Wireless: RCPL also offers wireless internet access at our Lumberton location. Bring in your wireless-ready laptop and start surfing! See the circulation desk for more information.

Visit NC Live for access to articles databases, Heritage Quest, online encyclopedias, and more! If you are using NC Live from outside the library, you will need to get a password from your local RCPL location.

Visit Ancestry – Library Edition for access to census records and other genealogical information. Ancestry is only available from within the library.

The three and a half months she spent recovering was the time she finally sat down and let the story of Biscuit McKee, a small-town librarian, and Marmalade, the orange and white library cat, pour out of her into what eventually became her first novel Orange as Marmalade. Her characters wanted to tell more about themselves, though. “I had to find out what all their stories were,” Stewart chuckles. “In fact, I’m still finding out.” With at least six more books planned for the series, she’ll have time for the whole town history.

Fran Stewart grew up in an Air Force family, and Martinsville, the town she created for her mystery series, is the home town she never had but always wanted. Except for the murders. Her books are what the industry terms “cozies,” which means there is no gratuitous sex, violence, or offensive language. But there is plenty of humor, always a good puzzle, intriguing characters, and some surprising plot twists along the way.

Her published books are:

• The Biscuit McKee Mystery Series
  • Orange as Marmalade
  • Yellow as Legal Pads
  • Green as a Garden Hose
  • Blue as Blue Jeans
• Resolution, a book of poems, and
• From the Tip of My Pen: a manual for writers

Her upcoming books are:

• As Orange as Marmalade / Tan naranja como mermelada, a bilingual book for children, based on the main characters in her mystery series. Sales of this book will benefit The Hope Clinic, a non-profit family medical facility in Lawrenceville GA,
• The Mystery of Soup, a cookbook featuring soup recipes from mystery writers and their favorite independent bookstores, and
• Indigo as an Iris, the 5^th Biscuit McKee Mystery.

Ms. Stewart is a firm advocate for the understanding and gentle treatment of animals, and she donates a portion of all proceeds from her book sales to the Humane Society and the Gorilla Foundation.  She is a frequent speaker at women’s organizations and book clubs.

Other Events from the Robeson County Public Library:

Other events held at the library include our ever popular story time for toddlers and preschool aged children.  Recently we held a princess story hour where we read books about how to be polite like a princess.  All our little participants arrived dressed in their favorite princess costumes.  We will be adding other themed story time hours for many other well-loved children’s themes including pirates, super heros, and dinosaurs for boys and fairies, mermaids and ballerinas for girls.