F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
Contact: Brittany Glenn
Cultural Arts and Special Events
334.595.0854
January 24, 2023
The City of Prattville is proud to be hosting its 2023 Honoree Dinner on Saturday, March 4, in honor of NewSouth Books founders Randall Williams and Suzanne La Rosa. Randall Williams and Suzanne La Rosa co-founded 
NewSouth Books in 2000 after working together for two years at Black Belt Press. Suzanne, NewSouth's publisher, relocated to Alabama in 1997 from New York. Suzanne's early career included editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, McCall's, and Women's Day. Randall's early career focused on newspaper journalism and publications for the Southern Poverty Law Center. At NewSouth, the duo specialized in publishing regional books of national interest, publishing material that "enhances our understanding of who we are and which asks us to stretch in our understanding of others" (La Rosa). NewSouth has served both the authors and readers of Alabama through their work as a publishing company.
Since 2006, the Prattville Creative and Performing Arts Council has honored many people, including internationally-known artist Charlie “Tin Man” Lucas; Wilson Pickett, musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee; The Swampers of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio; the Artist Nall; author Daniel Wallace who wrote Big Fish; Dr. Tonea Stewart, actress and educator; Geoffrey Sherman, Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Braxton Schuffert, singer/songwriter and original member of Hank Williams’ Band; The Alabama Blues Project and its founder, Debbie Bond, singer/songwriter and blues musician; Jack Warner, art collector and founder of the Westervelt Warner Museum in Tuscaloosa; crime fiction writer Ace Atkins; patron of the arts and philanthropist Janice Hawkins; actor Jackson Bostwick; and singer/songwriter Eddie Floyd.
This celebratory event will be held on Saturday, March 4, at the Prattville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. and will include an entertaining program in honor of Williams and La Rosa. The annual silent auction benefiting the Friends of the Arts fund will be held prior to the event at 6:00 p.m. at the same location. Local businesses, organizations and individuals donate wonderful items, such as wine, crystal, gift certificates, furniture, jewelry, artwork and more to help raise funds for a future cultural arts facility.
Tickets for the Dinner are $50 each and sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, contact the Prattville Cultural Arts Office at (334) 595-0850. This program has been made possible in part by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
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