Saturday, September 14, the North Cobb Regional Library hosted a bookish event for story lovers in the Cobb area. Bookworms and aspiring writers alike flocked to the atheneum to hear the wise words of upcoming author Jill Tew and New York Times Bestseller author Rebecca Ross. Discussing their praised works “The Dividing Sky” and “The Divine Rivals,” the panel allowed fans to meet experienced novelists and learn information about these beloved books.
As literary scholars began to fill the library’s lobby, the BookWorm company provided a table for attendees to order the aforementioned works. Fans brought their copy of Ross’s books in hopes of receiving a personalized signature while they shared their excitement with fellow readers. Five minutes before the event began, the doors opened for participants to sit first-come-first-serve in the whimsical, flowering panel room.
Guests filled in seats, waiting eagerly for their novels and questions to ask the authors. Everyone’s attention turned to the librarian as she announced that the event would commence: she presented a brief biography of each author and welcomed them in, with Tew entering first and Ross following behind her. The sound of enthusiastic claps echoed throughout the room as the esteemed writers walked into the room.
Foremost, the event entailed a panel where the event coordinator asked the authors a pre-written list of questions. Tew and Ross covered topics such as their characters, their worldbuilding and their writing process, sprinkling in bits of writing advice as they talked. Afterward, the floor opened for the audience to ask any questions to the exemplary writers. Since this event encompassed Tew’s first published novel and her first speaking event, fans inquired about the plot and structure of her novel.
“The closer I get to release day, the more surreal this whole experience becomes. It feels like not that long ago that I was a high school student, dreaming up characters and stories during class. So I know that there will be future authors in the audience at these events, and that’s a really cool feeling,” Tew said.
Tew’s book, “The Dividing Sky,” which releases October 8, follows a technologically advanced, futuristic city run by a company called LifeCorp. This novel explores issues regarding hyper-productivity in which wealthy residents, called “Uppers,” work relentlessly for LifeCorp while lower-class residents, termed “Proxies,” take care of the chores or tasks of the Uppers’ lives. The science fiction (sci-fi) society tasks Proxies to alter Uppers’ minds through neurochips so that the rich workers can maximize their productivity. The main character, a Proxy named Liv, must complete a dangerous mission, yet conflict arises as Adrian, a LifeCorp officer and Liv’s love interest, trails her into the wilderness.
Similarly, Ross’s featured book, “The Divine Rivals,” depicts sci-fi themes along with romance and war. The main characters, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt develop through a dual point-of-view, enemies-to-lover-like plotline displaying motifs of love, ambition and Ross’s unique mythology. Fans asked a plethora of questions about how Ross matured her characters and the inspiration behind certain aspects of her book.
Interestingly, audiences also touched on Tew’s and Ross’s background, both of which diverted from literary means. Tew, who loved storytelling as a child, studied business in college, however, when she and her coworkers watched the 2014 movie “Divergent,” she decided she wanted to write. Ross, on the other hand, began to study humanities at the University of North Georgia. Yet, as career concerns arose, Ross transferred to the University of Georgia and switched her major to dietetics. Throughout her endeavors in science classes, she eventually realized her true passion for writing and completed her studies in English.
“I loved storytelling as a kid, but when it came time for college I majored in something more practical. After graduating from an undergrad business school, I had a series of very high-demand, stressful jobs. One day after work, some friends and I went to see the new ‘Divergent’ movie, and it was like a light turned on inside of me. I suddenly realized that that was how I wanted to make people feel. That night I went home and started work on my very first novel,” Tew said.
As the authors concluded their questions and answers session — detailing memories of their past and hopes for their future — the event transitioned to allow the authors to sign books. Fans lined up to discuss literary lore and take pictures with the writers as they received signatures and unique messages in their copies of the novels.
Overall, the library provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for adoring fans to meet and greet these successful authors. As Tew expanded her fanbase before her novel’s release and Ross discussed her books with her already existing audience, each book-loving attendee left the panel with smiles and admiration for the novelists.
“I was very excited to see [the authors] and learn more about their stories and the world-building behind them. My mom and I had to drive around 40 minutes in the rain to go. I felt very honored and happy that they decided to talk to us and answer our questions. My favorite part was when they answered my question about how they made their covers. It was also interesting to learn how they balanced daily life with writing their books,” magnet freshman Norah Scarborough said.
