Local Author Celebrates Launch of Children’s Book About Greenville Holiday Tradition

GREENVILLE, SC – Local children’s author Frederick Baus will celebrate the launch of his debut picture book “Oh, Those Holiday Lights!” at a series of book signings throughout the Greenville community this November and December.

Set in Greenville a long time ago, “Oh, Those Holiday Lights!” tells the story of Roper the Ogre and how the Holiday Lights came to be on Roper Mountain. Through a rhyming narrative poem, Baus details why Roper stole the lights and took them to the Mountain, and how the children of Greenville convinced him to give them back in a spectacular fashion.

Baus, a retiree and former president of the University Center of Greenville, began working on the book after a visit to Roper Mountain Holiday Lights in December 2013. While waiting in line with his grandsons, one asked “So where are the lights?” and Baus began envisioning tales about the origins of the lights. The end result is an illustrated and imaginative account of the inspiration for the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights.

Beyond its seasonal celebration, the purpose of the book release is to raise funds. Roper Mountain Holiday Lights, the Greenville holiday tradition that inspired the book, comes from a partnership between the Upstate community, sponsoring organizations, the Rotary Club of Greenville and the Roper Mountain Science Center Association. Net proceeds from book sales will go to Holiday Lights, Inc., the nonprofit company that oversees the annual event.

“The book’s themes of caring and sharing reflect the spirit of Greenville, the underlying message of the Holiday Lights project, and a lesson we could all do well to remember throughout the year,” Baus said. “It is fitting that the net proceeds go to support this nonprofit and its charitable work. There would be no Roper the Ogre if it were not for the Holiday Lights corporation that works tirelessly every year on these exciting lights displays.”

Leading up to the book launch, Baus reflects on how his first publishing experience shaped him as an author. “Throughout this process, I found that it is important to keep writing,” Baus said. “My satisfaction comes from creating and revising what I have written, even if the work never gets published. My advice to aspiring writers is to take a chance. There is a lot to be learned and self-satisfaction to be gained from putting your creation on paper and sharing it with others.”

To celebrate the launch of the book, several area booksellers will host signings with a chance to meet the author on the following dates:

• Saturday, Nov. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. at Fiction Addiction
• Saturday, Nov. 29 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Fiction Addiction
• Saturday, Nov. 29 from noon to 2 p.m. at The Elephant’s Trunk
• Saturday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Pickwick
• Thursday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Winter Wonderland at Roper Mountain
• Friday, Dec. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Winter Wonderland at Roper Mountain
• Saturday, Dec. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Winter Wonderland at Roper Mountain

These events are free and open to the public. Books will be on sale at the events on a first-come, first-served basis. The book will also be available for purchase from local booksellers and shops, including Fiction Addiction, The Pickwick, Mast General Store, The Elephant’s Trunk, and the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights gift shop.

About the Author

Dr. Frederick (Fred) Baus has a 45-year career in the administration of nonprofit, higher education associations including the presidency of the University Center of Greenville. Baus began writing poetry for children after retiring in 2013, a hobby that expresses his lifelong interest in writing and playing word games with his grandsons. This is the first book by Baus and he looks forward to continuing his writing career.