Women's organizations can learn about the inspiring life and career journeys of eight 'groundbreaking women' whose 'core essences' are captured by award-winning writer Jack J. Prather in his 2015 book of biographies titled "Six Notable Women of North Carolina", and in his 2012 "Twelve Notables of Western North Carolina.
Organizations may also request presentations about the 10 men who's bios appear in "Twelve Notables."
Both books were nominated for the NC Literary & Historical Association Ragan Award for Nonfiction, the top writing award in the state. Jack previously authored two thriller novels, an issue-based book of poetry and prose, and two strategic public relations guidebooks.
Mr. Prather is wonderful. His books are well researched, often with first person accounts. His speaking and lectures are fascinating and our large group was held spellbound wanting more of Mr. Prather and his vast insights and knowledge.
Response from Jack J. Prather, Future Now Publishing:
The kind review is much appreciated, thank you Ash Tate. Each of the 18 Notables in my two books were a privilege to know and write about, and I am honored to be the conduit for their career and life stories.
Price Range: $500 and up.
Gig Length: 60 - 240 minutes
Languages: English
Fascinating insights into the life and career journeys of 18 'Notables' who have enjoyed exciting careers and also give back to the community will be presented through readings from two books of biographies by the author, and by volunteers from the audience. A question-and-answer session will follow.
The presentation can be about all 18 Notables in the two books, or about a select subject(s).
The 18 Notables and their career categories follow:
1) For writing: Bones TV Show inspiration-writer and noted novelist - Kathy Reichs of Charlotte;
2) For performance: Grammy winner (four), longtime partner of th late Doc Watson and storyteller - David Holt of Fairview;
3) For legal: NC and Cherokee Supreme Court Justice, attorney for seven decades - Harry C. Martin of Bilmore Forest (died at age 95 in May 2015);
4/5) For education: Warren Wilson College Professor Emeritus, musician, author and geographer - Doug M. Orr of Black Mountain; and, Chancellor Emerita of UNC-Asheville and National Honors Council President - Anne Ponder of Asheville;
6) For art: southern art master oil painter from Britain, international galleries, recent show at Greenville SC Art Museum - Julyan Davis of Asheville;
7/8) For medical: founding Medical Director of Mission Children's Hospital, author, president of NC and National Pediatrics Societies, author - Dr. Olson Huff of Black Mountain; and, emergency room pioneer, founder of the Emergency Room Nurses Association - Dr. Matt Hayes of Hendersonville;
9/10) For crafts: basket maker, first woman NC Living Treasure with work in the Smithsonian, subject in three PBS-TV Specials - Billie Ruth Sudduth; and, studio glass artist, NC Living Treasure, recipient of the Governor's Award as a fireman-Richard Q. Ritter, both from Bakersville;
11) For public service: former Secretary of Commerce, first female Duke Power vice president -Sharon Decker of Rutherfordton;
12/13) For poetry: Performance Poet, Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center and Carl Sandburg Home Teaching Artist - Glenis Redmond of Piedmont; and, Poet Laureate from (phone number hidden)9, author-Kathryn Stripling-Byer of Cullowhee;
14) For athletics: Appalachian Trail world record-holder, National Geographic 'Adventurer of the Year', author - Jennifer Pharr Davis of Asheville;
15) For military: founder of the Moldova World Children's Fund, UNCA Alumni of the Year, Kanuga Conference Center CFO 20 years - Capt. Ray West, USN-ret., of Flat Rock;
16) For religion: iconic Episcopal priest at Ground Zero, owner of The Swag Inn - Rev. Dr. Dan Matthews of Waynesville and New York City;
17) For business: President and Lifetime Achievement Award the PR Society of America, founder of the Russian PR Society - Joe Epley of Tryon;
18) For community service: founder of Center for International Understanding, co-founder of the NC Friendship Force - Millie Ravenel of Raleigh.
Author Jack J. Prather of Hendersonville NC via Brooklyn-Ohio-New Jersey, is a former award-winning journalist, freelance writer and poet. He shares with organizations and groups the ‘core essences’ of 18 dynamic living North Carolinians who revealed their life and career journeys to him during in-depth interviews for two books of biographies.
