Durham County Library Hosts the Piedmont Laureate

Durham County Library will host award-winning author and 2013 Piedmont Laureate for Children's Literature, John Claude Bemis, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at the East Regional Library, 211 Lick Creek Lane. Bemis will share how Southern folklore, music and magic have inspired his writing, and will offer advice to writers of all ages on how to create engaging and unique stories. Following the talk, students will be invited onstage to act out a musical version of the legend of John Henry.

Bemis is an educator, musician and author of four novels, the most recent of which, The Prince Who Fell from the Sky, was an Amazon Best Book of the Month. A native of Pamlico County, Bemis taught elementary school for 13 years before receiving his Master of Education in Literacy from UNC-Chapel Hill. Bemis’ novels draw inspiration from country and blues music, Southern folklore and his grandfather’s stories of train-hopping around the country. Bemis resides in Hillsborough, N.C., with his wife and daughter.

Piedmont Laureate appearances in Durham County are sponsored by the Durham Arts Council and co-sponsored by Durham County Library. For more information about this event, contact Archie Burke at 919-560-0213.

Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit  the library's website.