BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Pat Conroy Literary Center - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Pat Conroy Literary Center REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260425T153000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260312T194509Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164507Z UID:10001348-1777125600-1777131000@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:An Afternoon with Author Greg Howard DESCRIPTION: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. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR:\nGreg 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. \nABOUT THE BOOK:\nA middle grade debut that’s a heartrending coming-of-age tale\, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Counting By 7s. \nEleven-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. \nFrustrated 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-afternoon-with-author-greg-howard/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24200_image_653811543_1360344796126991_4386853298247240124_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260312T194510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001349-1776963600-1776969000@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Author Event with Robert Gwaltney and Bren Mcclain DESCRIPTION: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. \nABOUT THE AUTHORS \nROBERT GWALTNEY\nRobert 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. \nRaised 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. \nBy 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. \nHe lives in Atlanta\, Georgia\, with his partner. \nBREN McCLAIN\nI got set for life at the age of three. My two loves – writing and animals – were born. \nMy 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. \nI had no idea back then that what I had witnessed and felt that day with that milk cow would shape me as a writer. \nFast 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.” \nI’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. \n Things I wanted to say but couldn’t get worked in:\n-​2017 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction\n-2019 Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature\n-Long-listed for the Southern Book Prize\, Southeastern Independent Booksellers Association\n-A 2017 Great Group Reads selection by the Women’s National Book Association\n-Named top book of 2017 by Lit Picks\n-A Southern Independent Booksellers Association Okra Pick\nFinalist for The Crook’s Corner Book Prize for a debut novel set in the American South\n-Named Pulpwood Queen Book of the Year 2017\n-An excerpt from One Good Mama Bone was named a 2012 Finalist for the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Award for a\nNovel-in-Progress.\n-South Carolina Arts Commission awarded me the Fiction Fellowship in 2005. \nI’m a two-time winner of the South Carolina Fiction Project (2003 and 2007). \nI grew up on a seventy-two acre beef cattle and grain farm in Anderson\, South Carolina. \nI have a twin\, and\, to this day\, we’re known as “the McClain twins.” Which is fine by me. \nI’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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/author-event-with-robert-gwaltney-and-bren-mcclain/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24202_image_651910140_1356367813191356_8825439042332436059_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T110000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260409T134514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001361-1776423600-1776423600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:SCAA Award Presentation DESCRIPTION: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.\nThe 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.\nPlease join us\, along with several SCAA Board of Governors\, for this special presentation. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/scaa-award-presentation/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/25121_image_668389425_1379638360864301_6285493984520829687_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T160000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260313T144507Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001350-1775916000-1775923200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:An Afternoon with Joy Corley DESCRIPTION: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. \nABOUT THE BOOK:\nPercy Does Yoga… Not!\nPercy 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. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR:\nJoy 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. \nJoy 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. \nAlways 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 URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-afternoon-with-joy-corley/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24225_image_650484643_1357602053067932_1913375785224326142_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260326T194515Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001354-1775757600-1775763000@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Open Mic Night DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you’re interested in reading as part of Open Mic night? Just email ginger@patconroyliterarycenter.org and you’ll be added to the list. \nThe 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. \nAbout Our Featured Writer\nJacquelyn 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24754_image_660284788_1371567218338082_212704937308439561_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260402T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260402T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260312T144506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001347-1775149200-1775154600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Author Event With Marissa McFarland and Kristen Ness DESCRIPTION:Thursday April 2 – 5:30-6:30 PM EDT\nPrice: Free\nRegistration: Seating is limited; please call to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025.