Stock car racing, the South and writing were the talk of the night at the Book and Author Dinner hosted by the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History last night.

Near 135 people gathered at Cross Creek Country Club to hear authors Sharyn McCrumb and Adam Edwards speak about writing. McCrumb is a New York Times best-selling author, and Edwards is NASCAR/ARCA race car driver. They have written two novels together. Their latest novel, “Faster Pastor,” is about a young stock car driver who wrecks his car in a small Tennessee town and must teach local ministers how to drive stock cars so they can compete to win $2 million.

During their lecture, the authors told stories of how they met, talked about writing together and shared racing knowledge. The crowd laughed along with them as they recounted experiences and read excerpts from their books.

Edwards was new to writing when he began working with McCrumb. He told the crowd, “Writing with Sharon is an amazing experience.”

McCrumb has been a New York Times best-selling author five times, and her books are used as course study in 22 colleges in the United States. She has lectured on her work at universities throughout the nation and Europe. Her historical novels include “The Songcatcher,” “The Ballad of Frankie Silver,” “The Rosewood Casket” and “The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter.” She also has written novels about NASCAR.

“Somewhere along the way I really just fell in love with NASCAR,” McCrumb said.

She also spoke about her newest historical novel, “The Devil Amongst the Lawyers,” which will be released later this month. In this novel, she explores how Southerners are negatively portrayed in national media sources.

Before reading an excerpt from the book, McCrumb asked the crowd, “Do you ever get tired of people thinking you really live in Mayberry?”

Brenda Edwards attended the event, and she said, “It was very humorous. I learned a lot about racing that I didn’t know ... I’m anxious to read their book.”

Kay Donaldson also attended the dinner, and she said she was impressed with Edwards’ remarks about growing up in northern Virginia and then getting involved in the Southern style of life. Donaldson is originally from the Midwest, and said she could relate to his remarks.

The authors spoke briefly at the White Liquor and Dirt Tracks event sponsored by the museum earlier this year. Matt Edwards, director of the museum, explained that the authors only got to speak briefly then. He said the people “who were in attendance were so impressed” that the museum decided to bring the authors back.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring them back and do justice to the Mount Airy area,” he said. “The people that were there spoke very highly of them.”

Candace Sammons led the effort to organize the event. She came up with the idea for a book and author dinner four years ago and has organized the dinner each year for the museum.

The director said, “She has done a fantastic job with coordinating it.”

Sammons explained that she loves the event and that a lot of people work together to put it on. When explaining why she loves the dinner, Sammons said, “I’m a reader. I love reading, and I love meeting people who write.”

Of this year’s speakers, Sammons said, “We have wonderful authors, and they are witty and intelligent and entertaining.”

She is a big fan of McCrumb’s books. Sammons said, “She’s the funniest person. I’ve enjoyed her tremendously.”

The event served as a fundraiser for the museum, and it was sponsored by Haynes-Strand & Company, Insteel Industries, SouthData and Workforce Carolina.

Jack Loftis came to support the museum. He said, “I think it’s a great asset for the city of Mount Airy ... This is a good way to have a fundraiser for people to enjoy. If it accomplishes something for the museum, then it’s a success.”

Eddie Harris said, “I believe it’s a good way for the community to come together, supporting a very big part of our city, the museum.”

Prior to the event, the museum hosted a small private reception with the authors, sponsors of the event and museum board members. The actual dinner began at 6 p.m. with a social hour, then museum leaders welcomed everyone, dinner was served, and McCrumb and Edwards spoke. They closed out their lecture with a question-and-answer session, then they signed autographs.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.