so, how may such parties contact you?
