Pat Conroy Literary Center

Teddy Bear Picnic Read Aloud with Daylo January 2025
2025-01-04 09:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Port Royal Farmers Market, 1615 Ribault Rd, Port Royal, SC, 29935, United States
Saturday January 4, 2025 – 9:30 a.m. to noon EDT
Price: Free
Venue: Port Royal Farmers Market | Ribaut Rd & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal, SC 29935
Website: Facebook Event Page
On the first Saturday of every month, you can join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Port Royal Farmers Market (1615 Ribaut Rd.). In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO gather at the gazebo in Naval Heritage Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon to read diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families, inspiring a love of stories, books, reading, and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Cozy blankets, a plethora of stuffed animals, and some snacks help the students make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program. Several times a year, National Park Service Ranger Katherine Freeman also joins in for Read with a Ranger, a literacy and art project thematically connected to the missions of DAYLO, the Conroy Center, and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Monthly Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud with DAYLO
2025-01-04 09:30 - 12:00, 2024-12-07 09:30 - 12:00, 2024-11-02 09:30 - 12:00 | Port Royal Farmers Market
On the first Saturday of every month, you can join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Port Royal Farmers Market (1615 Ribaut Rd.). In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO gather at the gazebo in Naval Heritage Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon to read diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families, inspiring a love of stories, books, reading, and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Cozy blankets, a plethora of stuffed animals, and some snacks help the students make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program. Several times a year, National Park Service Ranger Katherine Freeman also joins in for Read with a Ranger, a literacy and art project thematically connected to the missions of DAYLO, the Conroy Center, and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.
The Pat Conroy Literary Center is a nonprofit interpretive and learning center advancing the legacy of beloved, bestselling writer, educator, and mentor Pat Conroy (1945-2016), author of The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, and more. Learn more at: www.patconroyliterarycenter.org.

Holiday Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud with DAYLO
2024-12-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Beaufort County Library System, 311 Scott St, Beaufort, SC, 29902, US
Join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a special bonus holiday Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Beaufort County Main Library (311 Scott St., Beaufort) on Saturday, December 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO will read from diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families–including a special selection of some of DAYLO’s favorite holiday books.
Cozy blankets and a plethora of stuffed animals make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.
The Pat Conroy Literary Center is a nonprofit interpretive and learning center advancing the legacy of beloved, bestselling writer, educator, and mentor Pat Conroy (1945-2016), author of The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, and more. Learn more at: www.patconroyliterarycenter.org.

Holiday Teddy Bear Picnic Read Aloud with Daylo 2024
2024-12-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Beaufort County Library Main Branch, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
Saturday December 21, 2024 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Price: Free
Venue: Beaufort County Main Library (311 Scott St., Beaufort)
Website: Facebook Event Page
Join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a special bonus holiday Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Beaufort County Main Library (311 Scott St., Beaufort) on Saturday, December 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO will read from diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families–including a special selection of some of DAYLO’s favorite holiday books.
Cozy blankets and a plethora of stuffed animals make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Drop-In Book Signing for Local Children's Author Nancy E. Merrill, Author of Elf Dust
2024-12-14 14:00 - 16:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in book signing for local children’s author Nancy E. Merrill, author of the holiday picture book Elf Dust. Join us outside (weather permitting) on Saturday, December 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing.
About the Book and Author:
Elf Dust is a charming and captivating look into the world of elves, their visits to see children and how they magically evade humans and pets and always leave their magical calling card.
“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane, author and educator
Nancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust. Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing, communications, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination.

Drop In Book Signing for Nancy E. Merrill, author of Elf Dust
2024-12-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
When (DATE CHANGE): Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 2 PM – 4 PM EDT
Price: Free
Where: Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.)
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in book signing for local children’s author Nancy E. Merrill, author of the holiday picture book Elf Dust. Join us outside (weather permitting) on Saturday, December 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Event Facebook Page
About the Book:
Elf Dust is a charming and captivating look into the world of elves, their visits to see children and how they magically evade humans and pets and always leave their magical calling card.
“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane, author and educator
About the Author:
Nancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust.
Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing, communications, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

An Evening with Andrew K. Clark, Author of Where Dark Things Grow, in Conversation w/ Dana Ridenour
2024-12-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with debut novelist Andrew K. Clark, author of Where Dark Things Grow, in conversation with Dana Ridenour, author of the Lexie Montgomery Series, on Friday, December 13, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited: please reserve in advance to attend this free author event: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing, and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help, and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
“As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.”—Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
“Andrew K. Clark’s Where Dark Things Grow, is a page-turning epic of gothic adventure, full of wildly imagined creatures and black magic, propulsive, deeply felt, and wonderful. A marvel of a book.”—Tessa Fontaine, author of The Red Grove and The Electric Woman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew K. Clark is a writer from Alexander, North Carolina, outside of Asheville where he now resides. His first full-length collection of poetry, Jesus in the Trailer, was short-listed for the Able Muse Book Award. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in UCLA’s Out of Anonymity, Coffin Bell Journal, The Journal of American Poetry, Appalachian Review, Rappahannock Review, fall/lines, The Wrath Bearing Tree and many others. Clark earned his a B.A. in English and M.B.A. from Georgia Southern University, and an M.F.A. from Converse College. Where Dark Things Grown is his debut novel.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Dana Ridenour is the award-winning author of the Lexie Montgomery FBI Series: Behind the Mask, Beyond the Cabin, and Below the Radar. Ridenour is a retired FBI special agent who spent most of her career as an undercover operative. She now lives and writes in the South Carolina lowcountry.

