When I first met Stacia Brown years ago, when she was a graduate student in religion, the main thing that struck me was her ability to think about many, many different things at once—ethics, faith, literature, history, social justice, body image, you name it—and somehow make them all make sense together.

So it stands to reason that the best outlet for her creative energies would be a historical novel—one that draws on her training and research in religion and history.

Stacia, who has graduate degrees from Emory in religion and historical theology and now works at the university, is giving an author talk and reading tonight from that novel, her first, titled Accidents of Providence, at the Decatur Library. The event, which starts at 7:15, is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book and Charis Bookstore.

If you like highly literate and incredibly well researched historical fiction with a suspenseful tale of a courageous woman (and I do—think Geraldine Brooks!), then you need to discover Accidents of Providence.  It tells the story of Rachel Lockyer, an ordinary tradeswoman in seventeenth-century London during the civil wars, who is condemned to death for allegedly murdering her infant born out of wedlock. But throughout her trial, she remains deliberately evasive about what she did or did not do. Rachel is an original, sharp-witted, and rebellious main character. She was drawn, Stacia has said, out of the challenge of imagining the inner life of a working-class woman of that era—a task doomed to failure, she had been assured, because women of that time did not have inner lives.

It’s a juicy, provocative story—and Stacia adds that it is also a love story, a story of women’s relationships, and a story of the telling and keeping of secrets. And it’s getting lots of praise in high places. Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review with this endorsement: “A heart-poundingly vivid, intellectually provocative account. . . . a romping good read that is character-driven yet intellectually provocative on issues of law, religion and morality—historical fiction at its best.” And this from Library Journal: “This is the best kind of historical fiction—a combination of love story and murder mystery, with a sprinkling of intriguing historical snippets and wonderful writing.” Even Oprah’s magazine has called it “proof that a historical novel can be educational and entertaining, and nothing like homework.”

Stacia has a website with more information at www.staciabrown.com/. Or come meet her tonight and pick up a copy of Accidents of Providence!

Remember the mom who was arrested for being “boisterous” at the Decatur Library after after being asked to leave because her toddler was being to loud?

Well according to the AJC, Donetta Foster is willing to risk jail time to take the case to court.  She’s giving a press conference today at 3p to explain why, apparently.

In related news, I’m pretty sure Ms. Foster also went on Dr. Phil about this story, because a couple weeks back their people were bugging me to use the DM logo for a segment (even though my post was just a summation of a WSB article).

Thanks to the MANY folks who forwarded me this article!

Heather writes in…

DECATUR – The DeKalb County Animal Services Task Force is seeking public opinion on several proposed initiatives to improve public health, safety and code enforcement related to animal services in DeKalb County. The proposed initiatives seek to increase adoptions of abandoned and lost animals, encourage responsible pet ownership, improve the conditions of animals under the county’s care and reduce euthanasia rates at the animal shelter. Residents are encouraged to attend the following meeting TONIGHT!

Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Decatur Library

215 Sycamore Street, Decatur

Karen from the Decatur Library reminds us…

The Friends of the Decatur Library will host a book sale on Saturday, September 3rd from 9:00am to 3:00pm on the front lawn, weather permitting.  Thousands of gently used books will be available for low prices.  Dealers must scan at tables.  Donations of saleable books can be brought to the library security desk until August 27 for this sale.  Proceeds support programs and materials for the Decatur Library 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur 30030.

To volunteer, contact Jane Miller at .

Patch reports that a “group of juveniles”, who caused a commotion on the second-floor of the Decatur Library yesterday afternoon around 5pm, attacked a patron who had asked them to quiet down.

One man, said to be wearing a turquoise baseball hat, slipped past [the library's security guard] and began hitting [patron Raad] Delaimi. When the altercation broke up, the juveniles fled and the man with the turquoise baseball hat, later identified by police Taurus Barber, was seen “walking briskly toward the Decatur MARTA station without a shirt on and bleeding from his left wrist,” the report said.

….The report…said Delaimi stabbed Barber, who came at him, during the incident. Police recovered a small red Swiss Army knife in Delaimi’s backpack and the library was evacuated. Delaimi was not charged.

Yikes.