Savoring Beaufort: A Culinary Journey with Tales of Pat Conroy
2026-03-04 11:30 (America/New_York) | 919 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902-5567, United States
Experience the charm of Beaufort as you savor tantalizing bites from local restaurants, including mouthwatering Lowcountry specialties like tomato pie, shrimp and grits, and southern barbecue. Along the way, the Seldons will share personal stories of beloved author Pat Conroy, a revered mentor of Lynn’s, enriching your understanding of the region’s rich literary history.
Itinerary Highlights:
– Start Point: McIntosh Book Shoppe located at 919 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
– Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles of flat walking
– Food Stops Include:
– Lowcountry Produce
– Q on Bay
– Plums
– Lowcountry Cider
Each participant will receive a copy of the Seldons’ book, alongside their insightful commentary on all things Lowcountry and the legacy of Pat Conroy.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore Beaufort’s culinary scene and delve into its storied past. Reserve your spot today for a moveable feast that promises delicious food and memorable stories!

Words Beneath the Witness Tree: A Celebration of Storytelling
2026-03-04 17:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Experience the beauty of poetry at the Beaufort Witness Tree, as we gather to honor the artistic legacy of Pat Conroy.
Join Us for an Evening of Poetry and Reflection!
Experience the beauty of poetry at the Beaufort Witness Tree, as we gather to honor the artistic legacy of Pat Conroy. This special event invites you to partake in readings that celebrate storytelling—an art that Pat cherished deeply
Event Highlights:
– Enjoy poignant poetry readings from Pat’s brother, Tim Conroy, alongside talented local authors including Ellen Malphrus, Brea Parker, Susan River Madison, Jacqelyn Markham, and Quitman Marshall.
– Immerse yourself in the powerful words that pay tribute to Pat’s love for storytelling and the written word
Join us in this heartfelt celebration, and share in the life-affirming power of poetry. Mark your calendar for a memorable evening filled with inspiration and connection!
We look forward to seeing you there!

Conroy's Cadet Chronicles: A Literary Voyage from Beaufort to The Citadel
2026-03-05 10:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Join us for an exclusive bus tour from Beaufort to The Citadel, exploring the storied landmarks that shaped Pat Conroy’s life and writing.
Embark on a Literary Journey!
Join us for an exclusive bus tour from Beaufort to The Citadel, exploring the storied landmarks that shaped the life and writing of Pat Conroy, one of America’s beloved authors.
Tour Highlights:
– Begin your journey at the Daniel Library, where Pat dedicated countless hours during his Evening Study Periods (ESPs).
– Discover hidden gems and landmarks behind the scenes, including the iconic Summerall Chapel, a significant site for Pat’s faith as a cadet.
– Visit Mark Clark Hall, where Pat served as Vice Chairman of the Honor Committee, and experience the Honor Court on the third floor.
– Relive the excitement at McAlister Field House, known for the fiercely competitive basketball games Pat vividly recounted in My Losing Season.
– Explore Stevens Barracks, Pat’s residence for four years and the only barracks at The Citadel that remains standing today.
This tour offers a unique opportunity to connect with Pat Conroy’s legacy and gain insights into his experiences at The Citadel. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey!
PLEASE NOTE: Lunch is not included on this tour, but we have arranged a box lunch option throughHerban Market and Cafe.You can order online by going to the website www.herbanmarketandcafe.com and choose “Order Now”. Once on the online order page, choose the pick up date of March 5th and scroll down to the menu item “Pat Conroy Tour Lunch (March 5th)” for $15.95. Choose a sandwich option and pay online. Your order will be on the bus with your name on it.
If you would like to call in your order or have a problem ordering, please call Herban Market and Cafe at 843/379-5060 and ask for Trish.

Echoes of Daufuskie: A Culinary & Cultural Journey Inspired by Pat Conroy
2026-03-06 10:00 | 81 Calhoun St, Bluffton, SC 29910-7013, United States
Join us for an unforgettable day on Daufuskie Island, inspired by Pat Conroy’s groundbreaking memoir, The Water Is Wide.
Discover the Heart of Daufuskie Island!
Join us for an unforgettable day on Daufuskie Island, inspired by Pat Conroy’s groundbreaking memoir, The Water Is Wide. This immersive six-hour tour offers a unique perspective on the island that profoundly influenced Pat’s writing.
Tour Highlights:
– Depart by boat from Bluffton, enjoying scenic views as you make your way to Daufuskie Island.
– Experience insider stories and rich history from your host, Sallie Ann Robinson—Pat’s former student turned celebrated Gullah chef
—and insights from educator Jim Alberto, who taught at the same school after Pat.
– Enjoy a private guided tour of the island, delving into its cultural significance and the lasting impact of Pat’s teaching.
– Lunch on the island is at your leisure, with dining options available at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company (not included in the ticket price)
This tour provides a rare opportunity to connect with Pat Conroy’s legacy and explore the island that inspired some of his most powerful writing.
ABOUT MAY RIVER EXCURSIONS: Please check in at store (81 Calhoun St. Bluffton, SC 29910) about 15-20 minutes prior to the 10AM depart time. Park behind May River Excursions store in their private parking lot, and they will direct you to the public dock to meet your captain.