An Evening with Andrew K. Clark, author of Where Dark Things Grow, in conversation with Dana Ridenour
2024-12-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
Friday, December 13, 2024 – 5:00-6:30 PM EDT
Price: Free
Registration: Seating is limited; please call to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.
Venue: Pat Conroy Literary Center | 601 Bladen St., Beaufort
Website: Facebook Event Page
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with debut novelist Andrew K. Clark, author of Where Dark Things Grow, in conversation with Dana Ridenour, author of the Lexie Montgomery Series, on Friday, December 13, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited: please reserve in advance to attend this free author event: 843-379-7025.
About Where Dark Things Grow
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing, and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help, and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
“As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.”—Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
“Andrew K. Clark’s Where Dark Things Grow, is a page-turning epic of gothic adventure, full of wildly imagined creatures and black magic, propulsive, deeply felt, and wonderful. A marvel of a book.”—Tessa Fontaine, author of The Red Grove and The Electric Woman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew K. Clark is a writer from Alexander, North Carolina, outside of Asheville where he now resides. His first full-length collection of poetry, Jesus in the Trailer, was short-listed for the Able Muse Book Award.
His work has appeared or is forthcoming in UCLA’s Out of Anonymity, Coffin Bell Journal, The Journal of American Poetry, Appalachian Review, Rappahannock Review, fall/lines, The Wrath Bearing Tree and many others. Clark earned his a B.A. in English and M.B.A. from Georgia Southern University, and an M.F.A. from Converse College.
Where Dark Things Grow is his debut novel.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Dana Ridenour is the award-winning author of the Lexie Montgomery FBI Series: Behind the Mask, Beyond the Cabin, and Below the Radar. Ridenour is a retired FBI special agent who spent most of her career as an undercover operative. She now lives and writes in the South Carolina lowcountry.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Open Mic Night -- Featuring Nancy E. Merrill, Author of the Children's Book Elf Dust
2024-12-12 18:00 - 19:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday, December 12, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenters is Nancy E. Merrill, author of the new children’s holiday book Elf Dust. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres.
Interested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org.
About Our Featured Presenter
Nancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust. Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing, communications, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination.
About Elf Dust’s Illustrator
Colleen Sgroi dreamed of being an artist since she was a young girl. Her work is available worldwide on puzzles, calendars, prints, and greeting cards, and her art has been included in films by major motion picture companies. Her illustrations in children’s books have earned her a Moonbeam Best Illustrator Award, Feathered Quill Book Award, Mom’s Choice Awards, and IBS International Book Awards. She lives and creates in Massachusetts.
“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane, author and educator

December 2024 Open Mic Night
2024-12-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday, December 12, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenters are children’s author Nancy E. Merrill and artist Colleen Sgroi, creators of the new holiday book, Elf Dust. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres.
When: Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
Price: Free · Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Where: Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.)
Interested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org
We want to build our community of writers and an appreciation for the art and talent of new, emerging, and long-time writers. Thank you for supporting this partnership!
Event Facebook Page
About our featured presenters:
Nancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust. Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing, communications, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination.

Colleen Sgroi dreamed of being an artist since she was a young girl. Her work is available worldwide on puzzles, calendars, prints, and greeting cards, and her art has been included in films by major motion picture companies. Her illustrations in children’s books have earned her a Moonbeam Best Illustrator Award, Feathered Quill Book Award, Mom’s Choice Awards, and IBS International Book Awards. She lives and creates in Massachusetts.

“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane, author and educator

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Book Launch and Reading for Jared Madison, Author of The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace
2024-12-08 12:00 - 14:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a book launch for Beaufortonian Jared Madison, author of The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace, on Sunday, December 8, from noon to 2:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments provided. Please call in advance to reserve: (843) 379-7025.
About the Book:
One of three writers of the “Wholly Holistics” column in Lowcountry Weekly and host of the blog, “Magical Minute”(Instagram and TikTok @themagicalminute), Jared Madison has penned a self-help book for people who want more peace in their lives. In The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace, Madison shares the method that helped him find his own inner peace through an immersion into positive life changes, a day at a time, for 30 days.
Each day offers a message and a practice. For example, the practice for Day 7 suggests that whenever you feel stuck, take a nap. Napping involves letting go, accepting, and getting comfortable with the seeming non-movement you’re experiencing. Purely practical.
Representative chapters include: “Judge Not,” “Radical Acceptance,” “What Do You Fear?” “What No Longer Serves You?” “Peace Through Forgiveness,” and “Making a Loving Commitment to Yourself.”
According to Madison, to attain inner peace, you must look inside yourself with a clear mind, see and accept whatever you observe, change the things you don’t like, and move ahead.
“Life gives us no shortage of experiences that may normally trigger an adverse reaction within us,” says Madison. “However, [in this book] you are given the tools to counteract your reactiveness. Instead, you will find yourself responding.”
About the Author:
Jared Madison is an entrepreneur and business owner, an artist, a writer, a Reiki practitioner, a student of quantum physics, and a passionate traveler who has spent his life being a student of self-development. Realizing the link between science and spirituality, Madison began studying quantum physics in 2014 by attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s free online quantum physics classes. From there Madison would go on to obtain an associate’s degree in Math & Science, with plans to further his education in the field of Cell Development and Genetics. In 2015, Madison launched a successful clothing brand company based in Tempe, Arizona, with a focus on meaningful spiritually symbolic design graphics. Today his clothing company has grown into 4 distinct brands with a remolded business blueprint launching in early 2025. In 2020, Madison returned to Beaufort, after a successful stent in Los Angeles, and began the realization and life changes which have now culminated in The 30 Day Guide To Inner Peace, his third book. Madison is engaged to fiancé Kanani Robinson and is more than proud to call his mother one of his best friends. He has a fur child named Mama Kitty.

Book Launch & Reading for Jared Madison
2024-12-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
When: Sunday, December 8, 2024 at noon – 2 PM EDT
Price: Free
Where: Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) | Please call in advance to reserve: (843) 379-7025
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a book launch for Beaufortonian Jared Madison, author of The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace, on Sunday, December 8, from noon to 2:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments provided. Please call in advance to reserve: (843) 379-7025.
Event Facebook Page
About the Book:
One of three writers of the “Wholly Holistics” column in Lowcountry Weekly and host of the blog, “Magical Minute” (Instagram and TikTok @themagicalminute), Jared Madison has penned a self-help book for people who want more peace in their lives. In The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace, Madison shares the method that helped him find his own inner peace through an immersion into positive life changes, a day at a time, for 30 days.
Each day offers a message and a practice. For example, the practice for Day 7 suggests that whenever you feel stuck, take a nap. Napping involves letting go, accepting, and getting comfortable with the seeming non-movement you’re experiencing. Purely practical.
Representative chapters include: “Judge Not,” “Radical Acceptance,” “What Do You Fear?” “What No Longer Serves You?” “Peace Through Forgiveness,” and “Making a Loving Commitment to Yourself.”
According to Madison, to attain inner peace, you must look inside yourself with a clear mind, see and accept whatever you observe, change the things you don’t like, and move ahead.
“Life gives us no shortage of experiences that may normally trigger an adverse reaction within us,” says Madison. “However, [in this book] you are given the tools to counteract your reactiveness. Instead, you will find yourself responding.”
About the Author:
Jared Madison is an entrepreneur and business owner, an artist, a writer, a Reiki practitioner, a student of quantum physics, and a passionate traveler who has spent his life being a student of self-development.
Realizing the link between science and spirituality, Madison began studying quantum physics in 2014 by attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s free online quantum physics classes. From there Madison would go on to obtain an associate’s degree in Math & Science, with plans to further his education in the field of Cell Development and Genetics.
In 2015, Madison launched a successful clothing brand company based in Tempe, Arizona, with a focus on meaningful spiritually symbolic design graphics. Today his clothing company has grown into 4 distinct brands with a remolded business blueprint launching in early 2025.
In 2020, Madison returned to Beaufort, after a successful stent in Los Angeles, and began the realization and life changes which have now culminated in The 30 Day Guide To Inner Peace, his third book. Madison is engaged to fiancé Kanani Robinson and is more than proud to call his mother one of his best friends. He has a fur child named Mama Kitty.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read Aloud with Daylo December 2024
2024-12-07 09:30 - 12:00 | Port Royal Farmers Market, 1615 Ribault Rd, Port Royal, SC, 29935, United States
Saturday December 7, 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to noon EDT
Price: Free
Venue: Port Royal Farmers Market | Ribaut Rd & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal, SC 29935
Website: Facebook Event Page
On the first Saturday of every month, you can join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Port Royal Farmers Market (1615 Ribaut Rd.). In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO gather at the gazebo in Naval Heritage Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon to read diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families, inspiring a love of stories, books, reading, and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Cozy blankets, a plethora of stuffed animals, and some snacks help the students make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program. Several times a year, National Park Service Ranger Katherine Freeman also joins in for Read with a Ranger, a literacy and art project thematically connected to the missions of DAYLO, the Conroy Center, and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