\nVenue: Pat Conroy Literary Center | 601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort \nABOUT THE BOOK- WHEN GOODBYES BEGIN:\nSometimes 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. \nBut 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. \nWhen 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. \nBound 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. \nWhen Goodbyes Begin is a heartfelt\, multi-generational story about identity\, sacrifice\, and coming home. \nAbout the Author: \nMARISSA 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. \nBorn and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania in an Italian American household\, she now resides in Clemson\, South Carolina with her husband and two boys. \nWhen 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. \nMarissa 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. \nShe is currently working on another novel\, one that will bring laughter to her readers\, especially the moms out there.\n—\nKRISTEN 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/author-event-with-marissa-mcfarland-and-kristen-ness/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24192_image_658862217_1371563361671801_8017216389429814217_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260326T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260326T170000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154508Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001187-1774544400-1774544400@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:An Evening With Margaret Seidler\, Author of Payne-Ful Business\, Charleston's Journey to Truth DESCRIPTION: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. \nABOUT THE NOVEL\n“While I can’t change the past\, I can change what people learn about it and what they do about it today.” \nIn 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. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nMargaret 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.\nSince 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.\nA 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.\nMargaret’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.\nHer 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.\nMargaret is one of 47 contributors in Ukweli: Search for Healing Truth\, South Carolina Writers and Poets explore American Racism\, Evening Post Books\, 2022.\nHer 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. \nIn 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-margaret-seidler-author-of-painful-business-charlestons-journey-to-truth/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23466_image_651228164_1357062269788577_5528029621802038902_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260321T140000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20251225T140514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001182-1774101600-1774101600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:An Afternoon with Poet Myra Shapiro\, Author of Crossing the Street to Paradis DESCRIPTION: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. \nABOUT THE BOOK\n“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 \nFrom 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. \nThrough 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. \nIn 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. \nABOUT THE POET\nMyra 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. \nShapiro’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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-afternoon-with-poet-myra-shapiro-author-of-crossing-the-street-to-paradis/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23348_image_605290196_1293197569508381_3835950958163941072_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20251214T140508Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001177-1773338400-1773343800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Janice Daugharty\, Author of A Righteous Wind DESCRIPTION: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. \nInterested in reading as part of virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author:\nJanice 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. \n“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 \nAbout 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-janice-daugharty-author-of-a-righteous-wind/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23316_image_598354945_1285171620310976_1107222742326303665_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T170000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001189-1772902800-1772902800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Evening of Literary Delights: Open House at the Pat Conroy Literary Center DESCRIPTION:Join us for a delightful evening filled with literature\, good company\, and vibrant discussions. \nJoin 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. \nEvent Highlights:\n– Guided Tours: Discover the rich history and inspiring stories behind the Pat Conroy Literary Center.\n– Tasty Treats: Savor delicious appetizers while relaxing with fellow literary enthusiasts.\n– Beverages: Enjoy complimentary beer\, wine\, and soft drinks to toast to creativity and connection.\n– Engaging Conversations: Connect with authors and fellow supporters\, share stories\, and foster your passion for literature. