Author Judy Goldman will speak Sunday, Feb. 24, at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, about her latest book, a memoir, titled "Losing My Sister."

The lecture is part of the Ragan Writers Series and begins at 3 p.m. in the Great Room at Weymouth, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. There is no charge for admission.

The Charlotte resident's moving memoir about her older sister and herself tells how twice they "lost" each other through conflicts, but the third time the loss was permanent - through death.

Goldman has won numerous awards, including the Sir Walter Fiction Award. She has also published two novels and two books of poetry, has written articles on the craft of writing, and done book reviews for The Washington Post and The Charlotte Observer. She has also done commentary on public radio in Charlotte and Chapel Hill.

For more information, call (910) 692-6261.

New Book

In his new book "The Book I Wrote," Hope Mills author Bryan Montgomery will make readers laugh, cry, think and more through a combination of poetry, prose and anecdotes that cover a wide range of topics.

Montgomery catches the verbal snapshots of simple day-to-day events that make up the fabric of individuals' lives. The book not only provides a semi-autobiographical glimpse into his world, but will make readers think differently about their own lives as well.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnes andnoble.com or amazon.com.

Born to a now-retired Naval chief petty officer, Montgomery grew up in cities such as Long Beach, San Francisco and Los Angeles. When he came of age, he also spent 20 years in the Army, got married, and has three wonderful children and a beautiful granddaughter. After working various jobs, including serving as a prison correctional officer, Montgomery retired to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Fayetteville.

He presently resides in Hope Mills, where he is working to bring attention to the plight of the elderly in his community.

For more information, visit blmontgomery.tateauthor.com.

'N.C. Bookwatch'

Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, two of North Carolina's favorite authors, are showing again why they are known as the "Good Ol' Girls" at noon Sunday on UNC-TV's "North Carolina Bookwatch."

Smith's "Guests on Earth" will come out in October. It is set in Asheville, at the Highlands Hospital, during the time Zelda Fitzgerald was a long-term patient there for treatment of her mental illness.

McCorkle's "Life After Life," which comes out next month, is set in a retirement facility in a town like Lumberton, where McCorkle grew up.

"Bookwatch Classics" (programs from earlier years) airs Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. on UNC-MX, a digital cable system channel (Time Warner No. 172 or No. 4.4). This week's guest is Robert Durden, author of "Bold Entrepreneur: A Life of James B. Duke."

Museum Book Club

On March 7 at 11 a.m., the Museum of the Cape Fear, in Fayetteville, will host an informational meeting about its new book club, "Don't Know Much About History?"

The moderator will be Jauneza Vivian, museum volunteer and host of the cable access show "Oasis at Cookies' Corner." The public is invited to attend.

At this meeting the group will decide what book to read first. The purpose of such a book club is to delve into history in an open forum, discussing events and the people that shaped them.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville. For more information, call (910) 486-1330.

Inspirational Book

"Grace Trumps Guilt," published by Warren Publishing Inc., is the fascinating memoir of author Donna Cole's journey from debilitating feelings of guilt to triumphant gratitude in the wake of knowing personally the healing effects of God's grace.

Cole's candid sharing of her own human failings and the deeply personal ways God revealed his abiding love for her along the way should inspire readers to forge ahead in their walks with God.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Donna Cole is a freelance writer, poet and entrepreneur. She currently lives on Lake Norman with her husband and two children.