Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) announced that Run With the Horsemen , a novel by Fayetteville author, Ferrol Sams, will launch the citywide literacy program, “Atlanta Reads: One Book, One Community.”
The public voted for the book that will kick-off the program at Atlanta-Fulton libraries; Borders’ and Waldenbooks’ stores; and on the OCA website. All six book choices were written by authors who have either lived, or currently live, in metro Atlanta. Mayor Franklin joined Sams, Dr. Rudolph Byrd, chair of the “Atlanta Reads” steering committee and program sponsors at City Hall to announce the winning book.
Run With the Horsemen was published in 1982, and was Sams first novel. It is the story of a young man who comes of age on a Georgia farm between the two World Wars. In addition to being an author with seven books under his belt, Sams and his wife are physicians in Fayetteville, Ga.
“I am honored that Atlanta chose my novel to kick-off this important program,” Sams said. “Atlanta is the most beautiful city in the United States and I admire Mayor Franklin for launching “Atlanta Reads.” This will help to get young people away from the television and into the written word.”
“Atlanta Reads” co-sponsors, Coca Cola and Borders Bookstores, will provide 2700 copies of Run With the Horsemen to Atlanta Public Schools (APS) seniors and 500 copies to participants in the City’s senior citizens programs. On May 24, co-sponsor UPS will deliver the books. The reading program begins in June. Throughout the summer, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will publish reading events and book discussions at venues throughout metro Atlanta. During “Atlanta Reads Week” – from September 5-17 – Sams will host reading events throughout the metro area.
For more information about Atlanta Reads, visit the Cultural Affairs website.