Durham Art Walk Spring Market is April 13 and 14. The self-guided tour of urban art galleries, studios, impromptu exhibits and vibrant businesses in downtown Durham features the original work of more than 200 artists. Produced by the Durham Arts Council, the annual event combines visual art, entertainment and fun activities.

Gallery C, in Raleigh, showcases the "Best of North Carolina 2013" through May 7. The exhibit features important North Carolina paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. The works trace the highlights of movements, schools and colonies that were born and nurtured here.

The Durham Arts Council noted these shows on exhibit:

• "The Geometry of Hope," mixed media by Jeanne Heifetz
• "Resolving the Disquiet," installations by Jan-Ru Wan, Samantha Pell and Megan Bostic
• "Journeys and Destinations" by Carol Joy Shannon
• "With These Hands: Quilting as a Spiritual Odyssey" by Sauda Zahra

Local Color Gallery, in Raleigh, showcases the "Artist's Palette," featuring the work of Olga Wagner and Margaret Griffin. The gallery, which holds a reception on First Friday, April 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., is a co-op run by 12 female artists who create in a variety of mediums.
Cary Gallery of Artists' feature show for Final Friday is "Horizons Near and Far," which includes paintings by Jean Scholz and Kristen Stamper. The reception takes place April 26, and the show runs through May 28.

The ArtsCenter, in Carrboro, which has served the area since 1974, renamed its Center Gallery to The Nicholson Gallery in a ceremony last month. The renaming to The Nicholson Gallery recognizes both the support that The Nicholson Foundation has provided to The ArtsCenter and the service of Barbara McFadyen, whose family established the foundation, on The ArtsCenter board. "Barbara McFadyen is one of those passionate, caring people who strives for the best solution to the many challenges in the world," says Betsy James, ArtsCenter board chair. "When The ArtsCenter was striving to find solid financial footing at a dire time of need, Barbara was there." McFadyen is an artist, philanthropist, teacher and volunteer.

CAM (Contemporary Art Museum) Raleigh, which is a two-year-old collaboration between the College of Design at N.C. State University and the Contemporary Art Foundation announced:

• Kate Thompson Shafer is interim director of the museum.
• Marjorie Hodges is director of the Contemporary Art Foundation.

Members of Chapel Hill's FRANK Gallery are featured there this month. They include: Peg Bachenheimer, Sasha Bakaric, Jan Butta, Susan Filley, Mirinda Kossoff, Carroll Lassiter, Jean LeCluyse, Nerys Levy, Sudie Rakusin, Luna Lee Ray, Mary Stone Lamb and Barbara Tyroler. Events this month include:

• Member artists tour, April 4
• Member artists panel: "Inspiration, Creativity and the Challenges of Being an Artist," April 11
• Off the Wall 2013: FRANK Gallery's third birthday celebration, April 20
• Elon Academy, "Photographic Explorations," April 27

Heather Allen, owner of Capital H. Creative, an artist management agency in Raleigh, announced the signing of painter Bill Beatty.

Artspace announced the first round of artists who're participating in Artspace Mystery Create! The program benefits the Artspace Summer Arts Program Scholarship Fund. Participants are challenged to create a work of art using only the materials found in their mystery kit. They have two months to construct their masterpieces. The completed works are available for purchase through an online auction, starting April 5 and running through April 19. The creation of the works is documented through interviews, photos and videos. Participating artists include Paris Alexander, Lee Ball, Judy Crane, Kiki Farish, Melinda Fine, Michelle Harrell, Lauren Van Hemert, Becky Joye, Mary Kitcher, Gerry Lynch, Michelle Lyon, Shade Maret, Nora Phillips, Anna Podris, Veronica Samuels, Carol Joy Shannon, Sue Soper, Georgia Springer, Catherine Thornton and Sarah West. "The variety of artists donating their time and energy to create art for us is amazing," says Mary Poole, Artspace executive director. "We know they will produce high-quality works that are unique, engaging and inspiring." Raleigh's Artspace is a nonprofit visual art center that's dedicated to providing arts education and community outreach programs. The challenge was created by two artists as a way to inspire creativity.

