Award-winning author celebrates Black History Month

Award-winning young adult book author and Vinings resident Shelia P. Moses shared stories and signed copies of her books Thursday at as part of its Black History Month program.

Shelia emphasized to the group of about 15 elementary and middle school students the importance of reading and writing.

“I want to encourage you to continue, first of all, to be really good students,” Moses said. “I’m sure at some point you will look back, if not to me, but to other authors and what impact they had on your life. So what you remember from today is that books are very, very important. You need to focus on your reading and your writing skills.”

Most of Moses’s half a dozen books are set in North Carolina and tackle tough issues like poverty and racism in the post-Civil Rights Movement South. Moses read a selection from her book “The Legend of Buddy Bush,” a Coretta Scott King Award honor book and a National Book Award finalist. The main character in the novel, Pattie Mae, is based on Moses herself.

Black History Month programs continue throughout the month of February in Smyrna and Vinings. Saturday, Feb. 18 at the storyteller Josie Bailey will tell African-American stories. Storytelling begins at 2 p.m. and is open to children three and up. The event is free, but registration is required. Register by calling the library at 770-431-2860 or by emailing Laura Bradley at lbradley@smyrnaga.gov.

Sunday, Feb. 19 hear a tribute to African American music at the . The concert is a collaboration between the St. Benedict’s choir, the choir of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Lynn Swanson Festival Singers. The concert is $10 and begins at 4 p.m.