An Evening with Memoirist William Douglas, Author of Hope Is All I Have
2024-12-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with memoirist and cancer survivor William “Billy” Douglas, author of Hope Is All I Have, on Wednesday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE BOOK AND AUTHOR
The three most shocking words you will ever encounter in your lifetime are: You Have Cancer! Once you hear those words, your life will be forever changed. For William Douglas, instead of being at the end of his lifetime in dealing with cancer, it was actually the beginning of a new path unlike any he had ever traveled. How did he prevail through a Stage Four cancer diagnosis and come out for the better? His memoir, Hope Is All I Have, champions the inspiration to live, no matter the circumstances. It is a story of faith, hope, love, friendship, medicine and how to navigate through many unknown challenges while entrenched in the battle of your life. If you, a family member, friend, loved one, or just an acquaintance has ever been faced with cancer, this memoir will give you an insightful story of their enduring battle. An inviting read about a most difficult subject, Hope Is All I Have is an inspirational story of true perseverance and survival.
“Defying all odds after a shocking death experience in surgery, Billy Douglas did more than survive: he lived and he continues to live and to share his inspirational story with other cancer patients, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals. This is a compelling book of faith–in both the spiritual and humanistic senses of that word–in which, as Billy says, PAP: Positive Attitude Prevails. Hope, Is AlI Have is as engaging as it is empowering.”—Jonathan Haupt, executive director, Pat Conroy Literary Center
“As a Medical Oncologist, I am exposed to the effects of cancer almost every day. Despite the obvious suffering that can accompany a cancer diagnosis, there are also moments of great hope and inspiration. Billy’s story is one of these examples of stealing light from potential darkness. I often feel like my career in cancer medicine allows me to understand to some extent what our patients are going through as they receive and tackle a cancer diagnosis. Stories like this one make me realize that I don’t know the half of it. Billy’s descriptions of the events he experienced help open my eyes to all of the aspects of a cancer journey that I would never even imagine having not walked in the shoes of someone dealing with the struggle first-hand. I hope that his story will serve as inspiration to patients facing cancer themselves, as well as those working to help find better therapies.”–Todd Gourdin, Medical Oncologist, Medical University of South Carolina
William “Billy” Douglas had a successful fifty-year career in sales and marketing in the marine industry. As a product of the South, he enjoys writing and any kind of water activity. He lives on Hilton Head Island with his wife Linda and their standard poodle Gianni. Douglas is the founder of the Terminate Cancer Foundation.

An Evening with William “Billy” Douglas, author of Hope Is All I Have
2024-12-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – 6:00-7:30 PM EDT
Price: Free
Registration: Seating is limited; please call to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.
Venue: Pat Conroy Literary Center | 601 Bladen St., Beaufort
Website: Facebook Event Page
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with memoirist and cancer survivor William “Billy” Douglas, author of Hope Is All I Have, on Wednesday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort).
Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
About Hope Is All I Have
The three most shocking words you will ever encounter in your lifetime are: You Have Cancer! Once you hear those words, your life will be forever changed. For William Douglas, instead of being at the end of his lifetime in dealing with cancer, it was actually the beginning of a new path unlike any he had ever traveled. How did he prevail through a Stage Four cancer diagnosis and come out for the better?
His memoir, Hope Is All I Have, champions the inspiration to live, no matter the circumstances. It is a story of faith, hope, love, friendship, medicine and how to navigate through many unknown challenges while entrenched in the battle of your life. If you, a family member, friend, loved one, or just an acquaintance has ever been faced with cancer, this memoir will give you an insightful story of their enduring battle. An inviting read about a most difficult subject, Hope Is All I Have is an inspirational story of true perseverance and survival.
“Defying all odds after a shocking death experience in surgery, Billy Douglas did more than survive: he lived and he continues to live and to share his inspirational story with other cancer patients, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals. This is a compelling book of faith–in both the spiritual and humanistic senses of that word–in which, as Billy says, PAP: Positive Attitude Prevails. Hope Is All I Have is as engaging as it is empowering.”—Jonathan Haupt, executive director, Pat Conroy Literary Center
“As a Medical Oncologist, I am exposed to the effects of cancer almost every day. Despite the obvious suffering that can accompany a cancer diagnosis, there are also moments of great hope and inspiration. Billy’s story is one of these examples of stealing light from potential darkness. I often feel like my career in cancer medicine allows me to understand to some extent what our patients are going through as they receive and tackle a cancer diagnosis. Stories like this one make me realize that I don’t know the half of it. Billy’s descriptions of the events he experienced help open my eyes to all of the aspects of a cancer journey that I would never even imagine having not walked in the shoes of someone dealing with the struggle first-hand. I hope that his story will serve as inspiration to patients facing cancer themselves, as well as those working to help find better therapies.”–Todd Gourdin, Medical Oncologist, Medical University of South Carolina
About the Author
William “Billy” Douglas had a successful fifty-year career in sales and marketing in the marine industry. As a product of the South, he enjoys writing and any kind of water activity.
He lives on Hilton Head Island with his wife Linda and their standard poodle Gianni. Douglas is the founder of the Terminate Cancer Foundation.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Lowcountry Read Community Conversation: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
2024-11-20 17:00 - 18:30 | 11 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926-2709, United States
Lowcountry Reads aims to bring our community together by reading a selected book chosen to spark discussion and promote cross-cultural understanding. The 2024 Lowcountry Reads book selection is The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by National Book Award winner James McBride. On Wednesday, November 20, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., the Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate will host a free community conversation about McBride’s novel at the Hilton Head Branch Library (11 Beach City Road), moderated by Dr. Raymond Cox and assisted by youth moderator Patrick Good. This special literary event is part of the annual Crescendo arts festival and presented in collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center and DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization.
About The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
A New York Times Notable Book |A New York Times Readers Pick for 100 Best Books of the 21st Century | Winner of the 2024 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction | From one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 | Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Time Magazine
“A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel . . . Charming, smart, heart-blistering, and heart-healing.” —The New York Times Book Review
“We all need—we all deserve—this vibrant, love-affirming novel that bounds over any difference that claims to separate us.” —The Washington Post
From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.
As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.
About the Host
Established in 2018, the Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate (LCAH) is a non-partisan alliance of organizations and individuals in the Lowcountry who believe that promoting civil discourse, educating our communities about the destructive effects of hate speech, and modeling effective communication among disparate groups will strengthen our communities and each other. in addition, the LCAH serves as an advocate for public policies which will better address our statewide issues around diversity. https://lowcountryagainsthate.org