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/evening-of-literary-delights-open-house-at-the-pat-conroy-literary-center/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23474_image_635072062_1337446331750171_8143687936308895516_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T160000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164508Z UID:10001190-1772899200-1772899200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Echoes of the Past: The Beaufort Witness Tree and Reconstruction History DESCRIPTION:Discover the rich history of the Beaufort Witness Tree and the Reconstruction Era as Ranger Chris Barr \nJoin Us for an Engaging History Talk! \nDiscover 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. \nItinerary:\n– 4:00 PM: Welcome and Introduction\n– 4:05 PM: Dive into the fascinating history of the Beaufort Witness Tree\, located right across from the Conroy Center.\n– 4:30 PM: Explore the surrounding area during the Civil War and its significance in American history.\n– 4:50 PM: Q&A session with Ranger Chris Barr \nDon’t miss this opportunity to connect with history in a captivating setting. We look forward to seeing you there! URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/echoes-of-the-past-the-beaufort-witness-tree-and-reconstruction-history/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23476_image_635588441_1337445345083603_5094282546746113527_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T103000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154513Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164509Z UID:10001196-1772706600-1772706600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Conroy's Cadet Chronicles: A Literary Voyage from Beaufort to The Citadel DESCRIPTION:Join us for an exclusive bus tour from Beaufort to The Citadel\, exploring the storied landmarks that shaped Pat Conroy’s life and writing. \nEmbark on a Literary Journey!\nJoin 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. \nTour Highlights:\n– Begin your journey at the Daniel Library\, where Pat dedicated countless hours during his Evening Study Periods (ESPs). \n– Discover hidden gems and landmarks behind the scenes\, including the iconic Summerall Chapel\, a significant site for Pat’s faith as a cadet. \n– Visit Mark Clark Hall\, where Pat served as Vice Chairman of the Honor Committee\, and experience the Honor Court on the third floor. \n– Relive the excitement at McAlister Field House\, known for the fiercely competitive basketball games Pat vividly recounted in My Losing Season. \n– Explore Stevens Barracks\, Pat’s residence for four years and the only barracks at The Citadel that remains standing today. \nThis 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! \nPLEASE 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. \nIf 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. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/conroys-cadet-chronicles-a-literary-voyage-from-beaufort-to-the-citadel/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23490_image_634708411_1337440425084095_7666714214311788558_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T170000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164509Z UID:10001197-1772643600-1772643600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Words Beneath the Witness Tree: A Celebration of Storytelling DESCRIPTION:Experience the beauty of poetry at the Beaufort Witness Tree\, as we gather to honor the artistic legacy of Pat Conroy.\nJoin Us for an Evening of Poetry and Reflection!\nExperience 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\nEvent Highlights:\n– 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.\n– Immerse yourself in the powerful words that pay tribute to Pat’s love for storytelling and the written word\nJoin 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!\nWe look forward to seeing you there! URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/words-beneath-the-witness-tree-a-celebration-of-storytelling/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23492_image_634691525_1337438308417640_7897348624449537297_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260302T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260308T153000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260401T204510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164509Z UID:10001360-1772460000-1772983800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Tenth Annual March Forth DESCRIPTION:Save the Dates! \nCommemorating the anniversary of Pat Conroy’s passing on March 4\, 2016\, by engaging with major themes of his writing and teaching life\, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center’s tenth annual March Forth will be a week long series of educational programs and experiences\, spanning Monday\, March 2\, to Sunday\, March 8–including events in Beaufort\, Bluffton\, Charleston\, Daufuskie Island\, Port Royal\, and St. Helena Island. \nDetails and registration information will be announced in mid January: https://marchforth2026.eventbrite.com \n~ SCHEDULED TO APPEAR “~\nComing Soon \n~EVENTS SCHEDULE~\nComing Soon URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/tenth-annual-march-forth/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/23369_image_606817191_1298533785641426_375632248643921711_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20251216T140512Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164509Z UID:10001180-1770919200-1770924600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Open Mic Night--Featuring Ifetayo J. White\, Author of Reiki Heart and Soul DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, February 12\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured author will be Ifetayo J. White\, author of Reiki Heart and Soul. Open Mic will also include short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author\nIfetayo J. White\, an influential figure in the