Meet actor Garrett M. Brown & hear coming-of-age stories Tues., May 13

Contest winner Rosey Butler will read her "Growing Up" piece

I’m excited to share that I will be a part of a reading at From the Ground Up Books in Shepherdsville that came together after my sister, the poet Cecilia Woloch, introduced me, via email, to actor and artist Garrett M. Brown.

Although I’ve yet to meet Garrett in person, I’ve been reading Tin Sea, his “Memoir Gone Rogue,” which chronicles how the Golden-Globe nominated actor decided to take the metaphorical road less traveled after graduating college in the spring of 1971.

Inspired in part by watching the film Harvey, starring Jimmy Stewart, at a fraternity house, then hitting the road to Tennessee to sell dictionaries door to door with a buddy, Garrett made the radical decision to become a visual artist.

Garrett M. Brown, who starred in “Uncle Buck” with John Candy and more recently the “Kick Ass” films, will be reading from his coming-of-age memoir/novel Tin Sea on May 13 at From the Ground Up Books .

In a world where the arts are too often undervalued, Tin Sea is a moving meditation on what it means to follow a calling. It’s a coming-of-age story that we all need to hear.

The theme of the reading is just that: coming of age. I’ll be reading an essay about my relationship with my father, and Rosey Butler will share her evocative piece, which was selected as the winner of our “Growing Up” Writing Contest. Rosey will receive a $25 gift certificate to From the Ground Up Books.

Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the “Growing Up” Writing Contest, which was sponsored by the Salt River Local Arts Collaborative.

I’m looking forward to meeting Garrett in person and being a part of this reading event, which is free and open to the public. I think it will be an engaging and inspiring afternoon. I hope to see you there!

Every month, SLAC hosts an Artists’ Social on the fourth Saturday to share our art, our words, and to be part of a creative community. Our gatherings are free and open to the public. We are artists, writers, and performers working to elevate the arts and establish a brick-and-mortar arts center to support and spotlight creativity.

The next Artists’ Social will be held Saturday, May 24, from 3 to 5 PM at Cedar Grove Coffee House in Shepherdsville. We will be celebrating Mental Health Awareness month, and will discuss and demonstrate how music and writing music can be healing. Please join us, if not this month, then next—it’s always the fourth Saturday. Check this Substack for details every month… Or better yet, hit the Subscribe button, and please share!