Strings of Storytelling: Author Talk & Book Signing with Brendan Slocumb
2026-03-06 17:00 | 711 Bladen St, Beaufort, SC 29902-4968, United States
Step into the captivating world of storytelling with award-winning novelist and bestselling author Brendan Slocumb.
Join Us for an Evening with Brendan Slocumb!
Step into the captivating world of storytelling with award-winning novelist and bestselling author Brendan Slocumb. Known for his compelling novels, including The Violin Conspiracy, Symphony of Secrets, and The Dark Maestro, Brendan will engage attendees in an enlightening discussion about his writing process, inspirations, and the power of music in literature.
About the Author:
Hailing from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Brendan Slocumb is not only a talented author but also a dedicated music educator with over two decades of experience teaching students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he holds a degree in music education with concentrations in Violin and Viola. His debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, was published in 2022 and garnered significant acclaim as a GMA Book Club Pick. Following its success, he released Symphony of Secrets and The Dark Maestro, further establishing his voice in contemporary fiction.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Brendan Slocumb, get your books signed, and immerse yourself in the stories that intertwine music and the human experience.

Monthly Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud with DAYLO
2026-03-07 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.

Paddle & Pen: A Unique Kayak Tour and Creative Writing Adventure
2026-03-07 10:30 | 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909-3915, United States
Join us for an unforgettable experience blending the beauty of nature with the art of storytelling!
Join us for an unforgettable experience blending the beauty of nature with the art of storytelling! In this exciting event, “Paddle & Pen,” you’ll embark on a kayak tour of the breathtaking Port Royal Sound, guided by the talented Katherine Tandy Brown, an esteemed freelance travel writer with over 20 years of experience.
Katherine’s unique teaching style combines her extensive writing knowledge with her passion for the outdoors, making her classes truly inspiring. Throughout this three-hour adventure, you’ll paddle through serene waters, soaking in the natural beauty around you, while practicing creative writing techniques tailored to your surroundings.
Katherine has shared her expertise in memoir writing, travel writing, and creative writing through various programs, including the USCB OLLI Continuing Ed and the Pat Conroy Literary Center. Her favorite classroom has been nature itself, often teaching writing directly on a sandbar in the Beaufort River.
Itinerary:
– Kayak Tour: Experience the calm and beauty of Port Royal Sound.
– Creative Writing Session: Learn to capture the essence of nature in your writing with guided prompts and techniques from Katherine.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore the great outdoors while honing your writing skills in a supportive and engaging environment

Nature Writing: Kayak on the Chechessee and Write about It, with Katherine Tandy Brown
2026-03-07 10:30 - 13:30 | 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC, United States, South Carolina 29909
RSVP Required. Click the orange “Book a Program” button on our website to sign up!
portroyalsoundfoundation.org
We who live in the South Carolina Lowcountry are fortunate to be surrounded by its extraordinary nature – the marsh and its seasons, live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, 180 degrees of ever-changing sky, marsh and shore birds, crabs and dolphins and fish, the bright sunshine that lights this southern world, and of course, water…the ocean and rivers and their tides. In this workshop you’ll kayak on the Chechessee River with guides from the Maritime Center for a morning immersion in Carolina’s nature at its finest.
Then – like Henry David Thoreau on Walden Pond – you’ll take pen to paper and write about any part of the adventure you choose. Anyone at any level of writing, from rank beginner to pretty darn good, can write using a method called writing practice, developed by writing workshop guru Natalie Goldberg and presented in her classic book, Writing Down the Bones. You’ll learn how to get rid of the self-critic so that your thoughts flow freely onto the page. And you’ll leave with a chunk of nature writing and a memory of time well spent.
Dress for a journey on the water, and be sure to bring sunscreen, a water bottle, notebook or journal, and several pens.
Katherine Tandy Brown has explored the world as a freelance travel writer for 20-plus years. She has taught memoir writing, travel writing, writing practice, et al, in the USCB’s OLLI Continuing Ed program, Tech College of the Lowcountry, Pat Conroy Literary Center, Palm Key and Thera Vista Retreat Centers, her downtown Beaufort cottage…and nature writing on a sandbar in the Beaufort River, her favorite classroom so far!

Echoes of the Past: The Beaufort Witness Tree and Reconstruction History
2026-03-07 16:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Discover the rich history of the Beaufort Witness Tree and the Reconstruction Era as Ranger Chris Barr
Join Us for an Engaging History Talk!
Discover the rich history of the Beaufort Witness Tree and the Reconstruction Era as Ranger Chris Barr, the Interpretive Program Manager & Public Information Officer for the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, guides you through this enlightening session.
Itinerary:
– 4:00 PM: Welcome and Introduction
– 4:05 PM: Dive into the fascinating history of the Beaufort Witness Tree, located right across from the Conroy Center.
– 4:30 PM: Explore the surrounding area during the Civil War and its significance in American history.
– 4:50 PM: Q&A session with Ranger Chris Barr
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with history in a captivating setting. We look forward to seeing you there!

Evening of Literary Delights: Open House at the Pat Conroy Literary Center
2026-03-07 17:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Join us for a delightful evening filled with literature, good company, and vibrant discussions.
Join us for a delightful evening filled with literature, good company, and vibrant discussions. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just discovering your love for books, this event is for you! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the literary community.
Event Highlights:
– Guided Tours: Discover the rich history and inspiring stories behind the Pat Conroy Literary Center.
– Tasty Treats: Savor delicious appetizers while relaxing with fellow literary enthusiasts.
– Beverages: Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks to toast to creativity and connection.
– Engaging Conversations: Connect with authors and fellow supporters, share stories, and foster your passion for literature.