An Evening with Nancy Murray, Author of No Experience Necessary
2024-11-15 17:00 - 18:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with memoirist Nancy Murray, author of No Experience Necessary, on Friday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
About the Book and Author:
In No Experience Necessary, Nancy Murray shares the insights, pitfalls, and strategies that she gleaned along her journey toward meaningful employment. Her stories prove that even so-called nowhere jobs can be crucial steps to not only establishing a career, but to discovering ourselves.
Nancy’s workplace tales span a colorful spectrum, from selling speakers from a seedy van to driving a posh limo; from performing as a professional clown to financial advisor. With each job she profited in ways beyond a traditional paycheck.
Some might consider this a cautionary tale, but it’s also a field guide for anyone preparing to fill out their first job application, not to mention a humorous flashback for those who recall the trials and tribulations of the workplace all too well.
“Through the many jobs—both ordinary and extraordinary— in this memoir of working, Nancy Murray shows not only how willing she is to take a chance and fail, but to grow from those failures with her trademark blend of humor and humility. What really stands out, however, is her prose—like a long lunch with a good friend, there is never a dull moment.”—Jen Michalski, author of The Company of Strangers
“No Experience Necessary is an extraordinary account of what it means to work. In vivid and engaging prose, the book illuminates the struggles and triumphs of insisting on a creative life. A tightly-focused and engaging memoir, this is an amazing read!” —Kathy Flann,award-winning author of Smoky Ordinary and Write On: Secrets to Crafting Better Stories
Nancy Murray is a poet, playwright, and storyteller. Her first memoir, One Child for Another, was published by 11th Hour Press, and was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as one of the Ten Best Reads in 2015. Her storytelling was showcased by the Women of the World Festival in Baltimore, Maryland. Nancy’s plays and poetry have been produced and published in various venues and presses including, Ireland’s HCE Review, The Maryland State Poetry and Literary Society, and in multiple anthologies. Her most recent publication, a poetry collection called The Colors of Fear, waspublished by Cyberwit Press. She teaches compositional writing at the Community College of Baltimore County and hosts a series of poetry workshops at the Arts Lab of South County, Maryland.

An Evening with Nancy Murray, author of No Experience Necessary
2024-11-15 17:00 - 18:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
Friday, November 15, 2024 – 5:00-6:30 PM EDT
Price: Free
Registration: Seating is limited; please call to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.
Venue: Pat Conroy Literary Center | 601 Bladen St., Beaufort
Website: Facebook Event Page
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with memoirist Nancy Murray, author of No Experience Necessary, on Friday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort).
Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
About No Experience Necessary
In No Experience Necessary, Nancy Murray shares the insights, pitfalls, and strategies that she gleaned along her journey toward meaningful employment. Her stories prove that even so-called nowhere jobs can be crucial steps to not only establishing a career, but to discovering ourselves.
Nancy’s workplace tales span a colorful spectrum, from selling speakers from a seedy van to driving a posh limo; from performing as a professional clown to financial advisor. With each job she profited in ways beyond a traditional paycheck.
Some might consider this a cautionary tale, but it’s also a field guide for anyone preparing to fill out their first job application, not to mention a humorous flashback for those who recall the trials and tribulations of the workplace all too well.
“Through the many jobs—both ordinary and extraordinary— in this memoir of working, Nancy Murray shows not only how willing she is to take a chance and fail, but to grow from those failures with her trademark blend of humor and humility. What really stands out, however, is her prose—like a long lunch with a good friend, there is never a dull moment.”—Jen Michalski, author of The Company of Strangers
“No Experience Necessary is an extraordinary account of what it means to work. In vivid and engaging prose, the book illuminates the struggles and triumphs of insisting on a creative life. A tightly-focused and engaging memoir, this is an amazing read!” —Kathy Flann,award-winning author of Smoky Ordinary and Write On: Secrets to Crafting Better Stories
About the Author
Nancy Murray is a poet, playwright, and storyteller. Her first memoir, One Child for Another, was published by 11th Hour Press, and was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as one of the Ten Best Reads in 2015. Her storytelling was showcased by the Women of the World Festival in Baltimore, Maryland.
Nancy’s plays and poetry have been produced and published in various venues and presses including, Ireland’s HCE Review, The Maryland State Poetry and Literary Society, and in multiple anthologies. Her most recent publication, a poetry collection called The Colors of Fear, was published by Cyberwit Press. She teaches compositional writing at the Community College of Baltimore County and hosts a series of poetry workshops at the Arts Lab of South County, Maryland.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Virtual Open Mic Night - Featuring Mamie Morgan, Author of Everyone I've Danced with Is Dead
2024-11-14 18:00 - 19:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held virtually on Thursday, November 14, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured writer is poet Mamie Morgan, author of Everyone I’ve Danced with Is Dead. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres.
Interested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org.
About Our Featured Writer
Mamie Morgan received an MFA from UNC Wilmington and a BA in English and Religious Studies from Wofford. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in numerous literary journals, including Washington Square Review, the Oxford American, Fish Barrel Review, Nimrod, Muzzle, Four Way Review, Yemassee, Carolina Quarterly, Inkwell, and the Greensboro Review. She lives in the woods with her husband and their two pit bulls, Henrietta Modine and Wednesday Stewart.
“Reading these poems is like sitting down with a friend for a conversation-the kind of friend you trust to tell all of the truth, but with mercy. These whip-smart poems don’t flinch, even at the hardest truths about what it means to be human-to love and to lose, to damage and be damaged, to live through moments ‘where the quake originates,’ that make you cling to ‘every word that had ever made me want to stay alive.’ These poems have an electric power, one strong enough to change lives. Morgan faces devastation with such an open grace and generosity that a reader can’t help but feel there’s one truth more real than any other: that even in the moments that shake us to the core, there is always hope.”–Emma Bolden
“The central organ pumping blood through these poems is wonderment. Morgan’s particular brand of wonder knows no hierarchies: love, betrayal, fallings out, quotidian, joy, jail, sex, school, the body, war, race, politics, and that old tricker Death all crowd around the same table. This book pulls you forward and shows you the world as it is–a mess worth celebrating, recoiling from, enduring, and embracing. These poems are built of risk and witness–importantly, they have the language and daring to match. This is one helluva barn burner.”–Michael McGriff

