The NEWS

Local author John B. Marek will return to the Hampton B. Allen Library on Monday, September 21, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for a special book reading, Q&A session, and signing. Marking his first appearance at the Wadesboro library in over three years, Marek will share fresh stories, insights into his writing process, and live readings from his popular Owen Sinclair mystery series.

Picking a good campsite is part science, part instinct, and part hard-won lesson from that one time you got it wrong. Whether you're packing into the backcountry or pulling into a designated site at a state park campground, the difference between a great night and a miserable one usually comes down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are seven of the most common; five for wilderness camping, two for car camping.

Amazon bestselling author of the Owen Sinclair outdoor mystery series will be on hand to meet readers and sign books at Harvest Fest, held at the Tractor Supply Co. store in Denver, North Carolina, on Saturday, September 12th, from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

One of the things I appreciate about Popular Mechanics is that they realize there are different levels of handy. While their tool and gear reviews feature pro-caliber equipment, they get that not every suburban homeowner needs—or can afford—a $700 circular saw. So they almost always include a “Best Budget” category for those of us with shallower pockets and less demanding chores.

I have a somewhat patchwork understanding of movies from the 1980s. I didn’t get to the cinema often until the latter years of the decade, didn’t have much access to HBO, and only started renting VHS videos in earnest around 1988, so there are a whole slew of films that are considered “standards” of the era which I haven’t seen, or have only seen very recently.

I've spent enough Saturday afternoons behind folding tables at independent bookstores to have picked up a few things, mostly by watching the owners and staff wince in real time. Nobody complains out loud. Indie booksellers are, as a rule, too polite and too tired for that. But the wince tells you everything.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — July 8, 2026 — Local outdoor mystery and thriller author John B. Marek will be a featured author at the upcoming Charlotte BookPALOOZA, scheduled for Friday, October 10, 2026, at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte. The premier literary event will run from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, bringing together avid readers, independent bookstore owners, and regional writers for a celebration of the written word.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — The Lake Norman HarborHippos have announced that local author and community fixture John B. Marek will be a featured guest at their upcoming home game on Friday, June 12th.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Local author John B. Marek is pleased to announce his upcoming appearance at the World of Books Immersive Book Fair in downtown Rock Hill, SC, taking place on Saturday, May 16th, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC —APRIL 14, 2026 — John B. Marek is thrilled to announce his participation in the upcoming Independent Bookstore Day celebration at The Outpost at LKN in Cornelius on Saturday, April 25. Running from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the event serves as a grand finale to a day dedicated to the joy of reading, community connection, and the "happily ever afters" found within the pages of a good book.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — April 7, 2026 — New Beginnings Moravian Garden will officially kick off its seventh summer growing season on April 25. Founded in 2019, this vital outreach ministry of New Beginnings Moravian Church has become a cornerstone of food security for North Mecklenburg County, transforming a portion of the church's 13-acre property into a source of nourishment and community hope.

HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Local author and outdoor advocate John B. Marek is pleased to announce his participation in the upcoming Spring Fling at Davidson Landing, taking place on Saturday, May 2nd, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.