News Briefs

WCU’s student recruitment director, former designer collaborate on children’s book, sign copies on campus May 18

The Western Carolina University Bookstore will host a reception and book-signing Friday, May 18, featuring Phil Cauley, director of student recruitment and transitions at WCU, and Darrell Frizsell, a former member of the design staff in the university’s Office of Public Relations, who have collaborated on a new children’s book.

Cauley and Frizsell will be at the bookstore from 3 until 5 p.m. to promote “The Adventures of Lo, the Little Angel: Sticks and Stones,” the first in a planned series of children’s books about an angel named Halo – or Lo, for short – whose adventures retell stories from the Bible for younger readers.

A second reception and signing is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in the community room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva, with remarks scheduled at 4 p.m.

Cauley, author of the story, is a 1983 graduate of WCU’s English program who earned his master’s degree in human resources from WCU in 1990. A longtime member of the admissions office staff, he also did a stint as director of alumni affairs at WCU.

Frizsell, the book’s illustrator, worked as a designer at the university for 13 years until leaving in 2003 to pursue other opportunities in Tennessee, including becoming lead vocalist, songwriter and musician with award-winning gospel group the Waymasters.

Cauley first shared his idea about a children’s book focused on a diminutive angel with Frizsell when they were collaborating on student recruitment materials in the early 1990s. They began sketching out the illustrated book in the evenings and on weekends, and continued to tweak the story and illustrations over the ensuing years, finally publishing their book last year with WestBow Press.

The book is available at the WCU Bookstore and online at westbowpress.com.

© 2012 Western Carolina University.