By Cindy Pitts Gilbert Buford Weekly Illustrated April 20, 2016
Local Author
Carole Townsend Launches 4th Book at the Historic Courthouse and
focal point where the crime occurred. On
Thursday evening, April, 14, 2016 many of Gwinnett County’s movers and shakers
including three of our Gwinnett County mayors, numerous city council members came
together with many her students, friends and family met at the Gwinnett County
Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville for a reception for author Carol Townsend to
launch her new book, “Blood in the Soil,” A True Tale of Racism, Sex, and
Murder in the South. It is estimated that about 200 people were in attendance
to honor Georgia girl done good to stand in line to get their personally signed
copy of her new book, which has already earned over three thousand dollars in
pre-sales. Townsend who has a reputation for writing southern humor books such
as Magnolias, Sweet Tea and Exhaust and Red Lipstick and Clean Underwear has changed
genre’s to write a true crime drama about the infamous shooting of Larry Flint during
a trail in Lawrenceville, GA and the
serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin who shot him. Her interest in writing the book was sparked
by the execution of Franklin in 2013. This true account is written from the
perspective of Detective Michael Cowart and the life from childhood through his
execution.
Speakers included
Madam Chairmen Charlotte Nash welcoming the guests and good friend Ron Goodbub
who introduced Townsend with a few personal and humorous antidotes about her. A
somewhat touching part of the evening was a personal reading of a chapter from
the book from Detective Michael Cowart from whose perspective the book was
written.
The event
was hosted by Michelle McGill Couch and Natalie Miller who brought in local
sponsors, good food and some of Townsend’s students as volunteers. The décor
was both interesting and entertaining including some blood stained gauze, crime
tape, historical pictures and loads of bullet casings. A special southern touch included the centerpieces
of hand picked cotton arrangements.
Carole Townsend is local reporter and columnist for the Gwinnett Citizen and has appeared on CNN and FOX, ABC and CBS news, and talk shows. You can get the book in local book stores and on amazon.
I was honored to be able to cover this event for the Buford Weekly Illustrated. Carol is both a mentor and friend. You are an inspiration Carole.
No comments:
Post a Comment