Write-A-thon Features Author Lamar Giles

Author Lamar Giles
Author Lamar Giles

Lamar Giles, Edgar-nominated Young Adult author and co-founder of the nonprofit organization We Need Diverse Books, will be writing for sponsorship in the 3rd Annual Mountain of Words Write-A-thon.

Held November 13-15, the Write-A-thon benefits Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community (AWITSC), a local non-profit organization.

We Need Diverse Books is a grassroots organization of children’s book-lovers who advocate essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. To learn more about the We Need Diverse Books campaign, visit www.weneeddiversebooks.org.

Giles will be joining New York Times best-selling author Ron Rash, Emmy-nominated screenwriter, actor, and playwright Maryedith Burrell, and eight other featured authors to raise funds for AWITSC programming in local schools and community organizations.

Last year, the write-a-thon raised more than $8,000 to support the Family Voices writing programs at Hall Fletcher and Ira B. Jones Elementary schools, teaching-artist residencies in summer programs, and Asheville Wordslam, a regional youth spoken word competition and showcase.

The write-a-thon will culminate with a Community Write-In on Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 1-3 p.m. at West End Bakery in West Asheville. The public is invited to bring their laptops or pads and pencils and write in the company of other creative writers, including many of the authors participating in the Write-A-thon.

The Community Write-In will feature fun writing prompts and children’s writing activities facilitated by AWITSC teaching artists. The event is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.

Other local authors taking part in Mountain of Words are Allan Wolf, Joanne O’Sullivan, Alexandra Duncan, Constance Lombardo, Cindy McMahon, April Fox, and Tamiko Ambrose Murray, as well as AWITSC teaching artists and board members.

To sponsor a writer, visit mountainofwords.org. All contributions are tax deductible.