The Charlotte Literary Festival

The Charlotte Literary Festival


RealEyes Bookstore Announces Event Layout
The Charlotte Literary Festival will take place Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Charlotte Convention Center from 11am to 10pm. Tickets are only $10 and it's FREE for children 12 and under.

The Line-Up...
Our celebrity guests include:

11:30 AM - STEPHANIE MILLS (Appearance)
12:00 PM - CHRISTIAN PANEL feat. MICHELLE ANDREA BOWEN, VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY, JACQUELIN THOMAS & SHARON EWELL FOSTER (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
1:00 PM - RICKIE BECKWITH (Performance & CD Signing)
1:30 PM - MICHAEL BECKWITH (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
2:00 PM - SUSAN JEFFERS (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
3:00 PM - DALE HENRY (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
3:45 PM - TERI WOODS (Book Signing)
4:00 PM - SUSAN L TAYLOR (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
5:00 PM - TERRIE WILLIAMS/DASHAUN JIWE MORRIS (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
5:45 PM - OMAR TYREE (Book Signing)
6:00 PM - TERRY BROOKS (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
7:00 PM - MIKE MINTER (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
7:45 PM - BRUCE WILLIAMS (Book Signing)
7:45 PM - J.L. KING (Book Signing)
8:00 PM - KARRINE STEFFANS (Speaking Engagement & Book Signing)
8:45 PM - MARY B MORRISON (Book Signing)
8:45 PM - PYNK (Book Signing)


Contest... Each person will also receive a FREE raffle ticket to WIN one of the following:
Insignia® - 26" 720p Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD presented by Best Buy
Magic Bullet Express 17-Piece High-Speed Blender Mixing System
Leg Magic Ultimate Exerciser
Gift Card from Oasis Day Spa
Gift Card from Best Buy
Gift Card from RealEyes Bookstore
CLF T Shirts
Books and other great prizes!
Everyone will receive FREE sandwiches from McDonald's


New York Times best selling Sci Fi author Terry Brooks will host the first Sci Fi/Fantasy Costume Contest! Wear your favorite Sci Fi/Fantasy costume and enter to win:
$500 in cash
A collection of signed Terry Brooks books
$200 Bi Lo gift card
Register at the festival by 4pm. No real weapons!

The Kid's Corner... The Public Library will host our Kid's Corner which will include face painting, Wii game system and other fun activities for all ages. CHILDREN ARE FREE!!!
The N.C. Dance Theatre presents "Dance A Story". Which will include:

12:00 PM - PETER & THE WOLF
2:00 PM - THE NUTCRACKER
4:00 PM - SNOW WHITE

Also a special appearance by Blue's Clues and Little Bill!!

For more details, visit the Website: http://www.charlotteliteraryfestival.com


The Charlotte Literary Festival
Darren "Jaz" Vincent
Director
email: contact@realeyesbookstore.com
phone: 704-377-8989

Contest for Children's Book Writers

Moonbeam Children's Book Awards

"Celebrating youthful curiosity, discovery and learning through books and reading."

Entry now open in 30 categories - Just $95 per entry until August 16th
New categories include Children's Poetry, Environmental Issues and Spanish Language Book
Click here to download complete guidelines and entry form:
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/Moonbeam2008GuidelinesFinal.pdf

Announcing the call for entries into the second annual Moonbeam Children's Book Awards www.MoonbeamAwards.com, designed to honor the year's best children's books, authors and illustrators. The new book awards program is accepting entries until August 16th, 2008 for books with 2007 or 2008 copyrights or that were released in 2007 or 2008, and is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children's books written in English and intended for the North American market.


Presented by Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com, the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children's books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards will be given in 30 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children's books are written and published in today.

The inaugural Moonbeam Awards were a huge success, says Jim Barnes, Awards Director at Jenkins Group. We had a great turnout of support from the children's book publishing community, and we're going to make this year's awards even better. Last year we recognized a wonderfully diverse group of authors and publishers, from first-timers to seasoned veterans, and the award-winners make up an amazing "must-read" list of books for kids.

Click here to view last year's results, photos, etc: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1192
Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and many of its founders and employees now have children and grandchildren who strongly influence the company culture with their youthful exuberance and love of books.



We all have kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and we all recognize the role books play in enriching children's lives, says company founder Jerrold Jenkins, father of four children ranging from ages 5 to 15. As our society has gotten more complex and growing up has become more complicated, children's book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help families deal with its challenges. We want to recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians and to the kids themselves.

Click here to enter online:
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/entry.php

Click here to download complete guidelines and entry form:
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/Moonbeam2008GuidelinesFinal.pdfTo learn more about the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards visit www.MoonbeamAwards.com

Questions? Contact Jim Barnes, Awards Director
email: jimb@bookpublishing.com
phone: 1.800.644.0133 x1011

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American Idol - Season 7

I've been hooked on American Idol since it began. There's just something intoxicating about people being so willing to embarrass themselves on national television for a shot at stardom. I love it! It's part comedy, part drama and completely entertaining.

Usually, the contestants who brag the most end up being the ones who can't sing a note. What's truly baffling is that the vast majority of them are accompanied by family and friends who are as deluded as the contestant is about his or her singing prowress. Come on, people! You are not doing these folks any favors by withholding the truth about their lack of singing talent. Point out to your little buttercup where her true talent lies and then gently break the news that she is so not Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or whomever she thinks she sounds like. Trust me, that is much kinder than having her be immortalized in a clip of the worst American Idol auditions.

On to the judges... Paula and Randy are cool. Paula obviously dreads hurting anyone's feelings. She's quite adept at finding something positive to replace the comments that are really running through her mind. Too bad your face and laughter say it all, Straight Up! Randy speaks the truth but he's rather nonchalant which lends an air of smoothness. The contestants are not as likely to be upset with his delivery method versus say... Simon.

Simon, you get your own paragraph because I like you no matter what anyone else thinks! Really, y'all... there's something sexy about his accent and honesty. He and I usually pick the same contestants who are deserving of a shot at Hollywood fame. There are a few times that we differ but I can forgive his mistakes. He's only human. And I'm kinda groovin' on the peak at his softer side that's emerged this season. I wouldn't have a problem with seeing that up close and personal. Hey, if the contestants can make a fool of themselves on national tv, why can't I do it via the Internet? I'm just saying, dude. If the question was, "Is Simon Cowell sexy?" My answer would be, "Yes! Put him on a pin-up calendar." I love chocolate but I think I could handle a little vanilla. Simon, you bold Brit, call me.

Enough foolery! To all of the contestants, sing your azz off! Be in it to win it! It takes a lot of heart and guts to get up there in front of America to showcase your talent. Many of us could not do it. Do you, baby! I'm looking forward to a ride on the American Idol contest roller coaster. Yeah, Dawg!