March Forth at Penn Center: A Celebration of Nature, Literature, and Gullah
2026-03-08 08:00 | 16 Penn Center Cir E, St Helena, SC 29920, United States
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon at Penn Center as we immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of nature, literature, and Gullah culture
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon at Penn Center as we immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of nature, literature, and Gullah culture, honoring the legacy of the beloved author Pat Conroy.
Event Highlights:
– Nature Walk led by renowned naturalist Jake Zadik.
– Engaging presentations from best-selling authors Rob Edwards and Michael Moore.
– A delightful lunch catered by the talented Events by Debbi Covington, featuring a signature Tarragon Chicken Salad, Chef Salad, Pimento Cheese BLT, Pimento Cheese Sandwich (Vegan Option)
– A fascinating discussion with Gullah chef and author Sallie Ann Robinson, who will share her journey and culinary traditions, drawing inspiration from the teachings and influence of Pat Conroy, whose love for Gullah culture resonates in his works.
Itinerary:
– 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Check-in
Start your day by arriving early and mingling with fellow participants.
– 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Nature Walk with Jake Zadik
Experience the beauty of St. Helena Island while learning about the local ecosystem from a passionate naturalist and cofounder of the South Carolina Partners of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
– 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Lunch
Savor a delicious catered lunch while connecting with other attendees.
– 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Talk by Rob Edwards & Michael Moore
Get inspired by award-winning filmmaker and author Rob Edwards, known for his work on Disney classics, and Michael Moore, who honors his great-great-grandfather, Robert Smalls, in his celebrated children’s book.
– 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: Sallie Ann Robinson
Hear from Sallie Ann Robinson, Gullah chef and culinary historian, as she shares her experiences growing up on Daufuskie Island and highlights the importance of preserving Gullah traditions. Having been guided by the remarkable Pat Conroy, her insights will reflect the deep connections between his literary significance and Gullah culture.
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Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with nature, literature, and the vibrant Gullah culture, all while honoring the legacy of Pat Conroy! Limited spots available—secure your ticket today!

Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Janice Daugharty, Author of A Righteous Wind
2026-03-12 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 presented as a virtual event, live-streamed to our Facebook page, on Thursday, March 12, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is novelist Janice Daugharty, author of A Righteous Wind. 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 virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org.
About Our Featured Author:
Janice Daugharty is the author of 10 published novels and 2 short story collections. She lives in Georgia, on the Echols/Lanier county line, divided by Cow Creek. Her 250 acres she calls Cow Creek Farm.
“Getting into a Janice Daugharty novel can be like moving into the rural Georgia she writes about…. By the time you have to go, you wish you could stay a spell longer.”–Orlando Sentinel
About A Righteous Wind: Kim and Shelton, are left behind. Kim’s husband and young son, along with Shelton’s wife, and millions of others, have vanished without a trace. Is it the weather? Or some other fluke of nature or science. All signs point to the Biblical Rapture, but Kim and Shelton weren’t buying that. They join forces to come up with a reasonable explanation.

An Afternoon with Poet Myra Shapiro, Author of Crossing the Street to Paradis
2026-03-21 14:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon with award-winning poet and memoirist Myra Shapiro, author of Crossing the Street to Paradis, on Saturday, March 21, at 2:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Crossing the Street to Paradis is a glorious triumph. It shines like ‘shook foil’ as the strongest, bravest, most heartbroken and wildly funny of Shapiro’s work yet. To produce poetry of such magnificence in the ninth decade of a life is not only miraculous, it’s outrageous and completely inspiring. This is the most Myra Shapiro yet. And, above all, there is such a comfortable, unapologetic, and loveable human spirit who not only shares her thoughts but dares to shock us with her freedom to Imagine Anything and Everything. She has the radical chutzpah of a great poet!”– Carol Conroy, author of The Beauty Wars
From the award-winning poet and memoirist Myra Shapiro comes a luminous new collection that traverses love and loss, age and vitality, New York streets and Southern roots. Crossing the Street to Paradis is a vibrant tapestry of poems that embrace a life lived deeply—fiercely—and still unfolding.
Through moments as intimate as sipping ginger tea with John Donne or remembering the weight of a daughter’s curls, Shapiro turns the ordinary into the mythic. She writes of marriage and motherhood, pandemics and Passovers, rooftop gardens and subway benches, each line shimmering with wit, resilience, and grace.
In her 90s and still singing, Shapiro speaks to what it means to endure, to remember, to gather stones from Ireland and words from childhood, and to find, in the face of grief and global tumult, the enduring power of poetry. Perfect for fans of Mary Oliver, Sharon Olds, and Billy Collins, this collection is a triumphant meditation on tenderness, resistance, and the joy of still being here.
ABOUT THE POET
Myra Shapiro, born in the Bronx, returned to New York City after forty-five years in Georgia and Tennessee where she married Harold Shapiro, raised two daughters and worked as a teacher and librarian. She holds a BA in American Literature (University of Chattanooga) MA in English (Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury College) and MFA in Writing (Vermont College). She received the Dylan Thomas Poetry Award from The New School and was a finalist for the Robert H. Winner Award from the Poetry Society of America. She has held fellowships at the Banff Arts Center, MacDowell Colony, and Hedgebrook.
Shapiro’s books of poetry are I’ll See You Thursday, 12 Floors Above the Earth, When the World Walks Toward You, and her memoir, Four Sublets: Becoming a Poet in New York. Her poems have appeared in many periodicals and anthologies, and twice, in Best American Poetry. She serves on the Board of Directors of Poets House and teaches poetry workshops for the International Women’s Writing Guild.