The Cary Chamber of Commerce noted:

• The Fore Ladies Golf Tournament, which celebrates all levels of play, takes place April 2 at Lochmere Golf Club, in Cary.
• At the Business of Women in the Prestonwood Country Club last month, Master Rondy from White Tiger Taekwondo & Martial Arts spoke about women's safety.
• Barnsley Brown, Ph.D., of Spirited Solutions, spoke on "Get Home and Get Stuff Done: Outsourcing, Time Management and Productivity

Secrets to Grow Your Start-up or Established Business." It was a free seminar co-sponsored by Wake Tech's Small Business Center. Prior to starting her firm, Brown taught at Duke University, Wake Forest University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The "Smoffice" – world's smallest office – is the only United States finalist in the 2013 Best Unconventional Project category in the International Chamber of Commerce competition. Competition finalists are presenting their projects during the eighth World Chambers Congress in Doha, Qatar, this month. The "Smoffice," an initiative of the Durham Chamber and Downtown Durham Inc. to attract entrepreneurs, received dozens of entries from across the country. The competition will give away office space in the storefront window of Beyu Caffe and a six-week stay at a downtown condo to one lucky start-up.

Art, business and philanthropy intersect in the newest project undertaken by Sreedhari Desai, a professor at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, in Chapel Hill. Desai is not only a professor of organizational behavior but also an artist whose oil paintings are influenced by her Indian heritage and the Western art forms of Impressionism and Expressionism. She brings together her strengths as a social scientist and artist to study how psychology relates to art and how participating in the artistic process affects both the artist and the viewer. For instance, in one study she found people are more likely to behave generously after free drawing; she terms this the "return to innocence" effect. As she organized her first exhibition in North Carolina, she decided to donate all sales proceeds to the House that Kenan-Flagler Built, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. Desai joined UNC Kenan-Flagler faculty in 2011 and also is a research fellow at Harvard University. Her show, entitled "The Colors of Humanity," is at Saladelia Cafe, in Durham.

William Peace University, a private, four-year university in downtown Raleigh, announced:

• Teresa L. Holder, Ph.D., CPLP, professor of communication, was named associate dean of academic affairs. Throughout her 15-year career with the institution, Holder has served in a variety of capacities, including the communication's department coordinator and division chair for organizational studies. Over the years, she has led diverse groups of faculty members across 10 academic departments. Additionally, Holder served as a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools steering committee during William Peace University's re-accreditation process, and she was the self-study editor who collaborated closely with committees and individuals to produce the final 270-page accreditation report.
• The university hosted a fashion show titled "EveryBODY" in conjunction with National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The show featured students and staff as models, all representing various body shapes, sizes, colors, nationalities and genders. Participants promoted the importance of a positive body image and encouraged the appreciation of natural beauty. Representatives with Veritas Collaborative, a center for excellence in the treatment of eating disorders, were on site to provide education about body image to attendees. Performance choreography was led by Melissa Daniels, a former model who struggled with eating disorders and has created Bitter Rebellion, a website for individuals facing similar challenges in their lives.
• The university hosted the eighth annual softball doubleheader against Meredith College, a private women's college in Raleigh. The Pretty in Pink Foundation, a Raleigh-based nonprofit that serves breast cancer patients with limited or no health insurance, was the recipient of all proceeds. The softball doubleheader ran in conjunction with the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association's annual Strike Out Cancer event.

Kristie Gonzales joined ABC11 Eyewitness News, based in Raleigh, as director of creative services and local programming. Gonzales was most recently creative services and public affairs director at the ABC-owned station in Fresno, CA. She began her career in broadcasting more than 12 years ago, and in her new position will oversee all on-air promotion, branding and local programming for ABC11.

Ashley Campbell, an attorney at Raleigh's Ragsdale Liggett, is featured on the cover of the N.C. edition of Super Lawyers magazine for 2013. She is one of three attorneys in the state whose work is showcased. The article, "A Voice Against Domestic Violence," highlights Campbell's volunteer work with Project Together, a Legal Aid program that assists victims of domestic violence.

Stacey Phillips Webb was promoted to program manager at The Special Event Company, in Research Triangle Park, an event and meeting management company.

Lana Calloway, CEO of Exhibit Resources, a Raleigh-based exhibit design and production agency, announced that the firm hosted a job-shadow program, Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy. The day was directed toward 7th-grade girls taking classes on entrepreneurship and business ownership.

Nancy Zablud, MBA, CPA, joined SfL+a Architects as accounting and operations manager. In her position, Zablud is responsible for directing fiscal and project accounting functions and giving financial guidance to key personnel of the firm, which is based in Raleigh.

Lynn Minges, president & CEO of the Raleigh-based N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association, was among three distinguished North Carolinians welcomed to the Winner's Circle at the N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism. The award is given to those who've made significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina's tourism industry. Minges has championed the state's tourism industry for more than 20 years. Before joining the restaurant and lodging group, she served in the state Department of Commerce as assistant secretary for tourism, marketing and global branding. Under her direction, tourism revenues in the state doubled to $18.4 billion annually.

