AGT Monthly Meeting for February 2026 

The Authors Guild of Tennessee held their monthly meeting on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Faith Lutheran Church, Farragut, from 10:30 until noon.

The following members were present:

Bill Barbour, Bobbi Chapman, Gayle Curtin, Barb Dunn, John Forcum, Kaye George, Leoma Gilley, David Johnston, Jerry Morton, Kathy Parr, Cheryl Peyton, Nancy Pressley, Ron Pressley, Chuck Roseberry, Stacy Rowe, Kit Sexton, Art Stewart, Becky Tucker, Victoria Winifred, and Curt Young.

Guests: George Bove, Jilaine Burley, and Elaine Jungk

Welcome – Cheryl.  We are using a new speaker to enhance sound so everyone can hear more easily.

Bobbi is back. She thanked everyone for their concern and brought a large number of envelopes for members to take to mail books.

 Treasurer’s Report – Bill

AGT Treasurer’s Report For January 2026
Beginning Cash Balance	$ 3,783
Ending Cash Balance	$ 4,070
Less:	$   (962)	Writing Competition
	$   (332)	Outstanding checks
Net Cash Available	$ 2,776
Income
Membership Dues	$     360
Book Sales	$     164
Expenses
Author payments	$     175
Storage Rental	$       24
Fairs Festivals Balance	$  (346)

 

Victoria has two new children’s books: a 3rd-grade after-school chess club solves mysteries.

Kaye has stories in two anthologies soon to be released. She’s published 17 books and her new publisher will rerelease some of the out-of-print ones. Having been in rehab for several weeks, she’s working on a book she may call Death in Rehab.

Cheryl mentioned her new book From Wolf to Woof, about the domestication of wolves that has resulted in all breeds of dogs. Today, dogs still share 99.9% DNA with the grey wolf.

Committee Chairs.

Fairs and Festivals – Nancy.  She wants to solidify the next 6 months of shows. Mardi Growl is the first in March. If the open festivals don’t get responses, she won’t reserve space. Participants are needed for the Dogwood Arts and several others. Check your email for details. If you have signed up, you will receive a personal email when it is time to pay and there will be a deadline.

Student Writing Contest – Art.  Lenoir City HS writing classes are underway. Five speakers from AGT are now scheduled. There may be one space available late in February. You’d speak for 20 minutes on any topic related to writing. Art thanks us for supporting this. The students really appreciate it. Donations are welcome. We currently have over $900 reserved for prizes including engraved plaques and cash prizes for first place.

Gary Butler thought he had to get a business license, LLC, and in the process, he is liable for business tax annually. Comments from the floor indicated it is not necessary to have one, and not a problem to close it. With a business license, each year you must depreciate your computer, desk, chair, etc. The license is a protection if you would be sued.

Program

Our guest speaker was George Bove, author of three books for children centered around fictional characters related to the University of Tennessee. Mr. Bove was inspired to write his first children’s book as “children have the unique ability to teach us how to live with excitement and wonder.” George describes himself as having “creative silliness and love for all things Tennessee.” He spoke on the topic of Writing Children’s Books.

George reports that he sells books at Walmart, Temu, Target and of course, Amazon. He has signed books at every Barnes and Noble in Tennessee. He writes Christian books and sells them around the world. In his most well-known children’s book,  he designed the lower case t to become the power T. There is a lot of Tennessee state history in the book. He owns the t but even so it is in the Vol shop. It has become a brand. All of his books are printed, published, edited and designed in Tennessee. He offered 70-30 to the publisher so they put him at the front of the print queue. He wants to sell the most books possible.  When he sells the t brand, he will make his money. Kids choose a cover with the most interesting character.

How he got s books into Barnes and Noble is he went to the store and gave everyone a free signed copy. Within a week, his book was for sale in the stores. He’s done that in every Barnes and Noble. You have to go out to sell books, and you need to be creative. If it sells in Walmart, they want to make money. The place that sells the most of his books is University Liquor Stores on the UT campus.

He reminded us that social media is free which is why he uses it. He has a Facebook page for each of his books. He’s trying to attract the parents and grandparents who have disposable income. The important thing is the brand. If you sell enough books, they will come to you. Pick your target market.

Publishers offer all their books to Walmart, and Walmart chooses which ones they want.

His books all rhyme. He thinks goofy stories are the best. He is creating gateway books that start with Jesus and end with prayer with lots of gratitude in the middle.  Our books can trigger the imagination of the readers, and that is important.

He gives away a book and asks the person to take a picture with him and put it on their social media. That way he probably sells 20. He goes to schools and reads to the kids.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:13.

Respectfully submitted,

Leoma Gilley, Secretary