An Evening With Margaret Seidler, Author of Payne-Ful Business, Charleston's Journey to Truth
2026-03-26 17:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with historical novelist Margaret Seidler, author of Payne-Ful Business, Charleston’s Journey to Truth, on Thursday, March 26, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
“While I can’t change the past, I can change what people learn about it and what they do about it today.”
In 2018, at age 65, DNA testing revealed cousins of African descent; ensuing genealogical research uncovered a Charleston family history that shook Margaret to the core. She hails from nearly 100 years of slave traders in the Transatlantic and Domestic Slave Trades. With a professional background in conflict resolution, she faced only one choice, share the truth. This inspired action to bridge today’s racial divide through storytelling and art. “Payne-ful” Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth, is a book collaboration with another SC native, African American artist John W. Jones, who brings these historic newspaper advertisements to life revealing the humanity of the enslaved offered for sale by my ancestor, William Payne.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Seidler is a retired Organization Development consultant and master trainer. Her practice focused on creating higher performance in both organization and community systems. Her interest in helping other professionals become more effective leaders began in the early 1990s, when she recognized a dire need to improve her own leadership skills. Her areas of expertise include managing complex challenges and change, emotional intelligence, teambuilding, conflict resolution and interpersonal communication.
Since returning to her hometown of Charleston and establishing her consulting practice in 2001, Margaret published numerous articles. In 2008, her leadership book, Power Surge, was published by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Press of Amherst, MA.
A case study of her work in strengthening citizen/police relationships in response to the Mother Emanuel AME Church tragedy was published in 2017 in The Oxford Handbook of Organizational Paradox, Oxford University Press, UK. In 2022, her broader work with the city of Charleston was published in Both/AND Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, Harvard Business Review Press, MA.
Margaret’s community service included the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Board, as well as appointment by the South Carolina Governor to the Charleston International Airport Board.
Her education includes a BA in Psychology and Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina, as well as graduate course work in Organization Development at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis. In 2009, Margaret became one of only eighteen certified Polarity Management™ Masters in North America. She has served as adjunct faculty in Executive Education at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business, the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management.
Margaret is one of 47 contributors in Ukweli: Search for Healing Truth, South Carolina Writers and Poets explore American Racism, Evening Post Books, 2022.
Her book, “Payne-ful” Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth, was released in March 2024, has sold 5000 copies, won two national book awards as well as the South Carolina Governor’s Award in the Humanities.
In JAN 2026, Margaret discovered a Runaway newspaper ad for 16-year-old, Molly. She and artist Jones are committed to sharing this horrific story through his stunning art.

Author Event With Marissa McFarland and Kristen Ness
2026-04-02 17:00 - 18:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Thursday April 2 – 5:30-6:30 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
ABOUT THE BOOK- WHEN GOODBYES BEGIN:
Sometimes the life you’re meant to live comes together after everything falls apart. For years, Anna Capozzi followed the rules. She put family and career before love and dreams and never missed a Sunday dinner with her demanding Italian parents and her brother, Frank. When she shocks herself by walking off the job and away from her nursing career, Anna’s life falls apart…which sets the real Anna free to come together, as she starts her own business and meets the man of her dreams.
But before she can celebrate her new life, her father’s growing forgetfulness leads to a devastating diagnosis. Once again, Anna’s dreams are put on hold to put the family first, while Frank faces a turning point in a serious relationship complicated by a hidden past.
When a long-buried family secret comes to light, Anna and Frank begin to question everything they thought they knew about their parents, their roots, and themselves.
Bound by love, burdened by secrets, and shaped by tradition, Anna must find the strength to let go of the life she thought she wanted and embrace the one she’s meant to live.
When Goodbyes Begin is a heartfelt, multi-generational story about identity, sacrifice, and coming home.
About the Author:
MARISSA McFARLAND (neé Campanella) is the author of her debut novel, WHEN GOOBYES BEGIN. Her short story, New in Town, was featured in the online magazine, Pawners Papers.
Born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania in an Italian American household, she now resides in Clemson, South Carolina with her husband and two boys.
When Marissa isn’t writing, she can be found chauffeuring her sons to soccer practices, reading audition lines with her youngest son, an actor, taste testing her older son’s baked goods for his baking business, or cheering on her favorite Philly sports teams.
Marissa began writing her first novel as a form of therapy while her family struggled through her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. As the disease progressed, Marissa knew she could reach other readers who have had similar experiences.
She is currently working on another novel, one that will bring laughter to her readers, especially the moms out there.
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KRISTEN NESS- An author herself (At Loggerheads, 2023), Kristen Ness will be in conversation with our featured author Marissa. Kirsten. Writing, real estate, politics, and even publishing run in her blood as the daughter of an English teacher and a land developer, and the great-granddaughter of the 14th Governor of North Dakota whose family owned and published The Bismarck Tribune. She has a BA in English from Duke University and a JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Kristen lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband, their two children, two guinea pigs, and a cat.

