Author’s Guild of Tennessee Monthly Meeting

Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut

Thursday, June 1, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Social time will start at 10:30, followed by a business meeting at 11:00. Our special speaker will be AGT member Jerry Morton.

Jerry grew up in a Coast Guard family who moved often resulting in Jerry attending eight different public schools. As a young man, he received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Tennessee and went on to work with school systems, setting up their psychological programs.

He is the author of two books: The Reluctant Lieutenant about his experiences in basic training and officer candidate’s school in the 1960s. His latest book is Finding My Way, a memoir of his experiences and insights into the many subcultures he discovered in the northern, midwestern, and southern states from the 1940s to the present. The events and interactions he writes about include many different belief systems and his personal quest to understand life’s truths, including a search for explanations of the unexplainable.

In his talk, Jerry will talk about his first experience in having a video trailer made recently about his latest book and show it to us with a projector. He will ask the group for their reaction to it, what their experiences have been in developing video trailers, and what are the most important considerations in developing one.

Jerry would also like input on how can we best use video trailers to promote our books on social media and at outdoor and indoor events.

This will be an important learning opportunity on the making and use of video trailers.

Visitors are welcome.

Cheryl Peyton
President, Authors Guild of Tennessee

AGT Members to Participate in the

60th Annual Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival

Saturday, June 3rd 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 4th 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ten members of the Authors Guild of Tennessee will join some 200 crafters selling a variety of handmade goods ranging from ceramics, to jewelry, to outdoor furniture at this year’s event. The AGT authors represent some 35 books they will have on display to sell and personally sign.  Genres include memoirs, mysteries, poetry, natural history, non-fiction, inspirational, and books for children.

The Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival has been sponsored since the beginning in 1962 by the GFWC Woman’s Club. From the festival’s proceeds, they have raised over $700,000 for community charities, scholarships, grants, and other local needs.

There will be a food court with outdoor seating for your convenience. Mark your calendar for the first week in June to attend and browse the many offerings. Admission is $3.00 with free parking and shuttle service.

The AGT Sponsored Writing Contest

Lenoir City High School

2022 – 2023

AGT members Jerry Morton and Dr. Art Stewart began an approved pro bono writing competition for Lenoir City High School students this past fall. Angela Crabtree, teacher of Creative Writing at the school, coordinated the program. Through her efforts, we provided volunteer AGT authors to present half-hour topics to the class. The student feedback was very positive. All students in the three classes competed by writing a historical fiction story. Three teachers judged the stories, naming first and second place winners in each writing class for both semesters. AGT President, Cheryl Peyton, recognized these students at the May 8th and 9th award ceremonies by presenting a monetary gift and a plaque to each first place winner, and a plaque to each second place winner. AGT also recognized Ms. Crabtree with a monetary gift and plaque for her cooperation and support of the new program.

AGT is working with other schools in the area to expand the program. Our goal is to expose young adults to the joys and satisfaction of writing and share experiences of published authors in the area.

Newest Retail Store!

April 13th

707 Veterans Memorial Dr

Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Cheryl Peyton and Bill Barbour assembling new shelving for Tellico Drugs.

New shelves installed on April 13th

Store Hours:

Monday-Friday: 9a.m.-6p.m.

Saturday: 9a.m.-1p.m.

Sunday: Closed

New Guests’ Corner Article

Live Your Best Life by Janet Campbell

Janet Campbell is the creator of Elder Spark, which aims to help seniors find resources and motivation to stay fit in their golden years. This article is about being a Digital Nomad, a lifestyle where one can live in different places while pursuing a creative career.

Cheryl Peyton’s New Mystery Book

Murder on the Danube

Published March 6th

This is the seventh book in the vacation mystery series featuring Alex Trotter, tour operator turned amateur sleuth.

When Alex met the members of the Croatian American Club she planned to escort on a Danube River cruise, they appeared to be a happy group who enjoyed playing music and dancing. When she met with them again prior to embarking on the trip, she learned that several had been traumatized by wars in their home country. They all hoped that the cruise would replace bitter memories with positive experiences revisiting Eastern Europe. The question was, would they be able to truly enjoy themselves or would they only be reminded of the misery and aftermath of war?