Ronald M. Gauthier was a library branch manager in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina forced him to relocate to Atlanta. In addition to working in the library, he has served as an adult literacy instructor for the prison system in Louisiana and a social services counselor. He is the author of Hard Time on the Bayou, a prison novel based on his experiences working in corrections, Prey for Me: A New Orleans Mystery and its sequel, Crescent City Countdown, which is the only work of fiction depicting the slavery reparations issue as part of the storyline.

Standing on Holy Ground:  A Triumph over Hate Crime in the Deep South

Columbia, SC – On February 19, 2009, from noon to 1:00 p.m., Sandra E. Johnson will discuss her book, Standing on Holy Ground: A Triumph over Hate Crime in the Deep South.  This novel powerfully narrates the true story of how two women—one white, the other black—risked their lives to lead an interracial group of volunteers to rebuild a historic black church in Dixiana, SC, that had been destroyed by hate crime.  In addition to receiving glowing reviews from O: The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, Southern Living, and numerous other publications, the book received a Christopher Award for Literature.

River of Words (ROW), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 by then-US Poet Laureate Robert Hass and writer Pamela Michael. Every year, in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, an international poetry and art contest is conducted for children in grades K-12. River of Words is an arts and environmental education program that:

•    nurtures respect for and understanding of the natural world
•    promotes literacy in all its forms
•    trains teachers how to integrate the arts into core curriculum subjects
•    gives youth a forum for expressing their creativity and concerns
•    helps children develop a sense of belonging to a particular place
•    builds community partnerships
•    leverages existing resources in support of education
•    facilitates interdisciplinary teaching methods
•    distributes, publishes and displays children's art & poetry
•    publishes an Educator's Guide and curriculum support materials

Each April, eight US winners, one international winner, and a "ROW Teacher of the Year" are honored (during National Poetry Month) at an Award Ceremony at The Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Seventeen states currently award state ROW prizes, as well. The contest is free, and every child is acknowledged with a personalized "Watershed Explorer" certificate. Children may enter on their own or through schools, nature centers, libraries, youth clubs and other organizations. Girl Scouts can earn their "Water Drop" patch by entering the contest and fulfilling other requirements (www.epa.gov/adopt/patch).  The contest deadline for North American entries is February 15.  For more information, visit http://riverofwords.org.