Not Just Any Party - Gina Holmes Book Launch at Roanoke Library

Where to start?? Gina Holmes is our home-girl-does-good story in Roanoke, VA. That is the big, awesome thing here. The new book she's written was just published and will be hitting the book stores very soon. It's called Crossing Oceans, about a young single mother who comes back into her family's life after a long absence.

For the past few weeks, all sorts of great local media coverage proclaimed and celebrated this artistic victory - the Press, TV, Bloggers, Social Media sites... But the most outstanding celebration of all was the love our own Roanokers showed Ms Holmes at the Roanoke Library last Tuesday evening.

The Roanoke Public Libraries, as we've mentioned other times, is (as an organization) one of the front-running advocates for the Arts scene in the SW Virginia region. They take it to the streets, up-close and personal. No fancy, corporate-sponsored bookings brokered here. What they do have is one River Laker, a fellow who keeps his eyes and ears on up-and-coming local talent (and from nearby cities), so he knows the latest, the artsiest, the grooviest... And then he books 'em for what always becomes a treat to the community in performances, exhibitions, seminars, readings, and that one very special thing so many "venues" can't really do - Participation.

So, Tuesday night at the Main Library's Howery Mezzanine, we all came out to celebrate Gina Holmes' Book Launch Party. Mr Laker brought together a very successful party, indeed - perhaps the largest attendance thus far at the Library. There was a lot of work behind it to pull this off, and again he coordinated that magnificently as always. Roanoke is lucky to have a real-life Eveready Bunny.

Ms Holmes was honored and entertained by fellow area artists. The cool thing about that is she was greatly involved with the entertainment herself. For one, the author's work inspired a short play that was performed during the event. From SW County's Showtimers, local actors Nancy Lawrence, Caitlin Morgan, and a cute little actor named Madeline Neil practiced the script with precision over the past couple weeks, under River's directing. Watch out, Broadway! (Oh yes, it was my debut as an actor that evening - and I enjoyed being in the company of experienced actors! Thanks for having me on!)

A short video, as a response or spoof to the book's trailer video, went over hugely with the audience. Gina co-starred in it with her husband and, oh, that guy with the British accent who dresses up in silly outfits... um, yeah - River again! You can see the video here, on River's Vimeo Channel, produced by Matt Ames.

The event had a musical guest, Maddie Grace Garber, a local teenager with tons of talent for songwriting and singing. Also, artist Toobz once again created a backdrop and banner for the stage area. His work is often showcased at the Library for Emerging Artists performances.

Ms Holmes answered questions from the audience about her book, about writing and her journey to become a published author. One guest, Sunny, who is also a local artist, even referenced a page and paragraph in her question to the author, which must've been a sweet compliment for any writer when someone can do that!


Star City FAME taped the book launch party, and will be editing the video this week. Hook up with us on Facebook so you can get updates on cool things that happen within the Arts community here in Roanoke.

Visit Gina Holmes' blog for more information about her life, her books, and the art of fiction writing. Her novel Crossing Oceans is also available through Amazon.com. We wish her many congratulations, much inspiration, and a long, happy career in writing!

See you around Downtown!!

Karen Land Speaks at Roanoke Main Library

There’s always something going on at the Library… you already knew that. Right? Well, let’s look at this week’s program presented by the Roanoke Public Library. This is not your average library, just in case you think it’s a quiet place to sit and use the computer or check out books for free. (Oh-oh, what the ???)

Monday night, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Musher Karen Land spoke to a packed house at the Main Library’s Mezzanine Room. Star City FAME came to take pictures and learned about a sport that seemed more grueling and exciting than just about anything else out there.

Dog Mushing is a competitive sport, one musher against others… and a team sport, a pack of dogs being that team. Karen presented some finer details of training for the Iditarod, which is the annual race held in Alaska. The race begins every March. Competitors typically enter with 16 (maximum) dogs. The trail covers 1161 miles in sub-freezing temperatures. They get 15 days or less to finish it. Karen’s training took a number of years, as she explained she had to apprentice with a kennel owner, whose dogs raced as sled dogs, to really learn about mushing.

Here is a photo courtesy of JKBrooks85 off Wiki that details a sled dog team: (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/aa/Mushing_graphicx.JPG)

Karen went on to talk about the way she was first introduced to mushing, her training to qualify, her rookie entry into the Iditarod, and of course, she spoke proudly about her faithful team of dogs. Karen also brought along a photo presentation of breath-taking pictures, her racing sled, and her beloved Alaskan Husky, Borage.

The sled shown here is actually quite light in weight… 20-something pounds or so. The dogs pull the musher, all suited up, and the sled, all loaded up, over snow and ice. However, a lot of the Iditarod trail can be rocks and dirt.

Karen asked the audience a number of questions and surprisingly a lot of children present knew some of the answers. She has been on over 300 such presentations to audiences all over the United States since 2005, mostly at schools and libraries. She has taken this year off to tour the country and talk about Mushing, but says she will enter the Iditarod once again next year.

Photos Star City FAME (c) 2010

You can find more about Mushing at Karen’s website and blog at http://www.mymusher.com/
The official site for the Iditarod is http://www.iditarod.com/

See you around Downtown!!

No Shame Theatre Now in the Daytime at Roanoke Public Library

Studio Roanoke partnered up with the Roanoke Public Library to bring a daytime version of "No Shame Theatre" to the infamous Mezzanine of the Main Library in Downtown Roanoke City. Chad Runyon, host and General Manager of Studio Roanoke, opened the show with the near-usual announcement adding the new rules of "no cussing" or any other obscene behavior for the more family-oriented flavor of "No Shame."

The first performance was held last week on March 3rd at noon, and brought in several brave souls to kick off what will be a regular monthly program at the Library.

The very first original pieces offered at "No Shame in the Afternoon" were by authors (in order of appearance) Patrick Lyster, Claudia Harris (read by Jonathan Harris), Leisa Thomas, Paula Smith, Mark Tutai, and Beth Deel and River (Car Less Brit) Laker as a duo.

Everyone followed the rules, but you know, there always is that one exception in the crowd who will find a loophole, right? Wonder who and what that could have been??

Luckily, Star City FAME brought a camera, otherwise it'd all have been hear-say!!

River Laker and Beth Deel

Of course, this is not considered dis-robing in public, because the man clearly was not wearing a robe.

More pics...

Patrick LysterJonathan Harris

Leisa ThomasPaula SmithMark TutaiChad Runyon

A fun time not to be missed. Please come out to the next "No Shame in the Afternoon," which will be on April 7th. Workshops for the afternoon performances are held on the last Monday of the month at the Main Library.

Many thanks to Studio Roanoke, Roanoke Public Libraries, and special thanks to River Laker, the programming master-mind behind so many of the Library's events, and Beth Deel of myScoper.com, one of Roanoke's brightest artists and biggest advocate of the Arts here in Downtown. Without some of our more adventurous residents, Roanoke would just be plain Roanoke. (A whole 'nuther topic for another day...)

See you around Downtown!