‘Thunder’ author rolling into Andalusia
Published 11:59 pm Thursday, August 13, 2009
On Monday, a “Sound of Thunder” will once again rumble through the county; however, it won’t be the kind related to the area’s recent bad weather.
Sonny Brewer, author of “A Sound of Thunder,” will be featured at a book signing at 6 p.m. at David’s Catfish House. The Lower Alabama Arts Council, Andalusia High School and David’s Catfish House are sponsoring the event.
The Fairhope author has published many books including “Rembrandt the Rocker,” “A Yin for Change,” “The Poet of Tolstoy Park,” “A Sound of Thunder and “Cormac, A Tale of a Dog Gone Missing.”
Brewer said a “for sale” ad led him to the invitation to come to Andalusia.
“I was looking for a T-top for my boat and someone told me about one listed for sale in the want ads,” he said. “It turned out it was owned by a man named Bill Spurlin. We met. I bought a T-top for my boat and his wife, Charlotte, invited me to come and speak to her class. That’s how it started.”
Charlotte Spurlin is the AHS librarian and has arranged for Brewer to host a question and answer session with students who have just finished reading “Cormac.”
“I never know what to expect, when in front of students,” Brewer said. “I just hope the students are willing to read and don’t consider it torturous and I hope I encounter some who have read a book for the fun of it.”
At 6 p.m., Brewer will address the general public at David’s Catfish House.
“We chose (David’s) because the LAAC (building) is not big enough and it’s an informal setting,” said LAAC’s Amy Spurlin, who is Charlotte Spurlin’s daughter-in-law. “Sonny’s writing is a little ‘folksy,’ so we thought that would be appropriate.”
Spurlin said the LAAC is pleased to have the opportunity to present the author to Covington County.
“He is very interesting and hangs out with that colony of writers who congregate in Fairhope, like Fanny Flagg, John Grisham and Rick Bragg,” she said. “As a matter of fact, Rick Bragg is a good friend and is a character in ‘Cormac.’ Also, a movie is being made of the novel, ‘The Poet of Tolstoy Park.’ That is my personal favorite of his books.”
Readers with copies of Brewer novels are invited to bring them for autographing. Brewer will also have copies of “A Sound of Thunder” available.
Paperback production of the book has been postponed until Spring 2010.
“I can’t wait to come,” Brewer said. “I love to meet the public and answer questions. If they want to know what I write with — pen and paper, a typewriter or a computer, I’m up to answering any kind of questions they have.”
Brewer is also owner of the Over the Transom bookstore in Fairhope. For more information on his work, visit his Web site at www.overthetransom.com.