Thanks to Karin Slaughter

Our Foundation hosted an evening with Karin Slaughter last Monday night at the Milledgeville public library. The weather was horrible with plenty of mist and fog, but we still had a respectable group of over twenty people, some of whom are really big fans of Slaughter's work. It was actually a very intimate setting in the Special Collections Room of the library, with folks sitting around the large conference table, with Karin at the head of the table. She read from one of her short stories, which was quite a departure from her suspense novels. She fielded questions after her reading and talked about growing up in the Atlanta area and how it affected her writing. She was absolutely charming, very approachable, and obviously quite relaxed. I am grateful to the library for providing the venue and to Waldenbooks in Milledgeville for having books on hand for the guests to purchase and have signed by the author. Most of all, I am very thankful to Karin for her willingness to donate her time in coming down from Atlanta for this special event and wish her all kinds of success with her upcoming books.

Craig

Andalusia on Facebook

Okay, so I know Flannery O'Connor would be appalled by all the ways our Foundation is promoting her life and work, especially through the Internet. But I can't think of a better way to get younger readers interested in O'Connor, her literature, and Andalusia than through the electronic sources that dictate communication among the younger generation. The Foundation has had a very effective website up and running for about six years, which is a standard information medium for all ages now. We developed a MySpace page a few years ago, but of course, that is SO 2005 (as my youngest son made clear to me). In an effort to stay relevant, we have now created a Facebook account, thanks to one of our fine Georgia College student volunteers, Ali Duckworth. Check out our profile, Andalusia-Flannery O'Connor, and let us know what you think. We will use the account to inform all our "Facebook Friends" of the Foundation's upcoming events and activities, just as we have been doing with the website, direct emails, our Friends newsletter, and this blog. More than anything else, we hope to see you here at Andalusia, but if you can't get here (or until you can), visit us virtually anytime!

Craig

Georgia Humanities Council Grant

I am overjoyed to report that the Foundation and the Flannery O'Connor Review at Georgia College, teaming with the Lillian Smith Center and other literary sites in Georgia, received a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council to offer a series of public programs in March 2009 as part of the Southern Literary Trail (see earlier blog entry). This grant will add to the funds already secured by the Foundation and the Review from the Knight Fund of Milledgeville, GCSU Arts Unlimited, and GCSU Office of Diversity and Multicutural Affairs for these Trailfest '09 events. Check out the News & Events Page of the Foundation's website (www.andalusiafarm.org) for the complete schedule of these and many other events offered through March 2009 in Milledgeville.

Craig