The literary heartbeat of downtown Fayetteville is growing louder as City Center Gallery & Books continues its successful Chat with an Author series. After drawing enthusiastic crowds for recent events featuring Dylan Nigh and Janet Gibson, bookstore owners Hank and Diane Parfitt say the momentum has transformed their Hay Street shop into one of the city’s most vibrant cultural hubs.
Their newest guest, Joseph Bathanti, former North Carolina Poet Laureate (2012–14) and recipient of the 2016 North Carolina Award for Literature, represents a milestone in the series and a significant moment for the region’s military and writing communities.
Bringing Bathanti to Fayetteville holds special meaning.
“The North Carolina Literary Review is excited to connect with the military community in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, to assist with writing their stories,” said Devra Thomas, digital editor of the North Carolina Literary Review. “We believe literature is an important method for increasing understanding of this important population in North Carolina, which is why we are featuring Current and Former Military authors in our 2026 Feature sections.”
According to Thomas, Bathanti’s deep ties to veterans’ writing initiatives make him a natural fit.
“Joseph Bathanti has been an important voice in North Carolina literature for decades, and he’s using his wealth of knowledge and experience to assist veterans in crafting their own stories to share. We are excited to be able to use a North Carolina Arts Council military project grant to bring Professor Bathanti to Fayetteville for this free workshop and to partner with City Center Gallery for a public reading by Professor Bathanti himself.”
The Parfitts launched Chat with an Author earlier this fall: an intimate, informal gathering where readers can pull up a chair, talk craft, and connect with writers one-on-one. The first event featured Dylan Nigh, whose memoir, Fool’s Gear: A Completely Devastating Thing I’ll Probably Do Again, explores heartbreak, healing and a winter motorcycle journey across the country.
“The turnout for Dylan set a tone we couldn’t have predicted,” Hank said. “Folks stayed long after the event ended. They needed space for real conversation, and that’s what we want this series to be.”
Shortly after Nigh, the store welcomed Janet Gibson, author of In My Heart This Morning. Gibson’s reading drew readers from across the region and ended in a warm, reflective book signing where guests shared their own stories of gratitude and loss.
“Janet offered a moment of quiet grace,” Diane said. “Everyone left feeling lighter.”
Upcoming Events at City Center Gallery & Books
With the holiday season underway, the store’s calendar is filling quickly:
All events will be held at 112 Hay Street, and are free and open to the public. City Center Gallery & Books’ phone number is 910-678-8899.
NOVEMBER 28 | 2–3 p.m.
Elliot Engel - A Dickens Holiday Presentation
NOVEMBER 29 | 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Shop Small Saturday & Ladies’ Shopping Day
DECEMBER 4 | 6 p.m.
Joseph Bathanti - Workshop & Public Reading
Presented in partnership with the North Carolina Literary Review & NC Arts Council Military Project Grant
Bathanti’s visit includes a free writing workshop designed especially for military and veteran storytellers and an evening reading open to the public.
“This event means a great deal to us,” Hank said. “Joseph Bathanti represents the highest caliber of North Carolina literature, but he also believes deeply in helping others find their voice, especially veterans. That mission aligns perfectly with Fayetteville.”
DECEMBER 6 | 4–6 p.m.
Reggie Barton - I Never Heard That Before
DECEMBER 13 | 5–7 p.m.
Starr Branch - Poetry Reading
Ask Hank Parfitt what’s happening in downtown Fayetteville, and he’ll tell you the truth: something is stirring.
“People are rediscovering that bookstores aren’t just retail spaces,” he said. “They’re gathering places. They’re where ideas catch fire.”
The couple has operated City Center Gallery & Books since 2003. They’ve weathered shifts in retail, competition with online giants, and even the ebb and flow of downtown revitalization. But this moment feels different.
“There’s a buzz in this city,” Hank said. “It’s in the air. These authors bring people together: veterans, families, young readers, long-term locals, new residents. They sit shoulder to shoulder, talking about books. That’s community.”
For Diane, the joy is in watching people rediscover reading as a shared experience.
“You see strangers walk in, then leave as friends,” she said. “Books do that. Stories make people brave enough to talk.”

(Photo: Joseph Bathanti will be at City Center Gallery & Books in December to talk about his poetry and give a writing workshop. Photo courtesy of Hank Parfitt)