Open Mic Night
2026-04-09 18:00 - 19:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Yes,YOU can share your writing at Open Mic Night! Whether you are published or not, whether you’ve written a novel, poem, short story or something else of interest we want to hear YOU!It’s easy, and great exposure and practice.
If you’re interested in reading as part of Open Mic night? Just email ginger@patconroyliterarycenter.org and you’ll be added to the list.
The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday, April 9 from 6-7:30PM. Open Mic this month will feature Jackie Markham, and will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres.
About Our Featured Writer
Jacquelyn Markham has loved poetry since wandering through the meadow along a mint-lined brook as a child in rural Michigan. She has written poetry nearly as long, so as a freshman in college, she decided to make a career of it. After earning her bachelor’s degree in English, she earned a master’s and a doctorate in English and Creative Writing from Florida State University. Author of two chapbooks and a personal mythology, Peering Into the Iris: An Ancestral Journey, she has published nationally and internationally in literary journals, magazines, and anthologies, including Archive: South Carolina Poetry Since 2005, Adrienne Rich: A Tribute Anthology, Anthology of Appalachian Writers, Lullwater Review, Hawaii Pacific Review, The High Window, Woman and Earth, among others. Dr. Markham enjoyed a rich academic career from which she retired as a full professor. She now mentors poets and writers, living and writing near the coast of South Carolina.

An Afternoon with Joy Corley
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an outside event with childrens book author Joy Corley, and featuring the star of the book-Percy!. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Percy Does Yoga… Not!
Percy is an 80 pound pit bull who knows NOTHING about personal space. His goal on any given day is to lay on you, beside you and to be as close to you as possible, regardless of how uncomfortable you may be! This is a true story of Percy coming to understand “me vs we” time and how we can learn to give each other space and grace at the same time.
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 5 other rescues. Joy also enjoys reading, being a volunteer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program and Beaufort County County Animal Services

SCAA Award Presentation
2026-04-17 11:00 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Founded in 1986, the South Carolina Academy of Authors serves as the state’s literary hall of fame, and 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the academy. Pat Conroy was among the first inductee.
The first inductees did not receive any commemoration, but since then each honoree gets an engraved crystal book. the SCAA board voted to award the Pat Conroy Literary Center the award in appreciation of what would have been Pat’s nearly forty years ago.
Please join us, along with several SCAA Board of Governors, for this special presentation.

Author Event with Robert Gwaltney and Bren Mcclain
2026-04-23 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 novelists Robert Gwaltney and Bren McClain, on Thursday, April 23, at 5:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ROBERT GWALTNEY
Robert Gwaltney is the author of Sing Down the Moon (Mercer University Press, 2026) and The Cicada Tree (Moonshine Cove Publishing, 2022), works of Southern literary fiction that explore inheritance, identity, and the fragile boundary between the living and the dead. Rooted in the landscapes and histories of the American South, his writing blends the gothic tradition with elements of magical realism to illuminate the forces that shape who we become.
Raised in Cairo, Georgia, alongside three younger brothers in the rash-inducing subtropical heat of the region, Gwaltney is a lifelong resident of the South — a circumstance that has left an indelible mark on his voice as a writer. Sense of place remains central to his work, where memory, myth, and longing intertwine.
By day, he serves as Vice President of Easterseals North Georgia, championing early childhood literacy and strengthening families at critical stages of development. In all the hours between, he writes.
He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his partner.
BREN McCLAIN
I got set for life at the age of three. My two loves – writing and animals – were born.
My daddy tells me I can’t possibly remember. But I do. The pickup truck had wooden railings around the back, and it came around the side of our house. I was standing by our kitchen table, watching out the window. Inside those railings was our milk cow. I called her Mama Red. And she was leaving.
I had no idea back then that what I had witnessed and felt that day with that milk cow would shape me as a writer.
Fast forward through getting a BA in English from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and teaching high school English for one year. Writing drew me again, but this time as a journalist, writing for my hometown newspaper, The Anderson Daily Mail; working as a radio reporter, and as a television reporter and anchor at various stations across the Southeast. But then I switched to corporate America, where I became desperate to be creative and picked up a legal pad – oh yes, I remember the date, September 18, 1988 – and began writing a short story called “Desperation Dance.”
I’ll cover a lot of ground fast here: I wrote two failed novels, got a literary agent, lost a literary agent. But, when I returned to what was set in motion in a three-year-old Anderson, South Carolina, farm girl – writing and animals – my literary career changed, and my novel, One Good Mama Bone, was born. I even went so far as to write about a mama cow. I named her Mama Red. And I love her. My heart first opened with that milk cow.
Things I wanted to say but couldn’t get worked in:
-​2017 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction
-2019 Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature
-Long-listed for the Southern Book Prize, Southeastern Independent Booksellers Association
-A 2017 Great Group Reads selection by the Women’s National Book Association
-Named top book of 2017 by Lit Picks
-A Southern Independent Booksellers Association Okra Pick
Finalist for The Crook’s Corner Book Prize for a debut novel set in the American South
-Named Pulpwood Queen Book of the Year 2017
-An excerpt from One Good Mama Bone was named a 2012 Finalist for the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Award for a
Novel-in-Progress.
-South Carolina Arts Commission awarded me the Fiction Fellowship in 2005.
I’m a two-time winner of the South Carolina Fiction Project (2003 and 2007).
I grew up on a seventy-two acre beef cattle and grain farm in Anderson, South Carolina.
I have a twin, and, to this day, we’re known as “the McClain twins.” Which is fine by me.
I’m at work on my next novel, Took, which features another farm animal, chickens. Happy to say it has won the 2016 William Faulkner-William Wisdom prize for Novel-in-Progress.