realm of Reiki and wellness\, hails from Washington\, DC\, but now calls St. Helena Island her home. She established the Lowcountry School of Reiki and CHOICES Birthing and Wellness Support\, contributing significantly to healing practices in the area since 2000. A Howard University graduate\, she pursued diverse paths before dedicating herself to healing modalities such as reflexology\, Jin Shin Do Acupressure\, and massage therapy. As a Usui Reiki Master Teacher since 1999\, Ifetayo continues to share her expertise through sessions\, workshops\, and her own Reiki certification program. Her heart is also filled with love for her family\, crafting\, cooking\, and beach walks. \nAbout the Book:\nREIKI HEART and SOUL: Many Stories\, One Bright Light is an enlightening anthology\, presenting the narratives of U.S. Reiki Teachers and Practitioners whose family and spiritual backgrounds expand the globe. This collection of experiences offers a distinctive rhythm and tone\, contributing to the expanding Reiki community. This body of individuals is as diverse as humanity itself\, encompassing various races\, cultures\, locations\, and Reiki lineages. \nFrom urban to rural\, from ministers to retirees\, from the African American to the Jewish and Ifa communities\, each story shines a unique light on the practice of Reiki. These narratives are the lifeblood of a global community\, united in their commitment to Reiki’s powerful healing energy. They echo a singular\, potent message – We are ONE. This mantra encapsulates the unity within diversity that is the essence of the Reiki community. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-ifetayo-j-white-author-of-reiki-heart-and-soul/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23328_image_600281928_1286787633482708_1084941469201603173_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T120000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20251223T140509Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164510Z UID:10001181-1768644000-1768651200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Pains Tapestry: A Writing Workshop Led by Will Davis DESCRIPTION:Chaplain and poet Will Davis (Tethered Wrds) will lead a community workshop on reflection and restorative writing as opportunityto breathe again\, speak truth\, and let go of what has weighed you down. This workshop is an invitation to speak life back into those places\, to honor the parts of you that were stretched or wounded in the process. Words can be used as swords by hurt\, but they can also become a shield\, a balm\, and a path toward healing. Come ready to write\, release\, and rebuild. \nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St\, Beaufort) on Saturday\, January 17\, from 10:00 to noon. Limited to 15 participants with advance registration; free to attend. Please call 843-379-7025 to reserve your spot. \nAbout the Instructor\nWill Davis\, known as Tethered Wrds\, is a self-proclaimed steward of stories and the creator of a writing style he calls liminara. Rooted in the sacred tension\, of what is and what could be\, his work seeks to speak life\, inspire dignity\, and do good. He is the author of the debut poetry collection\, Threads of Resilience: Weaving the Human Spirit Through Poetry\, a firsthand account of the lived experiences of migrants and immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. His second collection\, Upon the Jet Stream\, takes flight across Cuba\, Africa\, and Ukraine\, exploring themes of war\, hope\, and the healing power of beauty. Beyond the page\, he is an educator\, immigration and human rights advocate\, and a passionate believer in the power of storytelling to bridge divides and honor our shared humanity. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/pains-tapestry-a-writing-workshop-led-by-will-davis/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23343_image_603890008_1292098116284993_8516829321022125614_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20251214T140511Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164510Z UID:10001179-1767895200-1767900600@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Bo Hee Moon\, Author of Birthstones in the Province of Mercy DESCRIPTION: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\, January 8\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is poet Bo Hee Moon\, author of Birthstones in the Province of Mercy\, winner of the Jake Adam York Prize. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author:\nA South Korean adoptee\, Bo Hee Moon is the author of one previous book of poems\, Omma\, Sea of Joy and Other Astrological Signs\, which she published under another name with Tinderbox Editions in 2021. Her poems have appeared in AGNI\, Poetry\, Poetry Northwest\, swamp pink\, The Margins\, and other journals. She is a PhD student in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Houston\, where she has received the Inprint Brown Foundation Fellowship. Moon currently lives in Houston. www.boheemoon.com \n“Bo Hee Moon’s Birthstones in the Province of Mercy salvages a language for the unheard and unseen experiences of Korean American adoptees\, whom neither America nor Korea have ever envisioned to be as vital\, dynamic\, and wide-ranging across poetics\, literature\, and advocacy around the globe. Moon exhumes a sense of mothering across the threshold of life\, revealing our human lineage\, perpetually renewed and destroyed by our own hands. In the bloody fight for belonging\, Moon confronts linguistic\, geographical\, and cultural borders. With these poems\, Moon joins the long and rich tradition of Korean and Korean American women’s poetry.”