In their forthcoming book, "Starting Fresh," Durhamites Ali Rudel (This & That Jam) and Elizabeth Turnbull (Old Havana Sandwich Shop), tell the story of how Durham, a former tobacco town, has found redemption in food. Two-thirds of the recipes in "Starting Fresh" come from Rudel and Turnbull. One-third come from other Durham chefs, food artisans and the farmers who grew the ingredients. The book features profiles of local farmers and recipe contributors as well as essays from Durham writers. Among the highlights of "Starting Fresh" are photos from Durham-based photographer Annemie Tonken of Megapixie Photography. Rather than the standard food photography found in most cookbooks, Tonken's images will center on meaningful portraits of Durham's farmers, chefs and food artisans, as well as images of the landscape that gives Durham its distinct flavor. "Starting Fresh" is slated for publication in 2014 by Light Messages Publishing, a small, local firm that specializes in emerging authors.

Katherine Goldfaden, director of marketing of LM Restaurants, which is headquartered in Raleigh, announced that the Carolina Ale House raised $22,000 for the Carolina Hurricanes Kids 'N Community Foundation during the 2013 Hearts for the Hurricanes campaign.

The Council for Women, of the N.C. Department of Administration, released a report entitled the “Status of Women in North Carolina.” It’s the latest research on women in the state, tracking the progress and disparity in opportunities and outcomes since 1996. The report shows that women made significant progress over the past 15 years by increasing representation in the state's elective executive positions, holding a higher proportion of state legislative seats and narrowing the gender wage gap. However, they continue to be underrepresented in the state General Assembly relative to their share of the population. In addition, females still earn less than their male counterparts, only 83 cents on the dollar when compared to men. "This report shows that North Carolina's women are becoming better educated, more prosperous and more politically influential than ever before," says Beth Briggs, director of the NC Council for Women. "But it is clear that an equality gap still exists between where women are and where women should be in relation to men."

Recently announced leadership positions at the N.C. Department of Transportation include: Ann Dishong, who leads the Governance Office; Alma Montemayor, who oversees outreach and marketing for the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles; and Mary Morton, who serves as inspector general.

Anne Precythe was selected as director of Community Corrections, the state Department of Public Safety announced. She is the first woman to serve in this position. Precythe oversees the Community Corrections section, which is responsible for the supervision of all offenders sentenced by the courts for probation and those released from prison under parole or post-release supervision. Currently, there are approximately 105,000 offenders on community supervision.

The City of Durham Human Relations Commission honored residents who have distinguished themselves by contributing their time and talents to promoting good human relations. They include:

• Mary Joyner received the Carlie B. Sessoms Award, which is given to an individual or organization that has made a major impact on improving human relations. Joyner was recognized for founding the QUEENS (Quality, Unity, Excellence, Esteemed, Noble-Minded, Successful) Program. The program was created for young females and focuses on appreciation and awareness of the physical and emotional self.
• Maya Bryant, a student at Durham School of the Arts, received the Human Rights Youth Award, which is presented to an individual under the age of 18 for demonstrating an understanding of, and commitment to, human relations in Durham. Bryant was recognized for innovatively using theater to create a project for high school and middle school youth who were adversely affected by peer pressure.

As part of her Children's Financial Education Story Time tour, Janet Cowell, N.C. treasurer, made an appearance at the Cameron Village Regional Library, in Raleigh. Cowell read the story of Patches the Pig, a pink piggy bank, to explain the importance of saving money and having smart financial habits. The story, about the importance of saving from an early age, was written by a 7-year-old North Carolina student.

More than 100 awards were given out when the Raleigh-Durham chapter of the American Advertising Federation hosted the 2013 ADDY Awards celebration at the historic Carolina Theatre, in Durham. Lisa Rondina of Fairway Advertising received the Silver Award for her outstanding contributions to the advertising community. The full list of winners may be found at www.aaf-rdu.org.

The N.C. chapter of the Public Relations Society of America announced its board of directors. The organization provides professional development, sets standards of excellence and upholds principles of ethics for its members and the public relations profession in the state. The board members include: Meredith Blalock of Harnett Health, president; Anna-Marshall Wilson of Capstrat, president elect and seminar chair; Karen Brown-Tyson of GlaxoSmithKline, treasurer; Eva R. Hornak of S.T. Wooten, immediate past president; Frances Rodenbough of Fleishman-Hillard, awards chair; Christine McTaggart, consultant, programs chair; Ayana Hernandez of N.C. Central University, diversity chair; Tracy Lathan of Clairemont Communications, accreditation chair; Cindy Stranad of Articulon, publicity chair and assembly delegate; Dana Hughens of Clairemont Communications, assembly delegate; Jenni Turner, consultant, PRSSA chair; and Jamie Williams of Capstrat, website/database/job bank chair.