An Afternoon with Author Greg Howard
2026-04-25 14:00 - 15:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon with Greg Howard, young adult author of several books including The Whispers, on Saturday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m., at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Greg Howard was born and raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry where his love of stories blossomed at a young age. Originally set on becoming a songwriter, Greg followed that dream to Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent years producing the music of others before eventually returning to his childhood passion of writing stories. Greg writes about LGBTQ characters and issues as his focus is writing the kind of books he wishes he’d had access to as a gay kid growing up in the South. He currently resides in Nashville with his three rescued fur babies–Molly, Toby, and Riley.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A middle grade debut that’s a heartrending coming-of-age tale, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Counting By 7s.
Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the whispers, magical fairies that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his 8th grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home. She disappeared a few months ago, and Riley is determined to crack the case. He even meets with a detective, Frank, to go over his witness statement time and time again.
Frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation, Riley decides to take matters into his own hands. So he goes on a camping trip with his friend Gary to find the whispers and ask them to bring his mom back home. But Riley doesn’t realize the trip will shake the foundation of everything that he believes in forever.

Author Event with Marybeth Whalen
2026-05-07 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 author Marybeth Whalen in conversation with Cassandra King, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort) on May 7 from 5-6:30. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of Every Moment Since and 9 previous novels. Marybeth received a BA in English with a concentration in Writing and Editing from NC State University a long time ago and has been writing ever since. She is the co-founder of The Book Tide, an online community of readers where “a rising tide raises all books.” Marybeth and her husband Curt are the parents of six kids who are now all in various stages of adulting. A native of Charlotte, NC, Marybeth now calls Sunset Beach, NC home.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A story about finding hope in the face of hardship and connection in the face of crisis, Handle with Care is a novel for our time.
“Rich with complex characters, a tightly woven plot and natural suspense.” –Belle Burden, author of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage
Three women walk into a post office. This is no joke–it’s the spark that ignites a life-altering crisis.
On a quiet spring afternoon, an ordinary small-town post office becomes ground zero for a domestic dispute. A husband draws a weapon and seals the doors, holding four women captive: his frightened wife, a young woman searching for meaning amid uncertainty, a mother on the brink of letting go as her only daughter graduates, and an elderly woman concealing a secret that could shatter everything she knows.
Outside, the negotiator works to keep a fragile peace, forced to confront her own issues as every word becomes a lifeline.
Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. As minutes become hours in this daylong siege, these strangers forge lasting bonds. Handle with Care shines a light on hope found even in the darkest moments, and illuminates how even strangers, thrown together by chance and hardship, have the power to change each other’s lives.
This heartwarming women’s fiction novel is laced with depth and humor–it’s perfect for book clubs. Discussion questions are included to prompt lively conversations.

Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring William Walsh, Author of Haircuts for the Dead
2026-05-14 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 presented as a virtual event, live-streamed to our Facebook page, on Thursday, May 14, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is novelist William Walsh, author of Haircuts for the 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 virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org.
About Our Featured Author:
William Walsh is the author of ten books and is the editor of the James Dickey Review. He teaches at Reinhardt University and directs the undergraduate creative writing program, as well as the low-residency MFA program. Walsh lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Haircuts for the Dead is his second novel.
“Those fortunate enough to have read William Walsh’s first novel, LAKEWOOD, know he is a vital voice in contemporary fiction. Now with HAIRCUTS FOR THE DEAD we can welcome a story addressing the most important concerns of our time: race, choice in sexual identity, the burdens of the past, and challenges to faith. Walsh portrays the elusive dynamics within families in this era of rapid change, as a story-within-a-story illuminates each. You will be moved by this novel of the search for a home and love, to be found in unexpected places.” –Robert Morgan, author of GAP CREEK
“In Hannah Gardner’s search for both a place and a love that feel like home, William Walsh has given us a rollicking tale of a charming heroine healing an injured heart and conquering a small part of a great big world.” –Jessica Handler, author of THE MAGNETIC GIRL

An Evening with Sallie Ann Robinson
2026-05-22 17:00 - 18:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Friday May 22 – 5:30-6:30 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
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sallie Ann Robinson was born on Daufuskie Island before natives began selling their ancestral land to private corporations and individuals in the 1960s and began moving inland While she is an author in her own right, Robinson’s literary debut actually came as the character named Ethel in Pat Conroy’s classic memoir, The Water Is Wide.
She is the author of Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way: Smokin’ Joe Butter Beans, Ol’ ’Fuskie Fried Crab Rice, Sticky-Bush Blackberry Dumpling, and Other Sea Island Favorites and Cooking the Gullah Way, Morning, Noon, and Night and coauthor of Daufuskie Island.
ABOUT THE EVENING:
Sallie Ann will regale attendees with stories of her time on Daufuskie and her time with Pat Conroy. In addition, her latest project is to help her and her family save their historical Gullah house on Daufuskie Island. The building was built around the 1930’s and is in need of restoration. This house and others are a part of the island history. Sallie, her grandmother, mother and many other were born in this house.

