Meherrin Regional 
Library
System
Presents
Authors’ Night
Richardson Memorial Library
Thursday,
May 8, 2008
6:00 TO 8:00 PM
Authors are Presenting throughout the Library
Refreshments
served
Connie Clements Ellison
Any Road: The Story of a Virginia
Tobacco Farm by Connie Clements Ellison is a collection of short
stories inspired by the lives of the author and her parents. Archie and
Ida Clements lived their lives based on faith, honesty, hard work, and
humor as they strived for—and eventually achieved—the American Dream.
In writing this book, Ms. Ellison states, “It was truly a labor of
love, and took me six years to complete.”
All She Has an original short story by Ms. Ellison was
published in 2007 within the book Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Children with Special Needs.
Connie Clements Ellison has taught English in Virginia’s public
schools for twenty-eight years. She lives in Elon, Virginia, with her
husband, Andrew and two children, Jean Prince and James Moses.
Dr.
William H. Jones
Dr. William H. Jones describes his book with these words. “The
minister’s image of ministry is woven throughout the fabric of Scripture
and in the historical witness of the Church. The job of ministering in
the rural church and community is immense. It can be discouraging at
times, but can also be very rewarding. My prayer is that this book
offers some ways of assuring the readers that Looking for God’s
People in Rural Places can be fulfilling and successful.”
Within the pages of this book, the author hopes that the information
contained within these pages might prove useful to those committed
ministers and lay Christians who serve in rural places.
Dr. Jones, a native son, grew up in Freeman, Virginia, and is the
Administrative Bishop for The General Assembly of the St. James Churches
of the Apostolic Faith and the Senior Pastor of Great Branch United
Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in Rawlings, Virginia. Dr. Jones and
his wife, Mrs. Queen E. Jones, live in Rawlings, Virginia.
Rudolph Lewis
Rudolph Lewis, born 1948 in Baltimore,
Maryland, was raised by his grandparents, William and Ella Lewis
of Jarratt, Virginia, and graduated from Central High School in Sussex.
He has earned three degrees: two degrees in English and a Master’s
in Library Science. He has taught writing and literature at the
University of the District of Columbia, the University of Maryland, at
Northeast Louisiana University, University of New Orleans, and Coppin
State College. From 1991-1997, Lewis taught in several adult education
programs and was a librarian at Enoch Pratt and St. Mary’s Seminary.
In November 2001, he founded the black arts and literary
website ChickenBones: A Journal for Literary and Artistic
African-American Themes, (www.nathanielturner.com),
which he continues to edit and which has become one of the most popular
African-American websites on the Internet.
Candice Poarch
Candice Poarch takes pride in crafting believable stories featuring
African-American heroes and heroines. The characters in her books
demonstrate a strong sense of community and family support. She firmly
believes that everyday life in America (whether small town or major
metropolitan city) has its own rich rewards. She also likes telling
stories that will leave today’s busy reader feeling refreshed and
hopeful—not always an easy task, she says, but well worth the challenge.
Her twenty-first book, Long, Hot Nights, (Dafina, May, 2008)
deals with the family pulling together in a crisis and of course,
romance. “I really enjoyed Bittersweet… romance, comedy, mystery, and
intrigue…I would definitely recommend Bittersweet as a book club
selection.” --Karen Monroe, Woman2Woman Book Club member.
Candice Poarch’s twenty-second book, Once More for Love, will be
published by Kimani Press in May, 2009.
A native of Stony Creek, a small town in Southern Virginia, Candice
Poarch holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from Virginia State
University. Formerly a computer systems manager, writing is now her
full-time career. She is a member of Romance Writers of America,
Multicultural Romance Writers, and Washington Romance Writers, where she
served as publicity coordinator for three years and worked on market
news for two years. Investing is her favorite hobby. She particularly
wishes to teach children the value of investing, feeling that they can
use these skills to help provide them with financial security and
confidence in their adult lives.
Ms. Poarch is married and has three children. She currently
lives in Springfield, Virginia.
Ray
R. Sasser
Ray Sasser is a native of Greensville County, Virginia
and graduated from Greensville County High School in 1968. He received
a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary
in 1972 and a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from Ball State University
in 1978.
From 1970 to 1980 he was a professional archaeologist and focusing
on historical archeology, with some prehistoric archaeology, in New
Mexico, Indiana, and Virginia.
From 1981 until his retirement in 2005, he taught English at
Greensville County High School; and from 1985 until his retirement, he
was also a member of the adjunct faculty for Southside Virginia
Community College. From 1992 until retirement, he was Chairman of the
Language Arts Department at the high school.
Mr. Sasser has been on the Board of Directors of the Village View
Foundation for the past twenty years, and for most of that time has
served as the Board’s Recording Secretary. During the 1990’s he was
Editor of the Friends of Village View Newsletter. Mr. Sasser is
currently President and Editor of the Greensville County Genealogy
Society, President of the Halifax County (NC) Genealogy Society, and a
member of several other genealogical and historical societies.
Over the past thirty-five years, he has published a number of
articles on archaeology, local history, and genealogy. In the past ten
years, he has published five books and five booklets on local history
and genealogy. Several other books are currently in progress.