Local Authors Find A Home On Clayton Library Shelves

CLAYTON, N.C. – Every book starts with an idea. For some writers, that idea becomes a story they spend months or even years bringing to life. After all the writing, rewriting, and late nights, imagine walking into your local library and finding your own book on the shelf, ready for someone else to discover.

As writers across the country celebrate National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November, Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is shining a light on its Local Author Collection. The collection gives published writers with ties to the area an opportunity to share their work while helping readers discover talent close to home.

The collection features books written by authors who live in or have a past connection to Johnston County or the Triangle area. Accepted titles have their own designated space inside the library, complete with a special sticker identifying them as works by local authors. Visitors can browse the shelves and check out books that might introduce them to a new favorite writer, perhaps even someone who lives down the street.

For authors, having a book included in the collection offers another way to reach readers. It also gives their work a place in the community that may have helped inspire it.

“Writing a book takes so much of yourself, and getting it published is a huge accomplishment,” said Circulation Supervisor Kate Tompkins-Gross. “I love the thought of an author walking through our doors and seeing someone pick up their book. That is a moment they have probably dreamed about, and it is something we would be proud to be part of.”

Authors interested in joining the collection can submit up to two titles per calendar year. Books must have been published within the past five years, and adult and teen titles must contain at least 100 pages. Printed copies must also be professionally bound.

To get started, authors should review the submission guidelines and complete the online Local Author Submission form. They must then bring one printed copy of their book to the library’s circulation desk in Downtown Clayton (100 South Church Street). Library staff carefully review each submission and notify authors of their decision within 60 business days. While inclusion in the collection is not guaranteed, every submission receives a thoughtful review. Please note that submitted copies cannot be returned.

The collection also gives readers a chance to see the creativity that exists within their own community. Behind every book is a person with a story to tell, and those stories can offer a different way to connect with the place we call home.

“We have talented people all around us, and sometimes we do not realize it until we see their names on a book cover,” said Tompkins-Gross. “There is something special about knowing a story came from someone in your own community. I hope seeing those books on our shelves inspires others to believe their stories are worth sharing, too.”

That inspiration fits right in with National Novel Writing Month, a writing tradition that began in 1999. Each November, writers challenge themselves to turn their ideas into words with the traditional goal of completing a 50,000-word novel draft in just 30 days. Although the nonprofit organization that once led NaNoWriMo closed in 2025, writers continue the tradition through independent groups and personal writing goals.

The challenge encourages people to stop putting off the stories they have always wanted to write. The first draft does not have to be perfect, and reaching 50,000 words is not the only measure of success. For someone who has never written a book, simply getting started can be a major accomplishment.

And who knows? A story that begins with a few sentences this November could one day become a published book waiting to be discovered on a shelf at Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library.