Charlotte's Favorite Bookstore

West Trade Review is published each spring by Johnson and Wales University, and strives to put forth the best contemporary writing and artwork.

The journal publishes a mix of established and up-and-coming writers. Our goal: To share the best art from both emerging and established creative minds on campus, in Charlotte and beyond. The authors in attendance will be:

Matt Sailor is Editor-in-Chief of New South, Georgia State Univeristy's Journal of Art and Literature. He is currently pursuing his MFA in fiction at Georgia State and resides in Atlanta, GA.

Kerry Anne Williams currently resides in Chapel Hill, NC, and is a graduate of UNC. She writes young adult novels and children's books.

Alisha Gard, a California native, currently resides in Carrboro, NC, and attends UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been twice awarded prizes in the Independent Weekly Annual Poetry Contest and recently was an Honorable Mention in the Nazim Hikmet Poetry Festival.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Emily Banks currently attends UNC-Chapel Hill and is an intern for the Carolina Quarterly.

Leah Robinson is a fun-loving, high-spirited young lady who is the daughter of the well-known bishop of Hattiesville Community Church. She seems to have it all: wonderful friends, a near-perfect life, and a wonderful fiancé, Grant Sturdivant, with whom she is deeply in love. Grant is in the Army and is stationed in Germany. Before he comes home, she begins planning their dream wedding. After Leah suffers a significant headache one day that put her in the hospital for an indefinite amount of time, her friends begin to worry about her and whether or not she and Grant will still get married. Meanwhile, Janis Mitchell, Grant's ex, is jealous of Leah and her relationship with Grant and does everything in her power to break them up.

Will Leah ever recover from her illness and marry the love of her life? Will Janis succeed at breaking up Grant and Leah for her own selfish gain? In this compelling novel by first-time author Cheryl J. McCullough, you will follow Leah and Grant, as well as their family and friends, as they face adversity and persevere in spite of how life happens. The Wedding Party is a dynamic story about relationships with a surprising twist ending that you won't want to miss.

Library Journal says The Iguana Tree “recalls the work of John Steinbeck.” Kirkus Reviews calls it “exceptional … a haunting tale of hope and heartbreak.”  Michel Stone’s debut novel, set against the backdrop of illegal immigration, is one family’s story of fateful decisions, risky border crossings, and a struggle for humanity. 

Set amid the perils of illegal border crossings, The Iguana Tree is the suspenseful saga of Lilia and Hector, who separately make their way from Mexico into the United States, seeking work in the Carolinas and a home for their infant daughter.

Michel Stone's harrowing novel meticulously examines the obstacles each faces in pursuing a new life: manipulation, rape, and murder in the perilous commerce of border crossings; betrayal by family and friends; exploitation by corrupt officials and rapacious landowners on the U.S. side; and, finally, the inexorable workings of the U.S. justice system.

Hector and Lilia meet Americans willing to help them with legal assistance and offers of responsible employment, but their illegal entry seems certain to prove their undoing. The consequences of their decisions are devastating. In the end, The Iguana Tree is a universal story of loss, grief, and human dignity.

A lyrical, gorgeously written novel by a talented newcomer, Susan Woodring’s Goliath is set in a declining North Carolina furniture manufacturing town and focuses on the life and longing of Rosamond Rogers, secretary to the scion of the Harding Company, who has just—to the surprise of all but Rosamond—committed suicide.

When fourteen-year-old Vincent Bailey stumbles upon the body of Percy Harding, Goliath’s most important citizen, near the railroad tracks one perfect autumn afternoon, the tragic death seems literally unbelievable: how could it have been a suicide? Only Harding’s secretary, Rosamond, might have had a glimmer, but that glimmer just tugs at her, urges her to find out more. Harding isn’t the first person to leave Rosamond: everybody does, from her husband Hatley, who walked out on her years ago; to her complicated daughter Agnes, whose girlhood bedroom was papered with the maps of the places she wanted to escape to. 

