Community

Two fiction writers, Carolyn Brown and Charles C. Brown, will speak at the semiannual Brown Bag Luncheon at noon November 17 at Donald W. Reynolds Community Center & Library, 1515 W. Main in Durant.

The Browns have been married over half a century, both write fiction, and much of what each writes has a “Western bent.”  But they don’t write together.

Carolyn has plied her trade much longer than Charles and now has published more than 90 novels, mostly historical romance and contemporary romance.  Besides writing several series, she has numerous single titles to her credit.

A New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Carolyn has had three books win the National Readers’ Choice award, one the BBA (Book Seller’s Best Award), and several listed on the USA Today bestseller list.

One book was a finalist for the prestigious RITA award given by the Romance Writers of America. She also earned the Diamond Award for the first million books she sold for Amazon/Montlake Romance, and both the Bronze and Silver Awards for selling 250,000 and 500,000 copies respectively of “The Ladies’ Room.”

She was honored on social media when she sold the second and third million copies for Amazon/Montlake.

Charles reached his current career via a different route.  He didn’t begin publishing books until after he retired in 2008, after having served in the U.S. Army and taught high-school English in three states: Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

He had dreamed of being a writer for years.  In fact, he chose to major in English and minor in history at Southeastern Oklahoma State University with that career path in mind.  But he quickly realized that the teaching profession that college prepared him for didn’t leave much time for writing.

However, he’s making up for lost time, with nine novels now in print.  His latest title is “Justice by the Numbers,” which is available in CreateSpace paperback and Kindle e-book.

Now that the Browns’ three children are grown, both are busy creating characters and plots and meeting deadlines—just not the same ones.

In their Saturday presentation, the Browns will discuss their separate “writing lives” and their life together.  According to Carolyn, the latter now includes “enough grandchildren to keep them busy and young.”

Copies of both Browns’ novels will be available for purchase and autographing after their talk.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunches and eat during the presentation.  The event is free and is sponsored by the Friends of the Reynolds Library, who will provide cookies and bottled water to all attendees.