GAINESVILLE — Author of the New York Times best selling memoir that was the basis for the movie "October Sky" will speak and sign books in north Georgia next month.
Gwinnett County Public Library, Hall County Library System and Piedmont Regional Library System will welcome Homer Hickum, best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling memoir "Rocket Boys" which was adapted into the popular movie "October Sky," for a book signing event on October 17 and 18.
Hickum will speak at Lanier Technical College in Winder on October 17 at 3 pm and at the Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center in Norcross on October 18 at 3 pm.
Library Director for the Hall County Library System, Lisa MacKinney, said the three library systems have come together to create a new initiative called North Georgia Reads.
"We have been very lucky to partner with these other local libraries to form this new partnership called North Georgia Reads. We are hoping to bring a big name author like Mr. Hickum into the area every fall to do some programs for our area," said MacKinney.
Hickum is the winner of the prestigious University of Alabama's Clarence Cason Award and the Appalachian Heritage Writer's Award for his memoirs and fiction. He also has won many other writing awards, as well as an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Marshall University.
Hickum has been a coal miner, Vietnam combat veteran, scuba instructor, NASA engineer, and now a best-selling author.
"Rocket Boys is based on Mr. Hickum's true story of his time experimenting in West Virginia with science to create rockets as a boy. And of course the story became the movie October Sky," said MacKinney.
Hickum will also be promoting his new auto-biographical novel called "Bringing Albert Home," which is also based on a true story.
Both events are free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase and signing.
For more information about Hall County Library programs and services, visit their website .
