If you want a reliable source for your national, world, and local news, be sure to check out the free online access to newspapers provided through the Forsyth County Public Library website, including The New York Times Online, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (only available on the library computers), The Forsyth County News, and The Forsyth Herald.
In this episode, local author Dr. Ashley Baker speaks with Ross about her new book The Ashes of Us, which is a novel that navigates themes of trauma, paternal love, and the devastating price of retribution. Dr. Baker talks about her inspiration for the book and how she's utilized her experiences and knowledge to write a book that is ultimately a tribute to her own father, who was a forensic pathologist.
Dr. Baker is a clinical psychologist (PsyD), who practices and lives in Forsyth County, and is author of two psychological suspense novels, including The Furious Others.
Dr. Baker will be at the Sharon Forks Library on October 22, 2025 at 7:00PM for a reading and author talk for The Ashes of Us.
Stop by the Sharon Forks branch and peek in the children’s area to see wonderful artwork created by students of Rabbitbrush Art Studio. These were created to represent the tradition of making wishes underneath the full moon during Chuseok, also called Korean Thanksgiving.
Each painting is in the shape of a Moon Jar which utilizes a soft, round shape that is reminiscent of the full moon. The artists use Minhwa, Korean folk painting techniques, and traditional symbols to represent their hopes for the future.
The staff of Forsyth County Public Library (FCPL) would like to recognize and thank the FCPL Friends and Advocates as part of the 20th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 19–25, 2025.
.png)
“The Friends do so much to support our mission and serve our community,” said FCPL Director Adrianne Junius. “Their generosity and dedication have an incredible impact on what we are able to achieve together.”
Over the past year, the Friends contributed close to $100,000 to FCPL through library grants, funds raised at the Ask Us desks, and contributions to the Friends Terrace at the Denmark Library. Since 1996 when FCPL became an independent, single county library system, the Friends’ total support has reached nearly $800,000. “That’s an extraordinary accomplishment that speaks to their commitment to our libraries and patrons,” Junius continued.
Dr. Ashley Baker returns to Sharon Forks Library on Wednesday, October 22 to talk about her latest psychological suspense novel, The Ashes of Us. In this morally complex story, a clinical pathologist taps into his own dark impulses when his daughter asks him to take the life of the man who raped her.
Dr. Baker says her stories usually begin with an idea: what if a daughter asked her father to do something reprehensible (The Ashes of Us) or what if there was a novel about a killer that didn't focus on the murderer. (The Furious Others)
Despite her apprehension, twentysomething Ingrid accepts an invitation from her childhood bestie, Mayra, to spend a weekend at a remote house in the Everglades. But Mayra's hopes of reconnecting with her former friend are soon dashed by the presence of Mayra’s odd boyfriend Benji. This mesmerizing literary Gothic novel is as much about the complex dynamics of female friendships as it is about a spooky mansion with hidden windows, a staircase leading to implausible destinations, strange sounds, and other unusual features. Passages from a mysterious diary, excursions into the Everglades, and flashbacks to Ingrid and Mayra’s teen adventures give this spooky story extra depth.
If you appreciate thoughtful suspense, check out Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez. Like her character Ingrid, author Nicky Gonzales is from Hialeah, Florida. Her fiction has appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Kenyon Review Online, Taco Bell Quarterly, and other publications.
National Hispanic Heritage month recognizes the contributions and achievements of Latin Americans. These illustrated children's books about Hispanic heritage are available in both English and Spanish at the Forsyth County Public Library.
National Hispanic Heritage month recognizes the contributions and achievements of Latin Americans. Two of my favorite recent reads are science fiction novels that highlight environmental issues written by authors from Latin American.
National Hispanic Heritage month recognizes the contributions and achievements of Latin Americans. These are some of the illustrated children's books about Hispanic heritage that are available at Forsyth County Public Library.
