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The Eatonton Alessenger
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 | C3
Award-winning author Curry returning to GWM
“Fear can hold you
prisoner; hope can set
you free.” That was a
memorable line from “The
Shawshank Redemption,”
among the best-loved
movies of all time. We are
drawn to films and books
about the triumphant
survival of underdogs we
admire.
In that same spirit
comes Carolyn Curry’s
new book, Trudy’s Awak
ening, and Georgia Writers
Museum (GWM) is excited
to announce that Curry
will be its next “Meet the
Author” presenter on
Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Trudy’s Awakening is a
historical novel set in the
latter half of 19th-century
Georgia, telling the story
of three women whose
lives intermingled as they
worked to overcome soci
etal barriers to their prog
ress and success.
Gertrude (Trudy)
Thomas grew up in a life
of wealth and privilege;
however, she lost every
thing to the aftermath of
the Civil War. Amanda
Mae, along with her
mother Lurany, were
enslaved to Gertrude’s
family and yearned for
freedom. Lizzie Jeter is
a young, middle-class
woman who dreamed of
being a professional artist.
All three faced tremen
dous obstacles in a world
that sought to limit and
suppress their talents.
“Curry’s inspiring and
Carolyn Curry
highly readable novel
tells a little-known story
of ordinary Southern
women who endured
tragedy, turmoil, and loss,
yet found the strength
and courage to carve out
new lives for themselves
in a fast-changing world,”
writes Marie Bostwick, the
bestselling author of The
Book Club for Troublesome
Women.
Curry relied upon her
deep research for the
award-winning biography,
Suffer and Grow Strong:
The Life of Ella Gertrude
Clanton Thomas, 1834-
1907, to imagine the way
each of these women’s
widely divergent paths
crossed in their fight for
freedom, civil rights, and
successful careers. As their
lives intersect, they form
close bonds and become
friends.
Readers will encounter
the history of Atlanta and
Georgia in the difficult
years after the Civil War
and learn how women
coped and succeeded in
that changing world.
“More than anything, I
want women to know that
when bad things happen,
and they always do, they
can find a way through to a
better place with their love
and commitment to one
another,” Curry said.
An award-winning
author, historian, and
founder of the non-profit
Women Alone Together,
which she directed for 22
years, Curry also holds a
BA in English from Agnes
Scott College and an MA
and Ph.D. in history from
Georgia State University.
Her 2014 book, Suffer
and Grow Strong, was
selected as One of the
Books all Georgians
Should Read by the
Georgia Center for the
Book, and in 2015, Curry
received Georgia Author of
the Year recognition from
the Georgia Writers Asso
ciation. She also authored
the murder mystery,
Sudden Death.
Call Georgia Writers
Museum at georgiawrit-
ersmuseum.org to register
for Curry’s presentation
and to pre-order a copy of
Trudy’s Awakening. Her
Oct. 7 presentation at the
museum will begin at 7
p.m. after doors open at
6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40
each or $35 each for two
or more and include free
drinks and a themed meal
by Chef Brent.
— Contributed
A1A brings Buffett tribute back to The Plaza
The Plaza Arts Center is
bringing the islands back
to Eatonton with AIA -
The Official and Original
Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band
performing outside beneath
the stars Sept. 20 on The
Plaza stage.
Founded in 1991 by Atlan
ta’s Jeff Pike, and personally
recognized and supported
by Buffett before his Sept.
1, 2023 passing, A1A has
been spreading good vibes
and tropical tunes across the
country for more than 30
years. Its show is packed with
all the classics Parrot Heads
know by heart, along with
plenty of energy to keep fans
dancing all night long.
“This is going to be a
night of music, fun, and that
easy-going Margaritaville
spirit,” said Taylor Surman,
marketing director for The
Plaza. “We want folks to bring
their friends, bring their lawn
chairs, and just relax like
they’re on island time.”
General admission tickets
are $25 and VIP tickets are
$50. With general admission
tickets, guests can bring your
own chairs, blankets, etc and
set up early. For VIP ticket
holders, each ticket reserves
a table seat on the concrete
with nothing for you to bring
except your dancing shoes.
Music starts at 7:30, but gates
will open early.
This show is BYOB and
there will not be a cash bar,
however, there will be food
trucks.
For tickets and info,
visit plazacenter.org or call
706-540-8656. Please note,
Plaza members get free
tickets to this show.
— Contributed
1
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Ye
FRIT
CONTRIBUTED
The OPAS Winter Ball committee includes (front, l-r) Laura Strickler and Riezl
Baker, and (back, l-r) Karyn Alexander, Tim Green, Chris Griffith, Leslie Flint, and
Karyn Scott, with (not pictured) Kim Chronos and Christa Hyatt.
OPAS Winter Ball
scheduled for new year
The Oconee Performing
Arts Society (OPAS) has
announced its premier
fundraiser, the OPAS
Winter Ball, will take
place Saturday, Jan.
31, at the Ritz-Carlton
Reynolds, Lake Oconee.
This formal event will
feature an elegant dinner,
silent and live auctions,
and a surprise musical
performance.
The Winter Ball marks
a fresh chapter in the
OPAS Soiree tradition of
bringing the community
together for an evening of
elegance, entertainment,
and purpose. Proceeds
from the event will
support the OPAS mission
to enrich its local commu
nity through world-class
performances, arts
education, and cultural
programming.
“This is going to be the
event of the year,” OPAS
Artistic Director Doug
LaBrecque declared. “This
year’s Soiree will be an
elegant Winter Ball that
will showcase the best of
OPAS and our commit
ment to arts education,
as well as our passion for
creating unforgettable
• 99
experiences.
“The Winter Ball
Committee is already
hard at work crafting
a night to remember,”
OPAS Board Chair Barry
Selvidge added. “From
the setting to the enter
tainment, every detail is
being planned to blow
your socks off. Mark your
calendars for an evening
you won’t want to miss.”
Sponsorship oppor
tunities are available,
offering exclusive
benefits and visibility
for local and regional
businesses. For more
information, call OPAS at
706-467-2000.
— Contributed
Pets of the Week
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