By Kristy D. Carter
Michael Parker has always had a passion for writing.
Parker, who grew up in Clinton and is the son of the late Jim Parker, former owner and editor of The Sampson Independent, will be returning for a book signing Nov. 15 at the Victor R. Small House on College Street.
As a child, Parker said he spent a lot of time reading and writing.
“I grew up wanting to be a writer,” Parker said. “I received a lot of encouragement from my teachers to become a writer.”
Parker’s mother was a teacher and his father, well, he spent all his time at the newspaper.
“Writing was in my blood,” the published author said.
Parker is the author of eight works of literary fiction, most recently the critically acclaimed novel, “All I Have in This World.”
The novels Parker has written, he says, are all set in eastern North Carolina, in town similar to Clinton. To add that touch of home, Parker said he has used many names that are associated with the south and Sampson County.
Parker’s work has been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Oxford American, Our State, and many other magazines. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, an O. Henry Award, a Pushcart Prize, and three lifetime achievement awards, including the North Carolina Award for Literature.
The Clinton native spends his time between Greensboro, where he is a creative writing teacher at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Austin, Texas.
While Parker said he doesn’t get to visit Clinton as often has he would like, he does still have many friends in the area and calls Clinton home.
“It’s always a pleasure to come back to Clinton,” Parker said. “That area has been such an inspiration to me.”
Members of the Sampson Arts Council often host authors from this area, and are excited about bringing Parker back to Clinton.
“We are so excited to have Michael return to share his successes as an author,” Kara Donatelli, executive director of the Sampson Arts Council, said.
The book signing and discussion of his book, “All I Have in This World,” will be Nov. 15, from 2-4 p.m. Copies of the book, and previous printings, will be available for purchase.
Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.