—E. J. Koh\, author of The Liberators \n“Some people’s families are conjured by biology. Some seek the families they need. But what if the fact and myth from which we first fashion a self leaves us carrying the weight of a hole\, the wound left when one is manufactured to fill another’s emptiness? Bo Hee Moon’s Birthstones in the Province of Mercy is a beautiful\, harrowing\, resolutely honest\, and moving examination of this question. Precise\, eloquent\, vividly lyric\, this collection is spun from grief and a self-preservational steel. This is poetry with a tensile strength of mind and heart at its core that I admire deeply. It’s a book for anyone who’s had to will themselves free.”—Erin Belieu\, author of Come-Hither Honeycomb URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-bo-hee-moon-author-of-birthstones-in-the-province-of-mercy/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23321_image_598977840_1285167356978069_364619814108973516_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164510Z UID:10001205-1765476000-1765481400@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Open Mic Night--Featuring Poet Emily Rosko\, Author of Weather Inventions DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, December 11\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured poet will be Emily Rosko\, author of Weather Inventions. Open Mic will also include short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author\nEmily Rosko’s books include: Weather Inventions; Prop Rockery\, winner of the 2011 Akron Poetry Prize; and Raw Goods Inventory\, winner of the 2005 Iowa Poetry Prize. She is the editor of A Broken Thing: Poets on the Line and is poetry editor for swamp pink. She is a past recipient of the Stegner and Ruth Lilly fellowships. New poems have appeared recently in Bennington Review\, Epoch\, Laurel Review\, New American Writing\, Seneca Review\, South Carolina Review\, and Third Coast. She is professor of English at the College of Charleston. \n“In Emily Rosko’s third poetry collection\, Weather Inventions\, she demonstrates how “beauty is thought into being.” These poems are exquisitely crafted\, honing the act of attention to a keen edge. Science\, the pastoral tradition\, meteorology\, and the personal all interact and ultimately ask us to contend with the uncertainty of the world around us\, its “unsolved riddle.” Weather Inventions promises that “right at the edge of space’s midnight\, we lose ourselves past seeing.” Rosko’s piercing gaze\, her faith in this struggling life\, is what moors us. This a book I plan to read and re-read\, as the poems yield more with each new encounter.”—Rebecca Dunham\, author of Cold Pastoral URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-poet-emily-rosko-author-of-weather-inventions/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22847_image_515502880_1176562977838508_6740852619206778204_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251122T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251122T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164521Z UID:10001208-1763829000-1763836200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will meet on Saturday\, November 22\, from 4:30 to 6:30PM at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). A relaxed and pressure-free space for readers of all types\, this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). \nUnlike traditional book clubs\, Silent Book Club Beaufort has no assigned reading\, no deadlines\, and no discussions required. Whether you prefer ebooks\, audiobooks\, comic books\, textbooks\, or paperbacks\, readers are invited to bring their book of choice\, settle in\, and savor the joy of uninterrupted reading among like-minded individuals. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort also features a book swap: Leave a book\, take a book. \nThe casual meetups provide an excellent opportunity to discover new book recommendations\, make friends\, and reconnect with the love of reading. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading\, everyone is welcome. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-5/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22984_image_540699806_1192637029564436_7451582730246142716_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T190000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164521Z UID:10001210-1763226000-1763233200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Book Launch for Donna Keel Armer\, Author of One Note Murders DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center is honored to host the book launch event for Donna Keel Armer’s One Note Murders ~ Book #3 in the Cat Gabbiano Mystery Series. Join us on Saturday\, November 15\, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 601 Bladen St.\, in downtown Beaufort. Free and open to the public; no advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing. Refreshments will be provided. The author will be in conversation with Pat Conroy Literary Center executive director Jonathan Haupt from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Books will be available for sale and signing before and after the brief program. \nABOUT THE BOOK\n“One Note Murders\, Donna Keel Armer’s latest in the highly addictive Cat Gabbiano series\, delivers a sumptuous blend of mystery\, music\, and memory. Armer spins a story that moves with operatic grace—from the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany to the dark chambers of the human heart—familiar territory Armer readers will recognize and relish. Her heroine\, Cat Gabbiano\, brave\, flawed\, and unforgettable\, moves through a landscape as stunning as it is perilous\, where loyalty and fear share the same breath. The twists are breathtaking\, the writing luminous\, and the final note—like Bocelli’s own—lingers in the imagination of the reader long after the curtain falls.”