“The magazine is just wonderful. The state has long needed something like this!” These are the words of Philip Lee Williams, one of Georgia’s most celebrated authors, after seeing Georgia Writers Museum’s new e-magazine, Page Turner.

“It’s a jewel,” said renowned author Janisse Ray.

Both Williams and Ray are honorees in the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.

Page Turner is an outgrowth of the museum’s need for a much larger e-newsletter as activities of the museum expanded and the needs of patrons kept growing. It quickly transformed from a factual newsletter to a vibrant magazine. “We had so much we wanted to communicate to our readers and writers,” said museum executive director, Melissa Swindell who also serves as the magazine’s editor-in-chief. “Both the writers who attended our annual writers retreat and readers who attended our many museum events kept asking for a way to connect with the museum. And it is in our mission to inspire and educate!”

The quarterly e-magazine is co-sponsored with the Atlanta Writers Club, expanding the audience to readers all over the state. The content includes a spotlight on bookstores, book clubs, and leading Georgia authors. Both avid readers and aspiring writers are provided a host of cutting-edge articles and tools created by award-winning Georgia authors. The Children’s Corner, for example, profiles several new books by Georgia authors for children from pre-school to young adult. Resources, inventories, and calendar events keep readers of any age up to date on all things literary.

“One of the key features of Page Turner,” says managing editor Chip Bell, “is the way it communicates the feeling of an old-fashioned village bookstore where you could browse, dream and get great advice.” From the stunning graphics to the inviting ads, Page Turner combines the charm of a favorite coffee table picture book with the crisp, clean discipline of a high-end urban magazine.

The magazine keenly reflects the core of the mission of its two sponsors and hopes to encourage reading as much as writing. The Georgia Writers Museum celebrates the state’s rich literary history, promotes its contemporary writers, educates readers and writers of all ages, and connects people to the literary arts of Georgia. The Atlanta Writers Club teaches the craft and business of writing, supports the local literary community, and encourages more reading by the public. The synergy of the two organizations as yielded a unique blend of wisdom and entertainment.

Future issues will be themed around Lake Country’s most celebrated authors, sports in writing, and unique literary exhibits. The subscription list currently exceeds 12,000.If you would like to be added to the list to receive your free copy of Page Turner, contact Georgia Writers Museum at 706-991-5119 or visit their website, www.georgiawritersmuseum.org.