Sunday, November 25, 2007

Physician Has Book Signing By SUSAN LAKES


from the Hattiesburg American Sunday, November 25, 2007

Physician and writer of medical thrillers Darden North talks with retired Oak Grove nurse Barbara Hayman at a book signing at Barnes & Noble on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi on Saturday, November 24, 2007.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/misc/zoom.pbs&Site=DB&Date=20071125&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=711250328&Ref=AR

By Susan Lakes

A customer who happens to be a retired nurse walked up to an author who happens to be a physician at a book signing on the University of Southern Mississippi campus Saturday.

She told the author, "I heard some good things, especially about your second book."

The author, Darden North, smiled, and then told the Oak Grove resident, Barbara Hayman, about the recognition he received for writing that second book.

North, a Jackson-based writer with Columbia ties, recently earned recognition for Southern fiction at a meeting of the Independent Publishers Book Award group for "Points of Origin," his second medical thriller.

The second novel was released in 2006, just a year after "House Call," North's first novel came out. "House Call" is now available in paperback.

North stood inside Barnes & Noble bookstore next to a table with stacks of all his novels Saturday.

He's well into writing a third novel about embryo transplants while he promotes the first two books - and continues working at a large medical clinic in Jackson.

He writes an hour or so every night - in bits and pieces - during time that he used to reserve for homework assistance.

North has two grown children, and his wife, the former Sally Fortenberry, is a Columbia native.

"House Call," "Points of Origin" and the third book that he's calling "Fresh Frozen" complement each other, North said, but are not necessarily a series. They're set in fictitious towns in Mississippi.

He promotes his own work and has sold 12,000 copies of the first two novels.

North offers this advice for beginning writers:

"Sit down and write," he said.

But it's not as easy as it sounds, he said.

"Make a decision to do it," North said. "Understand it really is a difficult thing to get it (a book) out there unless you're already established."

Originally published November 25, 2007 THE HATTIESBURG AMERICAN

Susan Lakes | Hattiesburg American




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Saturday, November 17, 2007

Novels by Darden North, MD

Darden North, MD, is a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist in Jackson, MS, who has written and independently published two hardcover novels, House Call (October 2005) and Points of Origin (October 2006), followed by paperback release of House Call in October 2007. This year marks twenty-two years of medical/surgical practice, a background that lends unmistakable authenticity to his medical thrillers as North portrays intense character relationships. Darden North’s work has not only been compared to the earlier novels of John Grisham, but also to the style of James Patterson, Greg Iles, and even Mary Higgins Clark.

Points of Origin was recognized in southern fiction by the 2007 Independent Publishers Book Awards. Both House Call and Points of Origin were nominated in fiction by the Mississippi Institute for Art and Letters and by the Southern Independent Book Association. After selling over 12,000 copies of his work, North is writing a third novel as he continues to deliver babies and maintain a full gynecology practice. North participates in the Mississippi Writers Guild, the Southern Writers Group, and Mystery Writers of America and has presented at the Texas Book Festival; the Kentucky Bluegrass Book Festival; the Southern Independent Book Association in Orlando, Florida; and the 2007 Mississippi Library Commission. More than 50 television and radio stations in several states have interviewed him while reviews of House Call and Points of Origin have been published in more than ten magazines and newspapers. Throughout the Southeast and in New York City, Darden North has appeared at more than 100 book signings or public speaking engagements and remains available for additional appearances. North and his wife, Sally, are active members of their community and have two grown children and three dogs. Years ago, North hung up his golf clubs --- but on occasion is spotted with a tennis racket.

PRAISE FOR HOUSE CALL & POINTS OF ORIGIN .......................... “ … A suspenseful ride striking up feelings of fear, sadness, joy, and shock." --- Delta Magazine "North may become to the medical mystery genre what Grisham is to the legal thriller." --- Bluffs and Bayous Magazine
" … intricate, suspenseful … The author grabs the reader immediately." ---Portico Jackson “... a fast-paced tale ... for murder and intrigue fans." --- Allbooks Review "House Call leaves readers wanting more." --- The Delta Democrat Times “Points of Origin ... heart-stopping, spellbinding ending ... haunted me for days after closing the cover." --- Reader Views "I devoured both ... uncanny character
development along classic southern lines.” --- Kathy Spurlock, Executive Editor, The News-Star "North reminds readers that things are not always as they appear." --- The Clarion-Ledger

Monday, November 12, 2007

"2007: A YEAR OF WORDS"

Town hall-style forum: "2007: A YEAR OF WORDS."
Panel will discuss topics that made 2007 a year to remember.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007
Richard Wright Library 6:00 PM
515 W. McDowell Road; Jackson,MS

PANELISTS:
* Voncele Savage --- Minister/Author
* Diane Johnston --- Bible Teacher/ Missionary
* Jokah the General --- Hiphop artist/activist
* Dana Hampton --- Mother/ Retail Supervisor
* Stanley Clark --- Promoter
* D.J.Downsouth --- Producer/ Hiphop artist
* Darden North, MD--- Physician/ Author
* Cheryl Haynes --- Elemenatary School Principal
Moderated by Cyrus A. Webb, Conversations Book Club President

TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED:
6:05p.m. --- "What's In a Word?"
6:25p.m. --- "Suicide: Is it ever the Answer?"
6:45p.m. --- "Abuse: Should love have to hurt?"
7:05p.m. --- "Sex, Drugs and Violence in Entertainment: How much is too much?"
7:25p.m. --- "Are we locking up our freedom of speech?"

Admission to each session is free. For more information, contact Robin Gardner at 601.664.8805 or email Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com.