—Karen Warner Schueler\, author of The Sudden Caregiver: A Roadmap to Resilient Caregiving. \n“In the third installment of Donna Keel Armer’s Cat Gabbiano Mystery Series\, Cat returns to Italy\, hoping for a chance to honor her murdered best friend—but trouble finds her first. Familiar faces resurface\, new ones emerge with hidden motives\, and Cat is pulled deeper into a mystery where every clue plays a part in a deadly symphony. Suspenseful and evocative\, One Note Murders is Armer’s most gripping adventure yet.”—Dana Ridenour\, author of the award-winning Lexie Montgomery Undercover FBI Series \nIn Book #3 of the Cat Gabbiano Mystery Series\, One Note Murders\, Cat leaves the South Carolina Lowcountry for her beloved Italy—all because of a promise she made to her best friend Stella. What should have been the trip of a lifetime to a Bocelli concert becomes a funeral dirge when Cat discovers that danger still lurks in every shadow. \nAs she crosses the Atlantic\, Cat is unaware of the obstacles awaiting her. Will her fragile relationship with Commissario Lorenzo be rekindled—or shattered forever? Is Riccardo still locked away\, or has he found a way back into her life? Can she unravel the mystery of Maria and Gino’s kidnapped grandson before it’s too late—or will she lose her own life trying? \nFrom the elegance of a posh Tuscan resort to the soaring notes of an unforgettable concert\, Cat follows a twisting trail that leads only one way: toward blood\, betrayal\, and the chilling mark of a single\, deadly musical note. \nOnce again\, Donna Keel Armer delivers a labyrinth of mystery\, murder\, and intrigue that will keep readers turning the page long after the music fades. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nDonna Keel Armer resides in the beautiful Lowcountry of Beaufort\, South Carolina\, with her husband of forty-two years. Ray sees to it that she is fed and clothed\, as she sometimes forgets the necessities when she’s writing. She graduated with honors from Mississippi University for Women with a double major in psychology and social sciences and graduate studies in theology. Her first job during high school was a gofer for a furniture company and her last position was president of the hospitality business owned by Donna and Ray. While she volunteers at numerous organizations\, she is most often found at The Pat Conroy Literary Center where she will welcome you to Beaufort and give you the grand tour. Her writing inspiration comes from her world travels\, her personal experiences in Italy and from living in the Lowcountry. She has written numerous magazine articles on travel and food and is the author of Solo in Salento: A Memoir and the Italian translation Un’Americana in Salento and celebrated her Italian book launch in Otranto\, Italy in 2022. Her essays have appeared in the following anthologies: London – Smokes\, Blokes and Jokes of Foggy Town; Paris – Love\, Loss and Longing in the City of Lights; and Rome – Centuries of Stories of the Eternal City. \nIn October of 2023 her first mystery novel in the Cat Gabbiano Mystery Series debuted. Book #1 The Red Starfish was released in October 2023 followed by Book #2 Moringa~Tree of Life released June 2024. Book #3 in the series – One Note Murders – will be released on November 15\, 2025. And there will be a Book #4 ~ The Voyage Never Ends. Donna and Ray split their time between the South Carolina Lowcountry and Otranto\, Italy. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/book-launch-for-donna-keel-armer-author-of-one-note-murders/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/23155_image_560554122_1233550542139751_8135695187239215498_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260302T154518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164521Z UID:10001211-1763056800-1763062200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Devreaux Baker\, Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry Winner DESCRIPTION: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\, November 13\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is poet Devreaux Baker\, winner of the 2025 Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres\, with host Melissa Whiteford St. Clair. \nInterested in reading as part of virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author:\nDevreaux Baker is a poet who lives on the Mendocino Coast in Northern California. Her awards include the 2025 Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry; 2024 Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Prize\, from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; 2022 Fischer International Poetry Prize; 2019 Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Prize; 2017 Joe Gouveia Outermost National Poetry Prize; the 2014 Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Prize; the 2012 Hawaii Council on Humanities International Poetry Prize; the 2011 PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Poetry Award; and the 2010 Women’s Global Leadership Poetry Prize. She is a Fellow at the Macdowell Colony\, the Hawthornden Castle\, and the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. Her published books of poetry include Hungry Ghosts\, out of the bones of earth\, Red Willow People\, Beyond the Circumstance of Sight\, and LIGHT AT THE EDGE. She is the first Poet Laureate of Mendocino County. \n“Devreaux Baker’s contemplation of the blues and its artists is beautifully achieved in her poem ‘Blue Requiem\,’…Her readers are reminded of history and the many voices in its chorus.”–Susan Kinsolving\, judge\, Willie Morris Award for Southern Poetry \n“A deep wisdom runs throughout Devreaux Baker’s work–a reminder that we are not merely connected to nature\, but that we are part of nature itself.”