Marshall Ramsey, Speaker, Writer, Cartoonist to Visit the Florence Library

Marshall Ramsey, Speaker, Writer, Cartoonist to Visit Library
Need to laugh? Want to be inspired? Look no further than cartoonist/writer/speaker Marshall Ramsey. Ramsey brings his newest book to the library, Fried Chicken and Wine: Short stories inspired by Banjo the dog. He will be discussing and signing his newest book at the Florence Public Library on February 26 at 11: 30 

“The stories are very personal — and yet they aren’t about me,” says Ramsey about his newest book. “Most are set in this unique state we know as Mississippi, although New York City, The Smokies, San Diego, Washington D. C., and Atlanta all make cameos. Laughter, hope, and redemption are ingredients that make up the seasoning of the literary gumbo.”

Ramsey wrote in his blog (www.marshallramsey.com) while waiting for printing and delivery of the new title, “The stories vary. The Mustard Seed is a story of hope for a man struggling to reinvent himself after his career has been turned on end. It’s a story that has spread around the country on the internet during this crazy economy we’re surviving. If Sherman Attacked Atlanta Today is a funny story about if the Battle of Atlanta occurred today.  The Bottle Tree is a story about true love. Up in the Delta sky is also about love and the need to heal. The Final D-Day salutes a forgotten soldier. The Legend of Winston the Whitetail Deer features a local deer from Kosciusko (because I like saying Kosciusko) who saves Christmas. The Amazing Game tells the life of a father and son as a football game. And of course, there are several stories featuring Banjo the dog, my beloved Border Terrier who died this summer. Requiem for a Terrier is his obituary.”

Marshall Ramsey, 42, spent his first 18 years in Marietta, Georgia. He then uprooted and accepted a scholarship to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

While at the University of Tennessee, Ramsey served as the editorial cartoonist for The Daily Beacon, the University of Tennessee’s daily student newspaper. Ramsey also won  The John Locher Memorial Award, awarded to the top collegiate cartoonist in America. Since his graduation from UT  in 1991, Ramsey‘s cartoons have appeared in  USA Today, Newsweek,  U.S. News and World Report, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times and 450 other newspapers.  His work has also been seen on CNN and CSPAN. He is currently the staff cartoonist for The Clarion-Ledger and is syndicated nationally by Creators Syndicate. Ramsey was named a Pulitzer Finalist in 2002 and 2006.

Ramsey has also illustrated seven children’s books for his cousin, financial expert Dave Ramsey (five of which appeared in Chick-fil-a kid’s meals) and has illustrated Nobody’s Poet for chef and author Robert St. John. His first book Marshall Ramsey’s Greatest Hits sold out and 10! A Ten-Year Celebration is also a local best seller.

He is also a melanoma survivor and has been honored by the Melanoma Research Foundation (2003 Winds of Hope Award) and the American Cancer Society for his work with promoting skin cancer screening. He is co-founder of the Run from the Sun, a 5K race that raises money and awareness to cure melanoma.
Ramsey, his wife and three sons live in Mississippi, the greatest state for politics and raising a family.

Florence Public Library is part of Central Mississippi Regional Library System, which serves the public libraries of Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith Counties. For more information call 601-845-6032.