Brought to life by a cast of characters as varied and rich as in any fiction—from Clyde Winston, the town’s police chief, to Goliath’s self-taught preacher Ray, to Percy Harding’s unmoored widow Lela—Goliath’s appeal is as memorable as Elizabeth Strout’s Crosby, Maine, or Richard Russo’s Empire Falls.

It’s No Accident, a new book by pediatric urologist Dr. Steve J. Hodges, explains why bedwetting and accidents are on the rise and why they go improperly treated. It’s only normal for kids to have potty accidents, right? Not necessarily. Pediatricians routinely assure stressed-out parents that their child’s wetting episodes are no big deal, when in fact, potty problems are an epidemic in the U.S. and can develop into lasting medical issues if left untreated. 

Sam Talbot is a professional chef, fan favorite of Bravo's Top Chef, restaurateur, surfer, painter, philanthropist, and, since the age of 12, type 1 diabetic. Yet he has not let the disease stop him from living a rich life packed with energy, adventure, and achievement—culinary and otherwise. In his first, much-anticipated book, he recounts how diabetes has affected but not compromised his life or career, and he shares his own tips—alongside those from other famous diabetics like Halle Berry, Larry King, and Tommy Lee—on how to handle everything from work and hobbies to relationships and travel with discipline and enthusiasm. 

To round out this advice, he offers bits of foodie wisdom and 75 innovative recipes for fresh, all-natural dishes anybody, diabetic or not, can prepare and enjoy.

Heartfelt, entertaining, and backed by real-life experience and solid medical expertise, The Sweet Life will give readers hope, inspiration, and the proof they need to realize that life with diabetes isn’t about diabetes: It’s about living.

The Carolina Conspiracy is made up of mystery authors from North and South Carolina who share a taste for murder in their work. Authors Joyce and Jim Lavene, Linda Lovely, Doug Walker, Lynette Hall Hampton and Kathleen Delaney will talk about their characters, books and ideas. Refreshments will be served.

Joyce and Jim Lavene are a married writing couple who live in North Carolina with their family. They get help from their cat, Quincy, and their big puppy, Rudi, who they rescued in 2010. They have been writing together since 1994 and published since 1999. Last year marked their 52nd book in print. They enjoy writing mysteries but are at home with fantasy, romance and non-fiction. The couple both work for their small, hometown newspaper, The Weekly Post. They are active in Sisters-in-Crime and Mystery Writers of America. 

Doug Walker (pen name is D L Walker) lives in Kannapolis with his wife Wendy, son Chris, and daughters Kathi and Holly. His 1st novel, Scaffold, is about a corrupt wrestling group that has a tragic accident during a PPV in Charlotte, and the investigation that follows. The sequel, Murder in Mill Town, is will be based in Kannapolis.

Lynette Hall Hampton was born and raised in North Carolina and still lives with her cat, Jefferson. She calls North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina her second home because she owned a condo there for over twenty-five years. She has had more than 400 articles, short stories and poetry, three children’s books published, one of which is being re-released this summer. She also has a non-fiction writing book out. 

Kathleen Delaney grew up in Glendale, California. Her first novel, Dying For A Change, was named a finalist in the St. Martin’s Malice Domestic contest, and was accepted for publication by Publish America. The third book in the Ellen McKenzie series will be out in July, the fourth is almost finished, and there are more in the pipeline. There have been several short stories, one of which, “The Trip” will appear in central coast anthology due about the same time as Dessert.

In a wonderfully engaging heart-of-the-matter voice, Robert Leleux chronicles his chic Texas grandmother's descent into the gloom of Alzheimer's. He is circumspect in recording the many indignities the disease brings and equally faithful to praise the joys of a happy marriage, of good wigs and zinger punchlines. Leleux's writing is as bright and elegant as one of his grandmother's hats, his love of family and faith in their enduring strength a rare and refreshing thing.

Join us for champagne, chocolate and wine as we welcome Robert Leleux.

The New York Times bestselling author of Serena, Ron Rash, returns to Appalachia, this time at the height of World War I, with the story of a blazing but doomed love affair caught in the turmoil of a nation at war.  

