Book Notes

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: August 24, 2008

Be there then for book group’s talk

Barnes and Noble’s Law of Attraction Book Group meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss “Be Here Now.” New members are welcome.

Weekly story time will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday in children’s department. This week’s stories will include new and old childhood favorites.

For details, call 984-0461.

Cross-White unveils memoir of girlhood

Agnes Cross-White, formerly publisher of the Charlottesville Tribune newspaper, has released her second book, “Possum Got Big Ears.’’

It’s the story of a little black girl growing up after World War II and the family secrets she was determined to learn. It is a compilation of short stories — some funny, some sad and some tragic.

“Possum Got Big Ears” refers to the way in which Cross-White’s grandmother would prevent Cross-White and her sister from picking up information from adults’ conversations. Someone would say, “Possum got big ears,” and speakers would start to spell their conversations. It infuriated Cross-White when she was young enough not to spell, but it encouraged her to become a good speller.

“Possum” made its debut on her blog April 20 at http://www.aggie-welcome to my kitchen.blogspot.com, and readers can learn more on her MySpace page at myspace.com/ aggie1947. Signed copies are available.

Cross-White lives in Daytona Beach, Fla.

UVa graduate pens third fiction book

Karen Lillis, a 1992 graduate of the University of Virginia, is publishing her third work of fiction, “The Second Elizabeth.’’

It explores what happens when a young woman named Karen Elizabeth returns to a former home to heal from a past traumatic experience. She meets another Elizabeth — a new neighbor who goes by Beth — and begins a journey from a heartbreaking past into a better future.

Lillis is the author of “i, scorpion: foul belly-crawler of the desert,’’ “Magenta’s Adventures Underground’’ and the poetry chapbook “Virginia is for Lovers.’’ Her work was featured in “Wreckage of Reason: An Anthology of Contemporary Xxperimental Prose by Women Writers.’’

Nelson’s the place for ‘Shadow Divers’

The Brown Bag Book Club will meet at noon Monday at Nelson Memorial Library to discuss “Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II’’ by Robert Kurson.

For details, call 979-7151, Ext. 211.

Stephens’ story isa contest winner

Charlottesville author Mariflo Stephens won first place in the adult category of the 2008 Sherwood Anderson Short Story Contest. The Smyth-Bland Regional Library in Marion announced that Stephens won for her story “Drug Store.’’

An awards ceremony and luncheon will take place Sept. 13 at the General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion. Reservations are required and must be made by Sept. 1. For reservations, call (276) 783-2323, Ext. 22.

From staff reports