Raleigh-based YellowWood Group, under the leadership of CEO Olalah Njenga, is celebrating a decade of consulting work in marketing. Last year, the firm opened its second office, in Charlotte. YellowWood focuses on helping CEOs, management teams and business owners close the gap between spending on marketing and sales performance.

Pro Heroes Month is a pilot, volunteer initiative sponsored by Activate Good. During the month of April, professionals throughout the Triangle are working together to complete volunteer projects for local nonprofits. Activate Good, the Raleigh nonprofit, is matching volunteers to the appropriate project. "Pro Heroes Month will make a huge difference for participating charities. Some projects are even designated as 'game changers' for the organizations they will benefit," notes Amber Smith, president of Activate Good. "Throughout April, Pro Heroes Month projects will provide a value of over $40,000 in services to organizations like Dress for Success, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, The Healing Place of Wake County and more."

Phyllis Barbour joined Wake County SmartStart as director of community relations. She plans on expanding support and awareness for the organization. Barbour comes with substantial experience in building partnerships in the community, having spent 10 years in a congressional office where she did strategic planning on a number of outreach initiatives.

Preservation Durham's downtown Home Tour takes place April 27 and 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The tour takes those interested in architecture, culture and history through renovated lofts and upcoming projects in eight to 12 locations. Preservation Durham is a nonprofit that aids in the restoration of historical houses and locations in the city.

After months of planning, days of seeking sponsors and hours of setting up the venue, Karen Cheng and Dipali Aphale finally have time to catch their breath. Co-presidents of the Apex High School DECA club, they worked tirelessly to ensure the Beyond the Ribbon Ball was a success. The event raised $5,000 for the Raleigh-based Pretty in Pink Foundation. The foundation helps those with breast cancer receive treatment regardless of their ability to pay.

The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau honors gospel music's Shirley Caesar at its annual tribute luncheon on April 24. Caesar, known worldwide as the Queen of Gospel Music, is one of Durham's most notable religious and entertainment figures. (She's also a pastor.) Born and raised in Durham, Caesar started her singing career at age 11. Over the course of her career, she has earned many Grammy Awards and other accolades. She has transcended the Gospel music arena by starring in feature films, writing books and recording with everyone from Bob Dylan to Patti LaBelle.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival takes place April 4 to 7 in downtown Durham at the Carolina Theatre, Durham Arts Council building, Convention Center and American Tobacco Campus. Full Frame is an annual, international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of non-fiction cinema. Each spring, the festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world for a four-day, morning to midnight, array of more than 100 films as well as discussions, panels and Southern hospitality. Full Frame's executive director is Deidre Haj; its director of programming is Sadie Tillery.

The Triangle Jewish Chorale present three performances of a newly composed piece, "Down Home: The Cantata," which explores the Jewish immigrant experience in North Carolina. The first performance takes place April 28 in Goodson Chapel at Duke University, in Durham. The other two are in May. All performances are free of charge. The piece features soloists, choir and instrumental ensemble under the direction of Lorena Guillen. The cantata speaks in words and music about generations of Jewish residents in the state. The libretto is based on the documentary film, exhibit and book "Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina."

Local music luminary and Durhamite Tess Mangum Ocana was hired by Downtown Durham Inc. to book a new concert series, which will run from May through August. The shows, which will be on Thursday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on CCB Plaza, in downtown Durham, will feature musical acts from around the Triangle. Ocana is a seventh generation North Carolinian. Though she grew up in a musical family (her grandmother, Kate Mangum, taught Randy Travis how to play guitar), Ocana always felt her role in the family business was behind the scenes. From 2002-2012, she served as concerts director at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.

NC Local Music, a promotions agency based in Raleigh, puts on a benefit concert for InterAct on April 27 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at The Pour House Music Hall, in Raleigh. Many local acts, including Hannah Ruth, a singer-songwriter from Raleigh, perform. InterAct is a nonprofit, United Way agency that provides safety, support and awareness to victims and survivors of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault. NC Local Music has been doing benefits for InterAct for five years.

