Red Room is proud to support a great reading opportunity in North Carolina this month...

THE BOOKUP – 3 to choose from throughout the Triad the last week in May

Tues. May 24th: Bistro 150, Oak Ridge, NC. 6-8PM

Weds. May 25th: Community Arts Café, Winston-Salem, NC. 6-8PM

Sat. May 28th: The home of massage therapist Joel Tull, Greensboro, NC. 5-7PM rain or shine

Open to the public.

Promoting "long-form reading in a short-form world" the concept is simple: No charge, but B.Y.O.B. Bring Your Own BOOK. A mixer with fellow readers and local writers runs 45 minutes and then quiet reading time starts. Ordering libations, and more, encouraged at the Bistro and CAC. Beverages, food, grillmasters welcome at Saturday's event.

Each Bookup accepts donations for a local non-profit organization focusing on reading and literacy. For Bistro 150 it will be the Bookmarks Book Festival, CAC's will be the Forsyth County Public Library Friends & Advocates. Books for CAC's Lending Library also appreciated. The Joel Tull Bookup will accept monetary and book donations to the Greensboro Public Library.

Maya Angelou issued this statement: "It is easier for me to trust people who read than those who talk, and even those who talk about reading. Writers need readers desperately and whether they know it or not, readers need writers desperately. One hand washes the other. The aspect of one hand trying to wash itself is pitiful. But, when the two get together, Ah! There's a possibility of success. I support The BOOKUP and let us all say, ‘Here's to The BOOKUP!'"

Steve Sumerford, assistant director of the Greensboro Public Library, commented, "Sometimes the most innovative ideas are simple ones. I love the concept of The Bookup."

Einstein put it another way: "If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."

Facebook: The Bookup. @TheBookup on Twitter. Contact organizer and local author Jo Maeder: ReachOut2Jo@gmail.com.  Randy Floss, owner of Bistro 150: RFloss@aol.com. Kevin Watson of Press 53: Kevin@Press53.com. Joel Tull: JoelTull@JoelTull.com. Internet support from Redroom.com. Gina Misiroglu: Gina@redroom.com

Watch coverage of the first Book Up here.