November 2024 Open Mic Night
2024-11-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Online – Facebook Live
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held virtually on Thursday, November 14, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured writer is poet Mamie Morgan, author of Everyone I’ve Danced with Is Dead. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres.
When: Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
Price: Free · Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Where: Facebook Live
Interested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org
We want to build our community of writers and an appreciation for the art and talent of new, emerging, and long-time writers. Thank you for supporting this partnership!
Event Facebook Page
About our featured writer:
Mamie Morgan received an MFA from UNC Wilmington and a BA in English and Religious Studies from Wofford. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in numerous literary journals, including Washington Square Review, the Oxford American, Fish Barrel Review, Nimrod, Muzzle, Four Way Review, Yemassee, Carolina Quarterly, Inkwell, and the Greensboro Review. She lives in the woods with her husband and their two pit bulls, Henrietta Modine and Wednesday Stewart.

About Everyone I’ve Danced with Is Dead
“Reading these poems is like sitting down with a friend for a conversation-the kind of friend you trust to tell all of the truth, but with mercy. These whip-smart poems don’t flinch, even at the hardest truths about what it means to be human-to love and to lose, to damage and be damaged, to live through moments ‘where the quake originates,’ that make you cling to ‘every word that had ever made me want to stay alive.’ These poems have an electric power, one strong enough to change lives. Morgan faces devastation with such an open grace and generosity that a reader can’t help but feel there’s one truth more real than any other: that even in the moments that shake us to the core, there is always hope.”–Emma Bolden
“The central organ pumping blood through these poems is wonderment. Morgan’s particular brand of wonder knows no hierarchies: love, betrayal, fallings out, quotidian, joy, jail, sex, school, the body, war, race, politics, and that old tricker Death all crowd around the same table. This book pulls you forward and shows you the world as it is–a mess worth celebrating, recoiling from, enduring, and embracing. These poems are built of risk and witness–importantly, they have the language and daring to match. This is one helluva barn burner.”–Michael McGriff

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

Heritage Days History Symposium: Where It All Began on Friday
2024-11-08 09:00 - 15:30 | Penn Center, Saint Helena Island, SC, US
The Heritage Days Symposium Subcommittee, in partnership with The Pat Conroy Literary Center, is hosting the 2024 History Symposium: Where It All Began on Friday, November 8, in Frissell Community House on Penn Center campus. The symposium focuses on the historical impact of the Gullah Geechee culture from Africa to present day Beaufort, South Carolina. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. with sessions starting at 9:00 a.m. Advance and at-the-door registration is $35, which includes a light breakfast and lunch.
Register at https://whereitallbegan.eventbrite.com.
This year’s presenters include Dr. Louis Venters, Francis Marion University Professor of African and African Diaspora History; Michael B. Moore, candidate for the SC House of Representatives District 1 and great-great grandson of the legendary Robert Smalls; Dr. Valinda Littlefield, University of South Carolina Associate Professor of History; and Bradley Tarrance, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Principal.
The program also includes special performances by the St. Helena Elementary School African Drumming Ensemble, the Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Choir, Gary Sterling, internationally acclaimed St. Helena native, and soloist, Louis Venters. On behalf of Penn Center Mrs. Deloris Pringle, Chair of the Board of Trustees, will welcome participants. As the founder of Penn Center Harvest Day, Dr. Emory Campbell, former Executive Director of Penn Center, and Emeritus Trustee, will introduce a special video presentation Gullah Geechee Celebration: 40 Years of Heritage Days at Penn Center by Tendaji Bailey, Executive producer and Co-director. Other special guests include SC House Representative Michael Rivers and Dr. Frank Rodriquez, Beaufort County School District Superintendent.
A book signing session organized by the Pat Conroy Literary Center will feature books authored by the presenters and special guests Lynn Bryant and Dr. Emory Campbell.
There will also be information tables provided by the Beaufort County Awareness Group, Beaufort History Museum, The Pat Conroy Literary Center, Penn Center Heritage Days Planning Committee, Beaufort County School District, St. Helena Elementary School, and Robert Smalls Leadership Academy.
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Heritage Days, Where It All Began offers participants a unique opportunity to explore, understand, and appreciate the historical and cultural contributions of the Gullah Geechee people from ancient times to present day.

Teddy Bear Picnic Read Aloud with Daylo November 2024
2024-11-02 09:30 - 12:00 | Port Royal Farmers Market, 1615 Ribault Rd, Port Royal, SC, 29935, United States
Saturday November 2, 2024 – 9:30 a.m. to noon EDT
Price: Free
Venue: Port Royal Farmers Market | Ribaut Rd & Pinckney Blvd, Port Royal, SC 29935
Website: Facebook Event Page
On the first Saturday of every month, you can join the student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization for a Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud at the Port Royal Farmers Market (1615 Ribaut Rd.). In collaboration with the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, high school and college student volunteers from the Beaufort-based chapters of DAYLO gather at the gazebo in Naval Heritage Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon to read diverse, inclusive picture books to children and their families, inspiring a love of stories, books, reading, and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Cozy blankets, a plethora of stuffed animals, and some snacks help the students make a welcoming environment in this free community literacy program. Several times a year, National Park Service Ranger Katherine Freeman also joins in for Read with a Ranger, a literacy and art project thematically connected to the missions of DAYLO, the Conroy Center, and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park.
DAYLO is a student-led diversity themed book club and community service group founded at Beaufort High School and now with chapters across South Carolina. Learn more at: https://linktr.ee/DAYLOBFT.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