Ron will be at Queens University to promote his new novel The Cove. The evening's events will include a reading, Q&A, and a signing.

The event will be taking place on the Queens Uniersity campus at the Sykes Learning Center (McColl Business Center) in the Ketner Auditorium on the lower level. 

Books will be avaliable for purchase at the event, or you can get yours early at our store on Park Road. The cost of the book is $27.87 with tax and we will be accepting cash, credit cards and checks. You may bring books from home for Ron to sign, but please limit it to 2 books per person. 

If you have any questions regarding the event, please feel free to e-mail us at books@parkroadbooks.com or call us at 704-525-9239. 

Have you ever been bullied? Do you wish there were something you could do about it? Well the Alphabugs are here to share some advice on bullying in Jeryl Christmas's The Alphabug Bully Busters. Andy, Brucey, Clarence, and the other bugs all have helpful hints on how to wipe out bullying for good. Read to see how you can 'bee' the best bully buster in town.

Children’s book author, Jaytoe Anthony Tukan, well known for his most popular book, Kitty Cat Had A Dream (2005), once again re-emerges on the book writing scene. His new book, Turning of the Tide(released 2011), is on President Obama. While one may think that this book is only about politics, it is mostly about culture, tradition, family, dreams, and inspirations, as it presents two families from two continents, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, yet so close that distance, religion, nationality, or ethnicity, could not prevent them from forming a unified family tie.

Hannah marie eventers the world with a loud wail and a burst of energy, and her parents predict she'll be famous someday. But her creativity and unique awy of seeing the world around her earns her the nickname "Hannah Banana" from her fellow students. Will Hannah be strong enough to stay true to herself and achieve the success she longs for? The answer will amaze you!

A stunning debut reminiscent of the beloved novels of John Hart and Tom Franklin, A Land More Kind Than Home is a mesmerizing literary thriller about the bond between two brothers and the evil they face in a small western North Carolina town

For a curious boy like Jess Hall, growing up in Marshall means trouble when your mother catches you spying on grown-ups. Adventurous and precocious, Jess is enormously protective of his older brother, Christopher, a mute whom everyone calls Stump. Though their mother has warned them not to snoop, Stump can't help sneaking a look at something he's not supposed to—an act that will have catastrophic repercussions, shattering both his world and Jess's. It's a wrenching event that thrusts Jess into an adulthood for which he's not prepared. While there is much about the world that still confuses him, he now knows that a new understanding can bring not only a growing danger and evil—but also the possibility of freedom and deliverance as well.

Told by three resonant and evocative characters—Jess; Adelaide Lyle, the town midwife and moral conscience; and Clem Barefield, a sheriff with his own painful past—A Land More Kind Than Home is a haunting tale of courage in the face of cruelty and the power of love to overcome the darkness that lives in us all. These are masterful portrayals, written with assurance and truth, and they show us the extraordinary promise of this remarkable first novel.

War Zone is the story of the time the enemy entered America’s front door unhindered, when the United States suffered but overcame the German U-boat menace. For seven months, black smoke and orange flames from torpedoed vessels filled the ocean skies from New England to New Orleans. Explosions rattled window panes and the nerves of coastal residents. Beaches were awash with wreckage, oil, empty lifeboats, and bodies. The majority of these attacks occurred off the North Carolina coast.  

“Why didn’t I know about this?” many people ask about one of the most spellbinding but least-known chapters of American history. Decades of military secrecy, reluctance by those involved to remember painful memories, and the disregard of this important history in educational curriculums are a few of the answers. 

War Zone is a gripping panorama of the shameful betrayal of merchant sailors, of young Coast Guard recruits watching helplessly as sailors plunged into pools of burning oil, and of the baby born in a lifeboat. Learn about the intrepid men and women who defended America in little boats and in small planes; the truth behind the famous phrase “Sighted sub, sank same;” and the children who spied on German spies. Discover the real story behind the legends of secret agents, midget-submarine landings, a busload of naked Nazi U-boat POWs at New Bern, and the shelling of a chemical plant on Kure Beach. Follow the accounts of three climactic engagements between U.S. forces and German U-boats off the North Carolina coast with the Battle of the Atlantic hanging in the balance; and the time a tearful son from England visited his father’s grave on Ocracoke Island for the first time in 62 years.

