Author and artist Timothy Lee Giles now calls Northern Virginia home, but Suffolk was his stomping ground as a boy.

“Running up and down the train tracks” and “playing softball” are among his fond memories of the city back then.

“It was cool just to walk down the street,” he said. “They had a movie theater.” He also recalls “just being kids,” adding, “It was fun; we had a really good time.”

Giles said he regularly gets back to Suffolk, where his mother still lives. He’s returning again on April 16 for a non-family occasion: a Local Authors Reception event at North Suffolk Library.

From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Giles will join several other local authors at the free event to meet members of the public, discuss his works and the writing process, and offer advice on getting published.

Light refreshments will be served, and books available for purchase.

Giles’ published works include “Humble Beginnings,” a collection of poems that also includes examples of his art; and “Just Beyond The Horizon,” which he describes as a “mentoring book.”

Giles, 52, joined the U.S. Department of State in 1995, retiring in 2011, he said.

He said he visited over 100 countries working for the government, and draws on these varied experiences for his writing and art.

He said he would like to send the message to young African-Americans that life has the potential to take them in a completely different direction and change their perspective.

“I want to give back with my writing and my books,” he said. “I really just want to help people; I’m not interested in becoming a big-time author.”

For more information on the library event, call 514-7150.