The Mallarme Chamber Players, a flexible ensemble of professional musicians, based in Durham, showcases "How Low Can You Go" on April 21 at the Casbah, in Durham. Performers include bassoonist Rachael Elliott of Duke University. For the final segment of the concert, bassoon-playing members of the community are invited onstage to participate in a "bassoon band" performing with the professionals. In advance of the show, bassoonists are encouraged to attend a "bassoon band camp" held by Elliott at the Mary Duke Biddle Music building on Duke's East Campus. Suzanne Rousso is artistic director of Mallarme Chamber Players.

Burning Coal Theatre Company, in Raleigh, announced:

• Lynn Nottage's "Ruined" takes the stage April 11 to 28. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is set in the present day Congo, in Africa, amid the political and economic upheaval of that ravaged country's civil war. The play is about Mama Nadi, a kind of Mother Courage, who has created a relatively safe environment (a bar that doubles as a brothel) for the six or so young women who work for her. Raleigh participants include: Sherida McMullan, who plays the character Josephine, and Morag Charlton, a visual artist who handles the scenery. Also from Raleigh: costumer is Maria Juri; properties are by Lauren Caddick; the production stage manager is Kim DiPiano; Zia Morter is choreographer; and Molly Eness is the scenic artist.
• Auditions for Burning Coal's 2013/2014 season take place on April 20. Actors of all ages, races, genders and ethnicities are encouraged to try out.

The Triangle Commercial Association of REALTORS, which serves real estate practitioners, appraisers, property managers and other professionals within a 14-county area, said:

• The organization's signature event honored the top commercial real estate brokers for their transaction volume as well as leadership in the association, the industry and the community. Joni Barnes of Dilweg Commercial won a trailblazer award. The Million Dollar Sales Club included Amy Bush of York Properties and Janet Clayton of Avison Young. The Million Dollar Land Sales Club included Tara Kreider of TradeMark Properties, and The Million Dollar Office Leasing Club included Kathy Gigac of Colliers International. The Million Dollar Retail Leasing Club included Amy Watkins of York Properties, and The Million Dollar Industrial Leasing Club included Aldene "Dee" Creech Osborne of NAI Carolantic Realty.
• The group announced its 2013 board of directors. The executive committee includes Joni Barnes of Dilweg Commercial, president, and Kerry Saunders of NAI Carolantic Realty, past president. Board members include Beth Harrelson of Q-10 Professional Mortgage of N.C., Beverly Keith of Trinity Partners and Carla Olive of Colliers International.

Billie Redmond, CEO of Raleigh's TradeMark Properties, announced that Stacy Mbithi joined the firm as a real estate advisor.

Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS announced:

• Linda Craft, CEO and president of the Raleigh-based firm, shared tips for entrepreneurial success at the Triangle Ladies Power Lunch gathering.
• Pamela Mansueti was honored as the agent of the month for January.

The Rachel Kendall Team, of Keller Williams in Raleigh, is overseeing sales in Zebulon's Weaver's Pond. The team leader/broker is Rachel Kendall, and the new home specialist is Marlene Miles.

Ammons Development Group announced the inductees of the company's eighth annual Heritage Hall of Fame Awards. Heritage is a master-planned community composed of 37 neighborhoods in Wake Forest. The honorees included Jamie McGuire, an eight-time inductee with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston; Ashley Wilson, a four-time inductee with Wilson Realty Group/Keller Williams Preferred Realty; Kimberly Conroy, a three-time inductee with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston; Daphne Anderson-Wall, a two-time inductee with The Marti Hampton Team, Re/Max One Realty; Helen Croghan, a two-time inductee with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston; Jill Morin, a two-time inductee with Allen Tate Realtors; Leigh Moore, a two-time inductee with Re/Max United; Mary McCrery, a two-time inductee with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston; Ruby Henderson, a two-time inductee with Re/Max One Realty; Fabiola McGuire, a first-time inductee with Allen Tate Realtors; Mindy Oberhardt, a first-time inductee with Re/Max United; Phyllis Wolborsky, a first-time inductee with The Wolborsky Group, Allen Tate Realtors; and Rachel Kendall, a first-time inductee with The Rachel Kendall Team, Keller Williams.