2024 Festival Day Two
2024-11-02
Ninth Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, November 1-2, 2024
“I was born to be in a library,” wrote beloved and bestselling author Pat Conroy (1945-2016) in his book My Reading Life. Hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, this year’s Pat Conroy Literary Festival will pay special tribute to the vital work of librarians in championing the welcoming world of books, stories, and storytellers. The Conroy Festival will be held in Beaufort on November 1 and 2, with the Conroy Center also open to the public for tours on October 31 and November 3.
Now in its ninth year, the Conroy Festival is a popular destination event with literary tourists visiting from across the country as well as for local readers, writers, educators, and students of all ages. With a robust schedule of free and ticketed educational and enrichment programs, this year’s festival will include author conversations and readings, panel discussions, writers workshops, book signings, musical performances, guided tours, a film screening, and a read-aloud for children and their families.
Featured presenters include New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander (Black Star), Kirsten Miller (Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books), Raj Haldar (This Book Is Banned), and Cassandra King (Tell Me a Story), as well as Reese’s Book Club author DéLana R.A. Dameron (Redwood Court). A lively panel discussion with Southern women mystery authors will include Agatha Award-winning and USA Today bestselling novelist Susan M. Boyer (The Liz Talbot Mysteries), Alicia Bessette (The Outer Banks Bookshop Mysteries), and Kristen Ness (At Loggerheads), with a special appearance by Gallery Books vice president and executive editor Carrie Feron.
High school and college student volunteers from DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization will host a read-aloud for young readers and their families at the Port Royal Farmers Market. A Freedom to Read panel discussion, moderated by intellectual freedom champion Pat R. Scales, will feature youth advocates and librarian advocates who have been instrumental in local, regional, and national responses to education censorship. The festival will also include a private pre-screening (open to festival attendees with advance registration) of the new feature-length documentary film Banned Together, prefaced by a tribute to librarians and followed by a discussion with producers Tom and Jenn Wiggin. A celebratory musical performance by the famed Beaufort Mass Choir and a reception catered by Debbi Covington at the Conroy Center will conclude this year’s festival.
To the benefit of writers, the Conroy Festival will also host a quartet of workshops on poetry, prose writing, and publication, led by Tim Conroy, Susan Madison, Valerie Sayers, Sean Scapellato, John Warley, and Chad Rhoad.
The ninth annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival is made possible by the generous support and collaboration of the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust, the South Carolina Arts Commission, Bank of America Private Bank, and others.
November 2 Schedule (click for more information on the Festival website)
9:00 am WORKSHOP: How Not to Get Published, led by John Warley and Sean Scapellato @ Pat Conroy Literary Center – $45
9:30 am READ-ALOUD: DAYLO Teddy Bear Picnic @ Port Royal Farmers Market – Free
11:00 am AUTHOR EVENT: Mysterious Women Panel @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – $15
1:00 pm AUTHOR EVENT: Raj Haldar @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – Free
1:00 pm WORKSHOP: Know Your Place: Setting as Character, led by Chad Rhoad @ Pat Conroy Literary Center – $45
2:30 pm AUTHOR EVENT: Kwame Alexander @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – Free
4:00 pm AUTHOR EVENT: Kirsten Miller @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – $10
6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION: Wrap Up Party @ Pat Conroy Literary Center – $40
Festival Website Links:
Events Schedule
Workshops
Festival Facebook Page (where you can watch many author events)
Presenters
The nonprofit Conroy Center is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m. at 601 Bladen Street in historic downtown Beaufort.

