Randi Smith highlights debut novel, "Ada Holloway's Had Enough," ties to Belmont University скачать в хорошем качестве

Randi Smith highlights debut novel, "Ada Holloway's Had Enough," ties to Belmont University

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Randi Smith, who discusses her background at Belmont University, where she studied publishing, her current role as a library assistant, and her debut young adult novel, "Ada Holloway's Had Enough." During the interview, Randi talks about the evolving role of libraries as community hubs offering various services beyond traditional book lending. She shares the inspiration behind her book, which began as a class project at Belmont University, and describes the story's focus on empathetic communication and self-expression. She emphasizes the book's appeal to young adults, parents, educators, and librarians, aiming to spark important conversations. The interview concludes with details about upcoming book events, including a signing at Parnassus Books in Nashville on April 24, and information on how to pre-order the book, which is set to release on April 21, 2026. For more information and to follow Randi's work, visit https://www.randismithwrites.com. Summary Belmont Grad's Library Career Journey Randi discusses her educational journey at Belmont University, where she majored in publishing and discovered her passion for writing through creative writing clubs. She graduated in 2024 and now works as an assistant in the public services department at her local library. During the discussion, Jeremy highlights the significance of her ties to Tennessee and Nashville, and they briefly touch on April being National Library Month. Libraries as Community Innovation Hubs Randi discusses the importance of promoting public libraries and highlights their diverse offerings, including free resources for gardening, technology assistance, job skills training, and resume help. She emphasizes that libraries provide a welcoming, pressure-free environment for community members to access Wi-Fi, work, or simply relax. Jeremy notes the evolution of libraries into centers for technology, creativity, and community building, and Randi encourages people to see libraries as dynamic hubs offering numerous opportunities. Origins of "Ada Holloway's Had Enough" Randi discusses the origins of her book "Ada Holloway's Had Enough," which began as a class project in 2023. Inspired by an event at Belmont for Well Corps, Randi wrote a short story about book bannings and libraries. Her advisor, Sarah, encouraged her to expand the idea into a full manuscript, which Randi then pursued and completed in another class. Sarah later offered to represent Randi and the book, which has undergone several title changes since its inception. Business Mindset for Creative Success Randi discusses her unique perspective as both a writer and a publisher, which helped her detach emotionally from her story and approach it with a business mindset. This dual perspective allowed her to better handle critiques and marketing, while maintaining her passion for the young adult story she was writing. Jeremy notes the similarity to musicians taking business classes, emphasizing how understanding the business side can empower creators to tailor their work for success. Plot of the Novel Randi shares some of the plot for the young adult novel with Ada Holloway, a senior in high school who forms a secret library book club with her friends to access a banned book needed for her final essay. Randi emphasizes that the book is not about politics, but that its core message focuses on empathetic communication across generations and the importance of honest self-expression. The novel, which targets young adults aged 12-18, is also intended for parents and educators as a tool for starting conversations about censorship and community engagement. Author Randi's Debut Novel Discussion Randi discusses her novel, revealing that Ada, the protagonist, reflects her own high school experiences and the conversations she wished she could have had with her parents. She shares her excitement about upcoming book events, including a signing at Parnassus Books in Nashville on April 24th, and encouraged everyone to pre-order the book through various retailers or local independent bookstores. Randi also provided her website and social media links for further information and to stay updated on her journey. For more information and to follow Randi's work, visit https://www.randismithwrites.com.