The Friends of the Mount Airy Public Library is continuing to provide a forum for regional authors to showcase their work and local residents to find a new book.

A program series is taking place at the Mount Airy Public Library on the second Tuesday of each month through April. The program begins at noon and lasts about an hour, making it the perfect length to squeeze in during a lunch break, library officials said. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch, enjoy the coffee, tea or water provided and listen to an author talk about his/her latest work, answer questions and even autograph some copies.

“We’ve been doing this for a few years now. There’s not a lot of opportunity for folks to get their names out. The publishing business is quite challenging,” said Linda Wright, president of the Friends of the Mount Airy Public Library. “This is a way to bring local authors to the attention of the people.”

This series not only tries to attract regional authors through places like the Blair Publishing Web site and through events at other libraries, but also looks for people who write about this region, even if that work is fictional.

“Often the content of the book is also about this area. People like to learn more about their local area even if it’s fiction,” said Wright. “They’re the tales they heard when they were growing up.”

Randell Jones helped kick off the series in January with his book, “In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone.” According to Wright, the event was a success. She thought Jones, who she said was a tremendous storyteller, would be interesting because of Daniel Boone’s connection with the Mocksville area.

Annis Ward Jackson will be the next author Feb. 9. She will speak about her newest book, “Into the Twilight.” The historical fiction work is based on the 200-year-old traditional tale that Abraham Lincoln was born in North Carolina.

Jennifer Bower is the featured author for March 9 with “Winston-Salem: Tales of murder, mystery and mayhem.”

Cameron Kent will close out the series April 13 with his latest work of fiction, “The Road to Devotion.” This book is loosely based on the community of Devotion in Surry County.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.