Ninth Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival
2024-11-01 09:00 - 2024-11-02 20:30 | Beaufort, South Carolina, Beaufort, SC, US
“I was born to be in a library,” wrote beloved and bestselling author Pat Conroy (1945-2016) in his book My Reading Life. Hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, this year’s Pat Conroy Literary Festival will pay special tribute to the vital work of librarians in championing the welcoming world of books, stories, and storytellers. The Conroy Festival will be held in Beaufort on November 1 and 2, with the Conroy Center also open to the public for tours on October 31 and November 3.
Now in its ninth year, the Conroy Festival is a popular destination event with literary tourists visiting from across the country as well as for local readers, writers, educators, and students of all ages. With a robust schedule of free and ticketed educational and enrichment programs, this year’s festival will include author conversations and readings, panel discussions, writers workshops, book signings, musical performances, guided tours, a film screening, and a read-aloud for children and their families.
Featured presenters include New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander (Black Star), Kirsten Miller (Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books), Raj Haldar (This Book Is Banned), and Cassandra King (Tell Me a Story), as well as Reese’s Book Club author DéLana R.A. Dameron (Redwood Court). A lively panel discussion with Southern women mystery authors will include Agatha Award-winning and USA Today bestselling novelist Susan M. Boyer (The Liz Talbot Mysteries), Alicia Bessette (The Outer Banks Bookshop Mysteries), and Kristen Ness (At Loggerheads), with a special appearance by Gallery Books vice president and executive editor Carrie Feron.
High school and college student volunteers from DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization will host a read-aloud for young readers and their families at the Port Royal Farmers Market. A Freedom to Read panel discussion, moderated by intellectual freedom champion Pat R. Scales, will feature youth advocates and librarian advocates who have been instrumental in local, regional, and national responses to education censorship. The festival will also include a private pre-screening (open to festival attendees with advance registration) of the new feature-length documentary film Banned Together, prefaced by a tribute to librarians and followed by a discussion with producers Tom and Jenn Wiggin. A celebratory musical performance by the famed Beaufort Mass Choir and a reception catered by Debbi Covington at the Conroy Center will conclude this year’s festival.
To the benefit of writers, the Conroy Festival will also host a quartet of workshops on poetry, prose writing, and publication, led by Tim Conroy, Susan Madison, Valerie Sayers, Sean Scapellato, John Warley, and Chad Rhoad.
The ninth annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival is made possible by the generous support and collaboration of the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust, the South Carolina Arts Commission, Bank of America Private Bank, and others.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Noon to 4:00 p.m. TOURS: Pat Conroy Literary Center open to the public for guided tours. Free. (601 Bladen St., Beaufort)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP: Poetry of Practice, led by Tim Conroy and Susan Madison. $45/person (Conroy Center, 601 Bladen St., Beaufort) Register: https://thepoetryofpractice.eventbrite.com
11:00 a.m. to Noon. AUTHOR EVENT: DéLana R.A. Dameron, author of the debut novel Redwood Court (a Reese’s Book Club Pick) in conversation with Ellen Malphrus, USC Beaufort writer in residence. $10/person. Followed by a book signing. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
Noon to 4:00 p.m. TOURS: Pat Conroy Literary Center open to the public for guided tours. Free. (601 Bladen St., Beaufort)
12:30 to 2:00 p.m. WORKSHOP: How to Submit to Literary Magazine, led by Valerie Sayers. $45/person (Conroy Center, 601 Bladen St., Beaufort) Register: https://howtosubmittoliterarymagazine.eventbrite.com
4:00 to 5:15 p.m. FREEDOM TO READ PANEL: Moderated by Pat R. Scales (award-winning retired librarian and author of Banned Books for Kids) in conversation with high school librarian Karen Gareis (featured on 60 Minutes), Julia Garnett (American Library Association Banned Books Week Honorary Youth Chair), and current and past student leaders of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization (featured on Nick News and in Banned Together). This special presentation will also include a screening of the 60 Minutes news segment on Beaufort’s response to book bans and the Nick News segment on the youth advocacy of DAYLO. Followed by a book signing with Pat R. Scales. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) – This program is sponsored and made freely available by a generous gift from the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust. Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. TRIBUTE TO LIBRARIANS and FILM SCREENING: Honoring our festival’s theme of “I Was Born to Be in a Library,” Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director Jonathan Haupt will present a brief tribute to the essential roles of librarians in the context of Pat Conroy’s legacy. Following that, the festival will present a private pre-screening (freely open to all festival attendees with advance registration) of the feature-length documentary film Banned Together, highlighting current and past student leaders of DAYLO; national and regional freedom to read experts and advocates; librarians, educators, and community members; and an international group of best-selling authors. Followed by an audience Q&A with film producers Tom and Jenn Wiggin. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) – This program is sponsored and made freely available by a generous gift from the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust. Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. WORKSHOP: How Not to Get Published, led by John Warley and Sean Scapellato. $45/person (Conroy Center, 601 Bladen St., Beaufort) Register: https://hownottogetpublished.eventbrite.com
9:30 a.m. to Noon. READ-ALOUD: The student volunteers of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization will host their Teddy Bear Picnic read-aloud—a free monthly community literacy program for young readers and their families—at the Port Royal Farmers Market. Free. (1615 Ribaut Rd., Port Royal)
11:00 a.m. to Noon. AUTHOR EVENT: Mysterious Women: New York Times bestselling writer Cassandra King (Tell Me a Story) in conversation with a trio of Southern mystery authors, Agatha Award-winning and USA Today bestselling novelist Susan M. Boyer (The Liz Talbot Mysteries), Alicia Bessette (The Outer Banks Bookshop Mysteries), and Kristen Ness (At Loggerheads), with a special appearance by Gallery Books vice president and executive editor Carrie Feron. $15/person. Followed by a book signing. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
Noon to 4:00 p.m. TOURS: Pat Conroy Literary Center open to the public for guided tours. Free. (601 Bladen St., Beaufort)
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. AUTHOR EVENT: #1 New York Times bestselling children’s author Raj Haldar (P Is for Pterodactyl and This Book Is Banned), who is also the rapper, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Lushlife, with a special performance of story and songs. Free. Followed by a book signing. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
1:00 to 2:30 p.m. WORKSHOP: Know Your Place: Setting as Character, led by Chad Rhoad. $45/person (Conroy Center, 601 Bladen St., Beaufort) Register: https://knowyourplacewritersworkshop.eventbrite.com
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. AUTHOR EVENT: New York Times bestselling author for adults, young adults, and children Kwame Alexander (The Door of No Return and Black Star) in conversation with Cassie Owens Moore, middle school librarian and South Carolina Association of School Librarians Intellectual Freedom Committee chair. Free. Followed by a book signing. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. AUTHOR EVENT: New York Times bestselling for adults, young adults, and children Kirsten Miller (Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books and How to Lead a Life of Crime) in conversation with Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. $10. Followed by a book signing. (USC Beaufort Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CLOSING RECEPTION: Wrap-up party with catering by Debbi Covington and featuring a musical performance by the Beaufort Mass Choir at the Pat Conroy Literary Center and adjacent Witness Tree Park. $40. (601 Bladen St., Beaufort) Register: https://patconroyliteraryfestival2024.eventbrite.com
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Noon to 4:00 p.m. TOURS: Pat Conroy Literary Center open to the public for guided tours. Free. (601 Bladen St., Beaufort)
ALSO, WHILE IN BEAUFORT, PLEASE VISIT THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
Waterfront Park in Historic Downtown Beaufort
Friday, November 1: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Friends members only), 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 3: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

2024 Festival Day One
2024-11-01
Ninth Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, November 1-2, 2024
“I was born to be in a library,” wrote beloved and bestselling author Pat Conroy (1945-2016) in his book My Reading Life. Hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center, this year’s Pat Conroy Literary Festival will pay special tribute to the vital work of librarians in championing the welcoming world of books, stories, and storytellers. The Conroy Festival will be held in Beaufort on November 1 and 2, with the Conroy Center also open to the public for tours on October 31 and November 3.
Now in its ninth year, the Conroy Festival is a popular destination event with literary tourists visiting from across the country as well as for local readers, writers, educators, and students of all ages. With a robust schedule of free and ticketed educational and enrichment programs, this year’s festival will include author conversations and readings, panel discussions, writers workshops, book signings, musical performances, guided tours, a film screening, and a read-aloud for children and their families.
Featured presenters include New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander (Black Star), Kirsten Miller (Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books), Raj Haldar (This Book Is Banned), and Cassandra King (Tell Me a Story), as well as Reese’s Book Club author DéLana R.A. Dameron (Redwood Court). A lively panel discussion with Southern women mystery authors will include Agatha Award-winning and USA Today bestselling novelist Susan M. Boyer (The Liz Talbot Mysteries), Alicia Bessette (The Outer Banks Bookshop Mysteries), and Kristen Ness (At Loggerheads), with a special appearance by Gallery Books vice president and executive editor Carrie Feron.
High school and college student volunteers from DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization will host a read-aloud for young readers and their families at the Port Royal Farmers Market. A Freedom to Read panel discussion, moderated by intellectual freedom champion Pat R. Scales, will feature youth advocates and librarian advocates who have been instrumental in local, regional, and national responses to education censorship. The festival will also include a private pre-screening (open to festival attendees with advance registration) of the new feature-length documentary film Banned Together, prefaced by a tribute to librarians and followed by a discussion with producers Tom and Jenn Wiggin. A celebratory musical performance by the famed Beaufort Mass Choir and a reception catered by Debbi Covington at the Conroy Center will conclude this year’s festival.
To the benefit of writers, the Conroy Festival will also host a quartet of workshops on poetry, prose writing, and publication, led by Tim Conroy, Susan Madison, Valerie Sayers, Sean Scapellato, John Warley, and Chad Rhoad.
The ninth annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival is made possible by the generous support and collaboration of the Robert S. Handler Charitable Trust, the South Carolina Arts Commission, Bank of America Private Bank, and others.
November 1 Schedule (click for more information on the Festival website)
9:00 am WORKSHOP: Poetry of Practice, led by Tim Conroy and Susan Madison @ Pat Conroy Literary Center-$45
11:00 am AUTHOR EVENT: DéLana R.A. Dameron @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – $10
12:30 pm WORKSHOP: How to Submit to Literary Magazine, led by Valerie Sayers @ Pat Conroy Literary Center – $45
4:00 pm FREEDOM TO READ PANEL: Moderated by Pat R. Scales @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – Free
6:30 pm TRIBUTE TO LIBRARIANS and FILM SCREENING: Presented by Jonathan Haupt @ USC Beaufort Center for the Arts – Free
Festival Website Links:
Events Schedule
Workshops
Festival Facebook Page (where you can watch many author events)
Presenters
The nonprofit Conroy Center is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m. at 601 Bladen Street in historic downtown Beaufort.

