The Hickory Algorithm

Can't find a movie to go see this Spring? How about a good book?

Mar 27, 2026

Some weeks there are so many things to choose from when picking a topic to write about in Hickory, North Carolina.

I was doing my facilitator thing at Maiden High School for Strong Student Leadership on Monday. I asked the room of high school juniors how there weekend was and if anyone went anywhere or did anything this past weekend, since it was almost 90 degrees? One student mentioned about the new Ryan Gosling movie, Hail Mary. She said it was very good so I may have to check that out.

It dawned on me. I used to see a couple movies during spring and summer, all the time. I haven’t went to go see a movie that didn’t have an older movie tied to it in some time. The last movie I went to see was the latest Jurassic Park film. I haven’t went to go see an original movie in a theater in quite sometime.

I have though, ripped through some books from our local library. While I was returning a few I saw this banner outside:

Today and tomorrow our Library at Patrick Beaver Memorial will be selling all kinds of books.

Man, am I getting old to be looking forward to book sales…

I tell you what, a slow Sunday morning can hit differently.

A slow Sunday morning with a nice cup of your favorite steaming coffee, placing both hands around that warm mug, the kids are still sleeping, and you're opening up a new book?

That’s a dope Sunday morning. A good couple hours of losing yourself and all track of time into something brand new to you?

🔥

Hickory Literary Festival

Hickory Literary Festival

⬆️ LINK for more information ⬆️

Hickory Public Library will host the second annual Hickory Literary Festival on April 25-26, 2026, on the SALT Block.

The festival will offer a variety of vendors, activities, writing workshops, author talks, and entertainment at different locations across the SALT Block.

I had no idea this was an event let along the SECOND ANNUAL?

I look forward to spreading the word about this event because not only do I love writing, I enjoy meeting other writers and talking to them about the processes of how they came up with there ideas and the creative process that they - alone - walked that path to get a completed work.

Once, completed released and it’s no longer theirs - it’s ours.

What a gift.

So cool.

I have seen this movie though.

As the Head of Documentaries/ Docuseries with Akula Literary Partners (we will be at the Lit fest) I get to put my hands on some pretty cool stuff, like this.

A first draft script of the movie from 1990 (the 19 hundreds as my kids like to remind me) called Days of Thunder staring Tom Cruise.

When I get to see things like this I can’t help but think to myself…

How many people have seen this script?

A first draft script?

This is what the actors, writers, producers, saw - read - rehearsed - created.

Watch the trailer below and these are the same people that got to read this script, went out and executed it into a classic movie.

Sometimes, it’s just so cool.

💪

We have to battle ourselves and our kids to limit time on the screens.

Heck, you and me are looking at a screen right now. It can be so hard not to do it. This weekend I hope you head out to our local library. Take your kids, perhaps the husbands (and wives kicking and screaming) and even though they may not want to read, let them walk around while you peruse. I guarantee you at some point if you peruse long enough, they will pick up a book and say “look at this.”

Buy that one for them.

No matter what it is.

It’s not going to be some wild price tag. They may never even read it but, for the couple bucks, maybe they do.

Maybe they get really into it. Maybe.

Sometimes you just got to give it a try and what better way than supporting our local library, local creators, because you never know where a good book will take you.

#fortheloveofthegame

Going to the sale at the library sale or Lit Festival?

Better stop by and say Hi to your boy (me)!

Connecting you to the algorithm of Hickory, North Carolina.

Chris Goldby is a writer and multimedia storyteller based in Hickory, North Carolina. He owns The Hickory Algorithm a hyper focused lens on Hickory, NC and is a contributing writer and Head of Documentary/Docuseries with Akula Literary Partners.