The North Carolina Writers Network West and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present TOM HOOKER as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.”

This program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove” (accompanied by Charlie Wilkinson) welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open mic are available at the entrance to the reading room.

Born and raised in North Mississippi, Tom Hooker graduated from the University of Mississippi. He and his family moved to western North Carolina in 1988. Out of the Frying Pan is Tom’s most recent novel. He’s also authored the novels Year of the White Dog and Twenty-Five Angels and co-authored with Gary Ader The War Never Ends. Two non-fiction books—Calvary’s Child: The Life of Amanda Carol Hooker and Season of Shadows—add to his publishing credits. His short stories and poems have appeared in various literary journals, and his poem “The Senses of You” won the 2024 Mensa International Poetry Competition. Books will be available for purchase.