–Katherine Hastings\, USA Today bestselling author URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-devreaux-baker-willie-morris-award-for-southern-poetry-winner/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22852_image_523881043_1163596459135160_2667178642553907860_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164522Z UID:10001372-1760200200-1760207400@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will meet on Saturday\, October 11\, from 4:30 to 6:30PM at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). A relaxed and pressure-free space for readers of all types\, this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). \nUnlike traditional book clubs\, Silent Book Club Beaufort has no assigned reading\, no deadlines\, and no discussions required. Whether you prefer ebooks\, audiobooks\, comic books\, textbooks\, or paperbacks\, readers are invited to bring their book of choice\, settle in\, and savor the joy of uninterrupted reading among like-minded individuals. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort also features a book swap: Leave a book\, take a book. \nThe casual meetups provide an excellent opportunity to discover new book recommendations\, make friends\, and reconnect with the love of reading. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading\, everyone is welcome. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-2/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22936_image_540120893_1192635656231240_6968760084746909046_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251011T160000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164522Z UID:10001373-1760191200-1760198400@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Let Freedom Read Day at Witness Tree Park DESCRIPTION:“Here is all I ask of a book- give me everything. Everything\, and don’t leave out a single word.”—Pat Conroy\, My Reading Life \nUpdate: Due to weather\, this event will be held inside the Conroy Center. \nOn Let Freedom Read Day\, Saturday\, October 11\, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, the South Carolina chapter of Authors Against Book Bans\, and the DAYLO student book club will host a reading at Witness Tree Park from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Honoring the final day of Banned Books Week\, this special event will feature brief readings by local writers and students from frequently challenged and banned books as well as works about pro-literacy advocacy\, and original works responding to censorship and erasures. Scheduled to appear: novelist Rebecca Dwight Bruff\, poet Tim Conroy\, essayist Jonathan Haupt\, poet Miho Kinnas\, memoirist Carol Lucas\, poet Susan Madison\, poet Jacquelyn Markham\, novelist Valerie Sayers\, and DAYLO. \nWitness Tree Park is located across King Street from the Conroy Center’s location at 601 Bladen Street in Beaufort. The Center and DAYLO will also host the monthly Silent Book Club Beaufort meet-up that same afternoon\, afterwards from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/let-freedom-read-day-at-witness-tree-park/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/23125_image_557890436_1221160563378749_6093986238830751236_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164522Z UID:10001374-1760032800-1760038200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Open Mic Night--Featuring Debut Novelist Mary J. Nestor\, Author of Bus No. 7 DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, October 9\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured novelist will be Mary J. Nestor\, author of Bus No. 7. Open Mic will also include short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author\nMary J. Nestor attended Marquette University in Wisconsin\, and has a bachelor of Business Administration from Washington Adventist University. She has previously published a children’s book\, Emily’s Best Birthday Party Ever! Her career as a manager\, consultant\, and human resources director inspired her second book\, Say It Now! Say It Right! How to Handle Tough and Tender Conversations. Nestor enrolled in a writer’s conference in 2016\, resulting in Bus No. 7\, a finalist in the Novel-In-Progress category of the 2022 William Faulkner Literary Competition.\nNestor lives on Hilton Head Island\, where she also sings with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Hilton Head Choral Society. \n“Mary Nestor’s debut novel introduces a collection of unsavory and dangerous characters that sweep the reader into a dark landscape of crime and addiction where even the savvy detective has to play catch-up. Bus No. 7 has readers wondering—what awaits when they turn the next page?”—Karen Dove Barr\, author of Burnt Pot Island \n“Bus No. 7 is an action-packed ride filled with high-voltage suspense and characters who aren’t always what they seem. The twists and turns in this edgy thriller had me riveted past my bedtime. Mary J. Nestor is a masterful storyteller\, and I hope she’s writing a sequel.”—Helen P. Bradley\, author of Breach of Trust URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-debut-novelist-mary-j-nestor-author-of-bus-no-7/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22928_image_532081652_1180248170803322_714861949318091674_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T160000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164522Z UID:10001379-1758808800-1758816000@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:How to Create Suspense: Writers Workshop Led by Melinda Farris DESCRIPTION:How to Create Suspense: 5 Unforgettable Cliffhanger-Ending Techniques \nHow do you keep the reader reading when the average adult’s attention span is 8.25 seconds? Cliffhangers are a technique used by genre writers (who sometimes get a bad rap) to keep their readers reading. And isn’t that what we all aspire to\, above everything? Because cliffhangers are sometimes associated with schlocky writing\, that doesn’t mean we should ignore their usefulness as a craft tool in all sorts of writing. We’ll look at five chapter-ending cliffhanger techniques with examples you can use in your own writing. \nEndorsement: “Melinda prepared an absolutely top-notch seminar about the craft of chapter-ending cliffhangers—a topic I’ve never encountered anyone else teaching about\, and for which she devised an entirely original taxonomy of cliffhanger types that is worthy of publication. I can’t think of a more precise\, better organized\, better supported craft seminar I’ve overseen in my twenty years at Lesley University.”