Drop-In Book Launch with Joy Corley, Author of the Children's Book Percy Goes Camping...Maybe
2024-10-26 14:00 - 16:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in launch event for local author Joy Corley’s debut children’s book, Percy Goes Camping…Maybe. Join us outside on Saturday, October 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments will be provided.
About the Book and Author:
Percy Goes Camping…Maybe is a true story about overcoming your fears. Percy is an 80-pound, fun loving, Red Nose Staffordshire Terrier who is afraid of most anything new, and the teardrop camper Ladybug was no exception!
Always curious, Percy was the first one to bolt out the door when the camper appeared in the driveway and he was the first one to whip around and quickly head back inside, seeking safety from this strange contraption. Being ever-so-nosy, he eventually and very cautiously began to get acquainted with Ladybug, but only after running away and hiding in the bushes multiple times before deciding this camping business might not be so scary after all.
“In this clever, relatable, and heartwarming story, Percy the dog shows us how overcoming our fears can open up a world of fun! I recommend this beautifully illustrated story to little ones ages 4 to 8 as well as their big people.”—Susan Sullivan, author of Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles
“PERCY! Where have you been all my life, sweet boy? You make me want to go camping with you and try new things! | hope every child gets to read your story and be inspired to try something new. Go Percy GOOOOO!”—Bren McClain, author of One Good Mama Bone
Joy Corley, earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina. She worked in many different capacities in the field of social work until retiring in 2021, after 24 years as a Care Coordinator at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Joy became a lover of children’s books after her son Clay was born in 1982. She always wanted to write a children’s book and was just looking for the right inspiration whenever Percy came into her life. Always an animal lover, Percy became the new character in a long list of characters in the household she shares with her husband, Rick and five other rescues. Joy also enjoys reading, being a volunteer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program and Beaufort County Animal Services.

Book Launch Drop In: Joy Corley author of Percy Goes Camping... Maybe
2024-10-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902, United States
Saturday, October 26, 2024 – 2:00-4:00 PM EDT
Price: Free
Venue: Pat Conroy Literary Center | 601 Bladen St., Beaufort
Website: Facebook Event Page
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in launch event for local author Joy Corley’s debut children’s book, Percy Goes Camping… Maybe. Join us outside on Saturday, October 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments will be provided.
About Percy Goes Camping… Maybe
Percy Goes Camping… Maybe is a true story about overcoming your fears. Percy is an 80-pound, fun loving, Red Nose Staffordshire Terrier who is afraid of most anything new, and the teardrop camper Ladybug was no exception!
Always curious, Percy was the first one to bolt out the door when the camper appeared in the driveway and he was the first one to whip around and quickly head back inside, seeking safety from this strange contraption. Being ever-so-nosy, he eventually and very cautiously began to get acquainted with Ladybug, but only after running away and hiding in the bushes multiple times before deciding this camping business might not be so scary after all.
“In this clever, relatable, and heartwarming story, Percy the dog shows us how overcoming our fears can open up a world of fun! I recommend this beautifully illustrated story to little ones ages 4 to 8 as well as their big people.”—Susan Sullivan, author of Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles
“PERCY! Where have you been all my life, sweet boy? You make me want to go camping with you and try new things! | hope every child gets to read your story and be inspired to try something new. Go Percy GOOOOO!”—Bren McClain, author of One Good Mama Bone
About the Author
Joy Corley, earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of South Carolina. She worked in many different capacities in the field of social work until retiring in 2021, after 24 years as a Care Coordinator at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
Joy became a lover of children’s books after her son Clay was born in 1982. She always wanted to write a children’s book and was just looking for the right inspiration whenever Percy came into her life. Always an animal lover, Percy became the new character in a long list of characters in the household she shares with her husband, Rick and five other rescues. Joy also enjoys reading, being a volunteer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program and Beaufort County Animal Services.

This program and others like this would not be possible without your financial help for which, as always, Pat Conroy Literary Center gratefully thanks you.

POSTPONED - An Evening with Pete Candler, Author of A Deeper South
2024-10-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Pat Conroy Literary Center
UPDATE: This event has been postponed and will be reschedule for early 2025.
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The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with photographer and writer Pete Candler, author of A Deeper South, on Thursday, October 24, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Please call in advance to reserve a seat for this free event: 843-379-7025.
About the Book and Author:
In A Deeper South: The Beauty, Mystery, and Sorrow of the Southern Road, Pete Candler offers a travel narrative drawn from twenty-five years of road-tripping through the backroads of the American South. Featuring Candler’s own photography, the book taps into the public imagination and the process of both remembering and forgetting that define our collective memory of place. Candler, who belongs to one of Georgia’s most recognizable families, confronts the uncomfortable truths of his own ancestors’ roles in the South’s legacy of white supremacy with a masterful mix of authority and a humbling sense that his own journey of unforgetting and recovering has only just begun.
“A beautifully crafted journey through the past and current South that will interest Southerners and readers curious about the region and its history.”―Library Journal
“A righteous plumbing of suppressed family histories, a vigorous exorcism of the myths and willful ignorance that trouble the land of his birth, A Deeper South blazes a path through the nostalgia thicket for readers who want to make sense of their inheritances. Candler writes with indignation and empathy, showing us a better way to see the South so that we can better love any place we call home.”―John T. Edge, author of The Potlikker Papers and host of TrueSouth
“Part history, part memoir, and part self-discovery, Candler calls on us to face the demons of our past so that we can truly appreciate the region we call home.”―Karen L. Cox, author of Dreaming of Dixie: How the South Was Created in American Popular Culture
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Pete Candler is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Los Angeles Review of Books, Bitter Southerner, Washington Post, and elsewhere. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
