A Literary Evening with Don Noble and Thom Gossom, Jr.

On Thursday, October 10th, 2024 at 7:00PM, the Southside Center for the Arts in Opelika, Alabama will host a literary evening featuring Don Noble and Thom Gossom, Jr. As part of the "Alabama Aloud" series sponsored by Alabama Public Radio, the evening will include Thom Gossum Jr. reading his own short story entitled "MVP". The first African-American athlete to walk on in the SEC, Thom Gossom Jr. is a former football player for Auburn University who has also had a multi-faceted post college career as an actor and a writer.

"Coach" by Thom Gossum, Jr. will also be read aloud during the evening. However, it will be read by Don Noble. A professor emeritus from the University of Alabama, Don Noble, is known throughout the state for his insightful and detailed book reviews that are published in various newspapers throughout Alabama. As well as for his book reviews that are featured on Alabama Public Radio. Don Noble is married to the former Poet Laureate of Alabama, Jennifer Horne.

Jennifer Horne and Don Noble will then exchange letters that were written between Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Known for his novel, "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald was garrisoned in Montgomery, Alabama when he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I. And it was while he was in the military in Montgomery, Alabama that F. Scott Fitzgerald began dating Montgomery's most celebrated debutante of the country club set, Zelda Sayre. Known for their tempestuous relationship, the Fitzgerald's nevertheless had a penchant for expressing their romance through their correspondence in ways that reveal their virtuosity with the English language.

The evening will then conclude with a question and answer session with Thom Gossum, Jr and some light refreshments. One can RSVP for the evening to publicradio@troy.edu or by calling 1-800-800-

6616. The Southside Center for the Arts is located at 1103 Glenn Street Opelika, AL 36801.

Luisa Reyes is an attorney in Tuscaloosa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Judson, a master's degree in library science, and a law degree from Samford's Cumberland School of Law. She is also a piano instructor and vocalist.