SALISBURY — Independent author M.J. Simms-Maddox will speak on the topic “On Becoming a Book Author” and about her book tours in Harlem, Johannesburg and Gothenburg from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursday at Tubman Little Theater at Livingstone College.

The public is invited.

Her presentation will focus on people who are interested in writing and publishing, as well as on the benefits of expanding market reach.

This past year, Simms-Maddox took a leave of absence from her professorship in political science at Livingstone to promote her books.

She was persuaded to travel to South Africa and Sweden by two colleagues in the African Literature Association. The setting for the plot in her second book, “Mystery in Harare,” is Zimbabwe and South Africa. Her colleagues suggested Gothenburg, Sweden, as a more global market.

Simms-Maddox has published three novels: “Priscilla Engaging in the Game of Politics,” “Mystery in Harare: Priscilla’s Journey Into Southern Africa” and “Three Metal Pellets.”

The series is known as the Priscilla Trilogy.

The books will be on sale Thursday and are also available at South Main Book Co., on Amazon, and on the author’s website, http://www.novelsbymj.com.