Are you writing or illustrating a book for children? Looking for inspiration or help in getting started? Look no further than the Sharon Forks Library! Seven kidlit authors and illustrators will be joining us for Paths to Publication: SCBWI Kidlit Panel on Saturday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m.
This event is sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Southern Breeze Chapter.
Panelists:
T.K. Read is an attorney by day, writer by night, mom, wife, and super-hero-wannabe always. The first book in her award-winning middle grade series, Ranger Nader and the Sunstruck Phantom, written under the pen name “Kam Karem,” was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards and The Independent Author Network Book Awards, and won its category in The International Book Awards. A strong believer in literacy, T.K. also co-founded The Conyers Book Festival along with the owner of her local indie bookstore. When she’s not outside getting in her steps, lost in one of her favorite authors’ fantasy worlds, or representing her clients, you can find her online at www.tkread.com.
Moniquea S.Willingham is the author of Madison's Talent. She has spent over 18 years serving in the educational field, including both domestic and international school settings supporting students and their teachers. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University and a Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership obtained from Georgia State University. In her leisure time, Moniquea enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and traveling the world. She currently resides in Marietta, Georgia. Find her at her Amazon author page.
.jpg)
Taylor Woolley is author and illustrator of Earth Rover and illustrator of Birthday Bash by Blair Northen Williamson. Armed with a sketchbook full of wild ideas, Taylor's stories are guaranteed to make readers giggle, gasp, and cheer. When she’s not sketching or writing, you’ll likely find her hanging at home with her husband and their young daughter, or pausing mid-hike to admire a particularly excellent frog. Represented by Dan Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency, Taylor has published traditionally as an author and illustrator and has also worked with self-published authors as an illustrator and designer. Visit her online at www.woolleystories.com.
As a freelance writer, Kim Zachman published more than 130 articles, essays, and reviews, but her real passion was children’s books. For seven years, Kim worked as a field support representative for Scholastic Book Fairs. Being immersed in the world of Kidlit helped her achieve her goal of becoming a children’s author. Her first book There's No Ham in Hamburgers: Facts and Folklore About Our Favorite Foods released in April 2021. There's No Cream in Cream Soda followed in July 2023. A mother of two, Kim lives in Roswell, Georgia with her husband and their almost perfect dog. Visit her online at www.kimzachman.com.
What role do humans play in a world where artificial intelligence has replaced most of the workforce?
Technological advancements don't seem to have improved daily living for the characters in Helen Phillips’ slightly futuristic novel Hum.
Air quality forces families indoors where children watch videos of animals they will only ever encounter at pop-up zoos with conditions so abysmal they scare the visitors. Constant video surveillance produces targeted advertisements and androids called hums replace human workers while families struggle to pay for basic necessities.
Hum centers around May, a mother of two who loses her job to artificial intelligence and undergoes an experimental procedure that distorts her features to evade facial recognition software in order to pay for her family's living expenses.
Feeling friendless and disconnected from her husband, worried about finances and her children's increasing tech-dominated isolation, May spends part of her earnings treating her family to a visit to the luxurious Botanical Garden where they can reconnect and experience a convincing approximation of the natural world.
The garden’s lush environment offers a refreshing change of pace until the children wander off, setting into motion a chain of events that threatens the whole family.
I've been a fan of Helen Phillips' unique human-centered science fiction since reading her 2015 novel The Beautiful Bureaucrat which was a finalist for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
In Phillips' suspenseful and mind-bending 2019 novel The Need, a woman is confronted by an alternative version of herself. The Need was named a New York Times Notable Book and longlisted for the National Book Award.
FCPL’s Novel Realities book club will discuss Hum on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Sharon Forks Library and newcomers are always welcome. If you enjoy speculative fiction and are looking a unique book club, please take a look at our upcoming Novel Realities book selections and make plans to attend one of our upcoming discussions.
.jpg) |
| Image by wweagle from Getty Images Signature via Canva |
.jpg){kind=link}