An Author Event with Brynn Barineau
2026-05-30 14:00 - 15:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Set against Henry Ford’s audacious—and ultimately disastrous—attempt to industrialize the Amazon, Jungle of Ashes is a sweeping novel of ambition, exploitation, and hope. Centered on Joanna Rogge, the daughter of an American manager, and Rafael Caetano, a Brazilian mechanic, the story unfolds within Fordlandia, the real-life rubber plantation where cultural imposition, dangerous labor conditions, and political upheaval collide.
Through the eyes of two star-crossed lovers, the novel reveals the human cost of unchecked power and the resilience found in connection across languages, cultures, and continents. Vividly researched and deeply empathetic, Jungle of Ashes will resonate with readers of immersive historical fiction, cross-cultural narratives, and character-driven epics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
From Atlanta to Washington DC to Rio de Janeiro to Vitoria, Brazil and finally back to Atlanta in June 2020. (Yes. 2020.) In high school, I studied French. In college, Arabic. In grad school, I studied political campaigns in India. I considered a lot of life possibilities but living in Brazil, anywhere in South America, was never one of them. Then I met and married the smartest man I’ve ever known, who happened to be from Rio de Janeiro.
After four years in Rio, we moved to Vitoria. After my daughter was born in 2011, I tried to find picture books in English about Brazil for my little Brazilian-American and came up with almost nothing. I expanded my search to chapter books, young adult and with growing disbelief I looked for any fiction book with a connection to Brazil.
My research made one thing clear. In the United States, it’s easier to find a book set in outer space than in Brazil.
Eventually I had a radical idea. Maybe I could write the books I wanted to find.
After nine years of writing, three shelved novels, around 200 query letters, two years out on submission to editors, my first novel, Jaguars and Other Game, debuted in November, 2022. My second novel, Jungle of Ashes will launch with History Through Fiction on May 19, 2026 along with the re-release of Jaguars and Other Game.

Mary Kay Andrews in conversation with Cassandra King
2026-06-04 11:00 - 13:30 | Rotary Community Center at Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton
Mary Kay Andrews shares her new book, Road Trip, in conversation with Cassandra King.
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 30 novels (including Road Trip; Holiday Hideaway; Summers at the Saint; Bright Lights, Big Christmas; The Homewreckers; The Santa Suit; The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
CASSANDRA KING is an award-winning author of five books of fiction and two nonfiction works.

An Afternoon with Tommy Hays in conversation with Mindy Friddle
2026-06-07 14:00 - 15:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Sunday June 7, 2-3:30 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
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tommy Hays is an acclaimed Southern writer, whose fiction grows out of his emotional connections to places he’s lived and known—Greenville, South Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; and Atlanta. His novels are The Pleasure Was Mine (St. Martin’s Press 2005), In the Family Way (Random House, 1999), Sam’s Crossing (Atheneum 1992), and YA novel What I Came to Tell You (Egmont, USA 2013). He has published stories, profiles and book reviews in magazines, newspapers and literary journals such as Redbook, Our State, The Atlanta Constitution, The Charlotte Observer, Smoky Mountain Living, Still: The Journal, The Chattahoochee Review, and storySouth.
The winner of many literary awards, he is founder and formerExecutive Director of the Great Smokies Writing Program, UNC Asheville’s community writing program as well as Lecturer Emeritus in the Master of Liberal Arts program.
ABOUT THE BOOK-The Marriage Bed:
A freak accident comes on the heels of a startling revelation—laying bare the foundation of a marriage, and a husband is left to grapple with the aftermath.
A poetry professor at a small college in Asheville, NC, Asa Flowers, comes home one stormy evening to find his wife Betsy inexplicably distraught. As the evening goes on, the couple end up in a heated argument that sends Asa to sleep out in their garage apartment for the first time intwenty-five years of marriage. The next morning, he wakes to blue sky and an altered world.
Unfolding over a few tense weeks and told from multiple points of view, this novel explores how a tragedy can assume as many shapes as the people it touches. Asa finds himself reckoning with torn feelings about his marriage and confusion about how to proceed in his complicated relationships with his adult children. As he gradually absorbs revelations—so much he didn’t know or understand during his long marriage—he finds himself drawn uneasily toward a new world, one in which he must shed much of his old identity if he is to survive and, more important, rededicate himself to being a father.
ABOUT MINDY FRIDDLE:
Mindy Friddle’s first novel, The Garden Angel, was selected for Barnes and Noble’s Discover Great New Writers program. Secret Keepers, her second novel, won the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction. Regal House published Mindy’s third novel, Her Best Self, in 2024. Mindy’s short fiction has appeared in Hard to Find: An Anthology of New Southern Gothic, storySouth, Orca, LitMag, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Southern Humanities Review, and many other journals. Mindy holds an MFA in fiction from Warren Wilson. She lives on Edisto Island, South Carolina.

2026 Camp Conroy Summer Camp-Registration Open!
2026-06-08 09:15 - 2026-06-12 14:45 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
9th Annual Camp Conroy for Young Writers and Artists!
Camp Conroy will continue to appreciate special human ability and the joy of creating art while examining how technology can help us. Campers will read, write, and create art independently and collaboratively under the guidance of experienced instructors and artists.
To register, use this Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-conroy-2026-day-camp-for-young-writers-artists-tickets-1986852598607?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Choose the right camp for your child:
June 8-12 is for 8-11 year olds
June 22-26 for 12-14 year olds
Space is limited to 20 campers (10 each week)
Hosted by the non-profit Pat Conroy Literary Center and held at the Center’s campus at 601 Bladen Street in Beaufort.
This years’ camp theme is AI-Artful Intelligence, Creativity and Technology. We will discover how AI can sometimes enhance (not replace!) human creativity by building a book together-creating both individually and collaboratively. The campers will write, design, critique, edit all in preparation for publication of a book.
Campers will be guided through their creative endeavors by Camp Conroy’s talented counselors, 3 full-time adult instructors, and special guests presenters and instructors. Campers will each receive a copy of the camp anthology on publication after the camp concludes.
Adult instructors include:
Miho Kinnas, a Japanese poet/writer residing on Hilton Head. She is the author of three poetry collections and one book (about to be two books). This is her 9thyear as an instructor at Camp Conroy.
Deidre Garr Johns, a writer and 20-year veteran teacher also residing on Hilton Head, and is a published author of poetry and children’s fiction This is her second year as an instructor at Camp Conroy.
Thomas ‘TJ’ Belasco, taught English literature and composition for 34 years and lives in Beaufort. TJ, a newly-appointed board member of the Conroy Literary Center, is also a published author
Camp Conroy invites diversity and inclusivity among our campers with respect to race, religion, ability and all others aspects of identity. Scholarships are available to assist campers who might not otherwise be able to take part in this experience.
The $250 registration fee includes one week of instruction, camp activities and healthy daily snacks. (This is a day camp; overnight lodging and meals are not included.
Applying for a Scholarship: A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available. To apply, interested students should submit a sample of their work (story, essay, poem, artwork or photography) with a brief letter about their interest in the Camp Conroy experience, to the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Attention: Camp Conroy, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort SC 29902. Please specify the age of the camper. Recipients will be contacted in early June.
Sponsorships: WE welcome your tax-deductible donations to the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center to sponsor a camper, camp counselor, instructor or guest presenters.
Questions: Email us at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org