N.C. State University, in Raleigh, announced:

• The university's research shows that the invasive spotted-wing vinegar fly (Drosophila suzukii) prefers sweet, soft fruit. This gives scientists new insight into a species that has spread across the United States over the past four years and threatens to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to U.S. fruit crops. "Because we know that D. suzukii prefers softer, sweeter fruit, we can focus our research efforts into which wild fruits may serve as reservoirs for this species and help identify new crops that might be at risk," says Dr. Hannah Burrack, an assistant professor of entomology at N.C. State and lead author of a paper on the research. "These findings may also be a starting point for plant breeders interested in developing new fruit varieties that are more resistant to D. suzukii."
• University researchers have developed a way to melt or "weld" specific portions of polymers by embedding aligned nanoparticles within the materials. Their technique, which melts fibers along a chosen direction within a material, may lead to stronger, more resilient nanofibers and materials. Physicists Laura Clarke and Jason Bochinski, with materials scientist Joe Tracy, reported the findings.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), in Research Triangle Park, is accepting applications for its Scholars Connect Program, an opportunity for local college students to gain world-class experience in a research laboratory and get paid to do it. "This program goes beyond your average internship or beginner's job," says Ericka Reid, Ph.D., director of the NIEHS Office of Science Education and Diversity. "It's the sort of experience that young researchers can build a career on for the future, while earning a competitive wage to help pay for their education today." Geared toward underrepresented minority students who are pursuing science, technology, engineering and math majors, the Scholars Connect Program pairs undergraduate participants with mentors for a full academic year of research training.

The office of Cynthia Gregg, MD Facial Plastic Surgery, in Cary, achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. This determination by an independent, external process of evaluation distinguishes Gregg's office, establishing it as an outpatient facility that provides the highest quality of care to its patients.

Dr. Kari Lewis, ADHD coach and physical educator, is conducting an eight-hour workshop for mothers of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on May 4 and 5. The workshop's entire focus is the holistic health of the mothers. Lewis is an assistant professor at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, in the Department of Health and Exercise Studies.

Women with atrial fibrillation have more symptoms and lower quality of life than men with the same heart condition, according to an analysis of patients in a large national registry compiled by the Duke Clinical Research Institute. The finding adds to a growing body of research that highlights gender disparities in how cardiovascular disease is managed. It serves as a caution to doctors to be alert to treatment decisions that might perpetuate the differences. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm, affecting more than 2 million people in the United States. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue. The condition is associated with an increased risk of stroke and reduced survival.

Elaine Neil Orr's novel of Africa, "A Different Sun," was published by Berkley Books. A tale of social and spiritual awakening, a dispatch from a difficult era and a meditation on faith, freedom and desire, "A Different Sun" is Orr's fiction debut. Orr is a professor of English at N.C. State University, in Raleigh, where she teaches world literature and creative writing. She's also the author of two scholarly books and a memoir, "A White Girl's African Life." She grew up in Nigeria. Orr reads from the book on April 9 at Quail Ridge Books & Music, in Raleigh.

"Cobalt Blue," a new work of fiction by Peggy Payne, a New York Times notable novelist, was published by Roundfire Books. "Cobalt Blue" is an engrossing story of the spiritual awakening of a painter who becomes so obsessed with sex that she nearly loses her sanity. Payne is the author of two previous novels, "Sister India" and "Revelation." She writes, and works with other writers, in a sunny office in the historic Oakwood section of Raleigh. She drives home to a log house on a pond in rural Chatham County. Payne's research for her travel writing and novels has taken her to more than 25 countries.

Susan E. Ghiassi, who has been a radiological technologist for more than 30 years, self-published "Thank God I Only Have Two of These," a collection of patients' poetry and writing about their experiences. It's an informative book that explains how to make the most of a mammogram. Ghiassi is currently a mammographer with Duke Raleigh Hospital. The book is sold online and at Quail Ridge Books & Music, in Raleigh. Also, it's available at Wake County libraries and the waiting rooms of hospitals and doctors' offices in Raleigh.

Georgann Eubanks presents her book "Literary Trails of Eastern North Carolina: A Guidebook" on April 4 at Quail Ridge Books & Music, in Raleigh. The guidebook encourages both natives and visitors to explore our state's rich literary landscape.

"Later Never Came Until Now," a book by Stephanie Helms Pickett, Ed.D., was launched last month at a celebration at LabourLove Gallery in Durham. Pickett is the director of assessment and professional development programs in the Division of Student Affairs at Duke University and visiting professor in the Program in Education.

Jacquelyn Gaines wrote "The Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership," which offers tips on how to be a highly effective leader in today's world. Gaines, who is a nurse, hospital administrator and national speaker on health care, lives in Holly Springs. She has spent more than 30 years in a variety of leadership roles. Her book was released by Arrie Publishing of Cary, whose founder and CEO is Alicia Perry.