Included are the bios of eight women!
Jack’s "Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina" (400-pages/134-photos) launched the series about residents who made their marks anywhere in state or nation, and who also give back to the community!
That book was nominated for the prestigious NC Literary & Historical Association's 2012 Ragan Award for Non-Fiction; and received excellent reviews and extensive media coverage.
Jack's “Six Notable Women of North Carolina” was published in January of 2015; and the third book in the series will be about young Notables, tentatively planned for late 2016.
Following are the 18 Notables from Jack’s two books of biographies that he talks about in his personal appearances:
The ‘Six Notable Women of North Carolina’ (2014) >
KATHY REICHS of Charlotte: inspiration for and a writer-producer of the ‘Bones’ TV series, best-selling author of 16 novels, one of 101 worldwide certified forensic anthropologist, professor at UNC-Charlotte.
SHARON DECKER of Rutherfordton: former Secretary of Commerce, first Duke Power female vice-president; pastor, founder/pastor of The Tapestry Group, businesswoman.
JENNIFER PHARR-DAVIS of Asheville: world record Appalachian Trail hiker for men and women hikers and runners), 2011 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, author.
MILLIE RAVENEL of Raleigh: founder of the Center for International Understanding, co-founder of the NC Friendship Force, 2011 Governor's Award for Excellence, Citizen of the World award.
KATHRYN STRIPLING-BYER of Cullowhee: NC Poet Laureate (phone number hidden)9, member of Poetry Hall of Fame, awards for poems and books of poetry, former Western North Carolina faculty member.
ANNE PONDER of Asheville: UNCA Chancellor Emerita, Fellow of National Collegiate Honors Council, president Southern University Conference, Van Ummersen Leadership Award.
The ‘Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina’ (2012) >
JUSTICE HARRY C. MARTIN of Biltmore Forest (died May 2015): former NC and Cherokee (EBCN) Supreme Court Justice, attorney for 66 years.
REV. DR. DAN MATTHEWS of Waynesville and New York City: iconic Episcopal priest, rector of Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel at Ground Zero on 9/11, owner of the Swag Inn in Waynesville.
DAVID HOLT of Fairview: four Grammy awards, 10-instrument musician, storyteller, Doc Watson's longtime performing partner, PBS-TV and NPR host.
DR. DOUG M. ORR of Black Mountain: president emeritus of Warren Wilson College (phone number hidden)6, musician, geographer, author.
DR. OLSON HUFF of Black Mountain: founding Medical Director of Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville, children’s book author, president of National and NC Pediatric Societies.
GLENIS REDMOND now of Piedmont: Hall of Fame Performance Poet, Carl Sandburg Home resident poet, Kennedy Center Teaching Artist, author.
JULYAN DAVIS of Asheville: southern art master oil painter from Britain, shows and paintings in international galleries, recent show at Greenville SC Art Museum.
JOE EPLEY of Tryon: global public relations leader, Russian PR Society founder, PRSA president with Lifetime Award, Revolutionary war novelist.
DR. MATT HAYES of Hendersonville: emergency-room upgrade pioneer, co-founder of Emergency Department of Nurses, established national ambulance driver protocols.
CAPTAIN RAY WEST, USNR-ret., of Flat Rock: founder Moldova World Children’s Fund, UNCA Alumnus of Year, 20-year CFO of Kanuga Conference Center.
BILLIE RUTH SUDDUTH of Bakersville: first woman North Carolina 'Living Treasure', basket artist with work in Smithsonian, subject in three PBS-TV specials.
RICHARD Q. RITTER of Bakersville: 2011 'Living Treasure' studio glass artist, Governor’s Award as Fire Chief.
YOUNG WRITERS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDER:
A portion of proceeds from Jack’s seven books and appearance fees are donated to the "Young Writers’ Scholarship" he founded in 2012 at Warren Wilson College near Asheville to honor the Notables. He asks fellow authors, writers and avid-readers to also lend support.
WRITING HISTORY:
For 13 years as a journalist for two newspapers and UPI contributor, Jack earned six New Jersey Press Association writing and editing awards, including Best Column in All Divisions. He later won prizes for magazine feature articles, op-ed pieces ghost-written for clients, and poetry.