War Zone is a classic American story told from the perspective of everyday people who daily faced daunting challenges with perseverance, patriotism, and uncommon valor. Shocking, emotionally stirring, humorous, and ironic, War Zone preserves these memories of the greatest generation of Americans living on the coast of North Carolina in 1942.

In The Boy Who Stole The Leopard's Spots by Tamar Myers, fans of Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible and Alexander McCall Smith’s mystery series, will enjoy this intriguing and richly told story, set against the beautiful and bewitching backdrop of the Belgian Congo, in a tale that captivates from page one. Before all is said and done, the lovely missionary Amanda, Captain Pierre Jardin, the Witch Doctor and his intuitive wife Cripple, all become embroiled in this shrouded mystery. With evil omens and strange occurrences mounting, will they be able to figure out the mysterious forces that have taken over without risk to their own lives? Tamar Myers weaves a mesmerizing and authentic tale of intrigue, murder and strange ritual that engages to the very end.  

Katie is not a little girl anymore—she is six years old!  But some mean girls at school still tease her about her chipped baby tooth.  Katie learns to use humor instead of sadness or anger to solve her problems with the bullies at school, from listening to a hilarious story about when her grandma’s false teeth landed in a bowl of chocolate pudding.

Diamonds & Mildew is an exciting story about family legacy and diamonds. It reveals how ambition charms many lives as well as how fast money determines the course of their misery. It is an epic story, rich in dangerous endeavors, striking characters and shocking plots.

The Merlenes dynasty saga starts in the streets of Paris in the nineteenth century and hastens extravagantly throughout America, Brazil, South Africa and Greece.

The driving ambition of a young man sets the groundwork for many generations of his family to engage in reckless, vicious episodes of destiny.

The fascinating life of each character, who dreams, loves, deceives and kills meticulously entangles with those who keep the faith, the loyalty and the devastating secrets of the family.

In Dollars and Uncommon Sense, Army veteran and Certified Financial Planner Steve Repak shows you why, and how, to use uncommon sense to get back on track. Just as in basic training, where a drill sergeant transforms ordinary recruits into soldiers ready to battle, Repak serves as your drill sergeant in this groundbreaking new book.

Steve Repak, CFP, is an Army veteran, motivational speaker, consultant and principal at Repak Financial Services. He has helped countless ordinary people turn their finances around with his inspiring personal finance presentations and one- on- one financial counseling. Repak was the 1995 For Bliss, Texas Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Management Communications from Amridge University. He now works for himself as a highly successful Certified Financial Planner in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and three children. 

Today people have an offline reputation and image, but are increasingly creating one or more online personas. Their online image is having an impact on them in many ways. Employers are hiring and firing based on people’s online activities. Criminals are using online identities to abuse or steal from victims. Cyberbullies are taking advantage of those who reveal themselves as vulnerable on grieving or eating disorder sites. Schools are denying admission based on adolescent behaviors broadcast online in social networking sites or media sharing sites such as YouTube.   This book helps readers understand the implications of their online personas, how they may be putting themselves at risk, and how to take charge of this important new aspect of their lives for career and personal success. Offering simple, specific steps readers can take to analyze their online image, determine who they want to be online, and turn their online reputation around, this book is the go-to source for protecting your online image and projecting the persona you want others to see. The authors offer key advice on:

• Changing privacy settings
• Purging unwanted personal content
• Recognizing the risks and pitfalls of online identities
• Utilizing social networking to your advantage
• Protecting your kids online
• Curbing unwanted “spying” on your searches and interests
• Preventing identity theft and other online dangers
• Redeeming your online image
• Projecting a more professional image