Open Mic Night-Featuring Melissa Whiteford St. Clair
2026-06-11 18:00 - 19:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Share your writing at Open Mic Night! Whether you are published or not, whether you’ve written a novel, poem, short story or something else of interest we want to hear YOU! It’s easy, and great exposure and practice.
If you’re interested in reading as part of Open Mic night? Just email ginger@patconroyliterarycenter.org and you’ll be added to the list
Open Mic this month will feature Melissa Whiteford St. Clair, and her books will be available for sale and signing.
We will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres..
About Our Featured Writer
Founder of White Girl Advocacy, Melissa Whiteford St. Clair is a poet and social justice advocate. Melissa has published three books of poetry “Home Work A Collection of Poems Sparked by One White Woman’s Journey on the Matter of Race,” “Heart Work A Heart-Centered Collection of Poems,” and “Origins + Crossroads Poems Traversing Time with the Intrepid Harriet Tubman,” and “White Girl Homework,” a self-guided workbook. She is also a contributing poet to the “South Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology” 2023-25, and “Finding Common Ground Leaning In To Listen.” She was named the “Rise and Shine: What America Means To Me” State Winner by the South Carolina Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with the entry of a photo and accompanying poem. Her poem, “Harriet’s Feat to Freedom” was included in the Hilton Head Island Poetry Trail (Mitchelville, November 2024 to May 2025). She was part of the Piccolo Spoleto Sundown Poetry Series (2025). Melissa’s poem, “There’s No Bull in Back Issues of Bon Appetit” was selected for The Petrigru Review Fall 2025.

Author Event with Kerry Peresta
2026-06-18 17:00 - 18:30 | 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort, SC, United States, South Carolina 29902
Thursday June 18 – 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
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kerry Peresta is a former advertising account executive and copywriter turned thriller whisperer, whose sharp wit and Southern roots fuel gripping tales of suspense. After decades of crafting punchy headlines and captivating campaigns, she traded the corporate world for full time writing and the salty air of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She is the author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series, a five-book collection, and standalone thriller Back Before Dawn, all published by Level Best Books. Creator of the weekly humor column “The Lighter Side,” 2009-2011, Capital Journal, Pierre, SD; she’s also written articles for Local Life Magazine, Lady Lowcountry Magazine, Bluffton Breeze, and Island Events Magazine; contributed a short story for the anthology Rock, Roll & Ruin, published by Down & Out Books; and co-created the mystery podcast “Guns, Knives & Lipstick.” She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Island Writers Network, South Carolina Writers Association, and Int’l Thriller Writers. Discover more at kerryperesta.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In The Shaking, book five of Kerry Peresta’s suspense series, Olivia Callahan faces her most perilous case yet. Years after surviving a traumatic brain injury that reshaped her identity, Olivia is now a seasoned P.I. navigating the shadows of her past and the dangers of her present. When a seemingly routine investigation spirals into a web of deceit, betrayal, and a chilling conspiracy tied to her own history, Olivia must confront forces that threaten to unravel everything she’s fought to rebuild. As secrets surface and the stakes escalate, Olivia’s courage and cunning are pushed to the limit in a race against time to uncover the truth before it destroys her.

Author Event with Paul Attaway
2026-07-30 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 author Paul Attaway at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St., Beaufort) on July 30 from 5-6:30. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paul was born and raised in the Atlanta, Georgia area, met his wife, Lyn, in college at Georgetown University and they now live in Charleston, South Carolina. After college graduation in 1985, Paul received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1988. Paul and Lyn then married and settled in Phoenix, AZ where they raised three children.
Paul was a lawyer for two years before moving into the business world, and over the next thirty years, Paul started several successful businesses before retiring from this life and moving to Charleston, South Carolina.
When Paul and Lyn aren’t spending time together or being grandparents, Paul is working on his next book, Substack post, or guiding walking history tours around Charleston. Learn more about Paul, upcoming appearances, and his next novel at www.paulattaway.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Blood Rivalry, an Atkins Family Low Country Saga, is Paul
Attaway’s third book in a series of interlocking stories surrounding
the lives of two brothers, Eli and Walker Atkins, living in
Charleston, South Carolina.
In Blood Rivalry, the year is 1994 and Eli and Walker, married,
pursuing careers and raising families, find themselves entangled
with the ruthless and powerful Dunsmore family, a family that will
stop at nothing to put their son, the governor of South Carolina, in the White House. Either Walker and Eli stop them, or they’ll be
crushed by the Dunsmore’s quest.