His online piece on the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kenned published online at All Voices was a finalist out of 66,000 entries in the 2013 National Pundit Contest.
Jack has authored two mystery thriller novels: "The Day of the Knights" in 2009, and "Investigative Reporter" in 2011. His "Speaking Up in Poetry & Prose" in 2007 about social, political, civic and religious issues of importance to all Americans was featured at the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site in Flat Rock, where his 'Sandburg Homage' poem was on display.
His fulltime writing since 2006 has included a feature article for the premier issue of WNC magazine, a feature about writing for the Hendersonville Times-News,
business articles for the Henderson County Chamber Magazine 'Leading Edge', and five of his seven books.
STRATEGIC PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Jack founded The Prather Strategic Public Relations Group in 1978. He wrote "The PR Bluebook" in 1981-reprinted in 1986, produced a two-hour video titled "The Power of PR" at WSUS-TV in 1991; and authored "All PR is Local" in 2002 that was acquired by Amazon-Booksurge in 2004.
His diverse clients included two U.S. Congressmen, two state legislators, Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat, Space Farms Zoo and Museums, Playboy Resorts Inc., ski areas, healthcare entities, and legal, realty, accounting and financial firms. He was the PR consultant to Ames Rubber Corporation, winner of the 1993 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award presented by President Clinton. His several professional honors include The Communicator ‘Award of Distinction’ in 1996.
RECENT RADIO-TV APPEARANCES:
Jack was interviewed twice on the Jack and Megan Show on WSPA-TV, on the Ingrid Allstaedt Show on WLOS-TV; on the Pete Kaliner Show on WWNC, and on The George Henry Show on WTZQ, et al. Print media coverage has been extensive.
Jack's (link hidden) website was designated as the "Website of the Month" by the NC Bar Association e-Bar newsletter.
BOOK AVAILABILITY:
Jack's biography books are in the UNC and NC State Library Collections, some local libraries, at the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site, at some outlets on the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the Great Smoky Mountains, at select gift shops, at bookstores by request, all online book sites-including (link hidden).
Signed copies are available at (email hidden)
TERMS (flexible):
Jack, a presenting author at the 2013 Blue Ridge Bookfest, has done numerous speaking/book-signing events and seminars over the past 30 years, and is amenable to considering any fair offer for his services.
RESIDENCE:
Jack moved to Hendersonville NC in 2005 after two-years at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. He was born and raised in New York and Ohio, and resided in New Jersey for 40 years.
All I need for appearances are a quality sound system, a chair or dais, and a well-placed table(s) for a display of books, etc.
| May 06, 2016 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Main event interviewing novelist and 'Bones' TV series inspiration Kathy Reichs at the Bookfest at B |
As a student and fan of authors too numerous to mention, I was influenced to pass along my writing good fortune by founding the Young Writers Scholarship at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa near Asheville NC. I've also rallied fellow authors, writers and avid readers to lend their support of an incoming freshman interested in a writing career, solely selected by the college.
I was greatly influenced to delve into politics as a young man by President John F. Kennedy and Senator Hubert Humphrey. I had the great good fortune to meet and write a column about Gil Hodges, my baseball hero from my Brooklyn Dodger-worshipping days; and connected with and wrote about Peanuts author Charles 'Sparky' Schultz among several other icons.
After learning much from well-informed men and women throughout my life, I went on to host of both writing and Strategic Public Relations seminars at colleges and universities, and corporate centers. I also tried to inspire community service goals for wide spectrums of attendees.
In my two guidebooks geared for young PR practitioners and college students and in numerous seminars, I always touted ethics and professionalism. Most recently, I've contrasted the higher standards of yesterday to today's lax sound-bite mentalities and rampant hucksterism that emanates from political and TV commentators.
As a political consultant to congressmen and state officials, I also stressed ethics and positive messaging - and it helped them when they listened.
Writing has been my conduit to the world, and to my fellow humans who I hope to continue to inform and motivate with my wee bits of wisdom acquired over a long lifetime.
On-site sound system and mic.
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