–Michael Lowenthal\, author of Charity Girl \nLocation and Cost: This is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St\, Beaufort). Limited to 15 participants with advance registration required; $45/person. https://howtocreatesuspense.eventbrite.com \nAbout Our Instructor: \nMelinda Farris‘ first career was as a Washington\, DC\, political operative and international democracy consultant. She worked on Capitol Hill\, advised Cabinet nominees on a Presidential transition team\, and coached democratic forces in Russia\, Zimbabwe\, and Afghanistan. Excerpts from her unpublished first novel\, The Fourth Degree\, have been described as The Da Vinci Code meets National Treasure and received awards from the Southeastern Writers Association\, Writer’s Digest\, and The Seven Hills Literary Review. Melinda started the St Simons Island Writers Group two years ago\, which includes critique groups and networking opportunities for local writers. In two years\, the membership has doubled. She graduated in 2023 with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. https://www.melindafarrisauthor.com/ URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/how-to-create-suspense-writers-workshop-led-by-melinda-farris/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22866_image_522717306_1162265285934944_1878151853396575580_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250913T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250913T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164523Z UID:10001383-1757781000-1757788200@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will meet on Saturday\, September 13\, from 4:30 to 6:30PM at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). A relaxed and pressure-free space for readers of all types\, this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). \nUnlike traditional book clubs\, Silent Book Club Beaufort has no assigned reading\, no deadlines\, and no discussions required. Whether you prefer ebooks\, audiobooks\, comic books\, textbooks\, or paperbacks\, readers are invited to bring their book of choice\, settle in\, and savor the joy of uninterrupted reading among like-minded individuals. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort also features a book swap: Leave a book\, take a book. \nThe casual meetups provide an excellent opportunity to discover new book recommendations\, make friends\, and reconnect with the love of reading. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading\, everyone is welcome. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-6/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/23008_image_536281512_1194821066012699_4466445041933494941_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250911T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250911T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164523Z UID:10001384-1757613600-1757619000@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Novelist Laura Leigh Morris\, Author of The Stone Catchers DESCRIPTION: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\, September 11\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is novelist Laura Leigh Morris\, author of The Stone Catchers. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres\, with host Melissa Whiteford St. Clair. \nInterested in reading as part of virtual Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author:\nLaura Leigh Morris is the author of The Stone Catchers: A Novel (2024)\, a finalist for the 2024 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction\, and Jaws of Life: Stories (2018). She’s previously published short fiction and essays in STORY Magazine\, North American Review\, The Florida Review\, and other journals. She teaches creative writing and literature at Furman University in Greenville\, SC. To learn more\, visitwww.lauraleighmorris.com. \n“Laura Leigh Morris pulls her readers deep into a community experiencing generational tragedy and with eagle-eyed attention to the fine grain of human foible and capacity\, charts the path through the tempest. In a world where on a daily basis we see our humanity reduced and our storytelling pinched\, The Stone Catchers is a precious gift. Morris has given us a compelling\, addictive narrative\, shot through with a compassion validated by her unflinching gaze and measured\, magisterial prose. The Stone Catchers is a marvel. Morris takes one of the toughest subjects to contemplate—a mass shooting—and in lucid prose limns how all of us are beset by pressure that results in questionable decisions. Morris unpacks what it is to be human\, her deadly accuracy matched by her consummate delicacy.”–Robert Gipe\, author of Pop: An Illustrated Novel \n“In The Stone Catchers\, Laura Leigh Morris does the thing most Americans refuse to do: She stays with the victims of gun violence long after the twenty-four-hour news cycle has ended. She shows us how the trauma of a school shooting reverberates through a community—not just for the victims themselves\, but for all those who feel the effects of their trauma. She does not let us do the thing we most want to do\, what we do again and again\, which is look away. She demands that we look. That we reckon. That we implicate ourselves in the violence that plays out far too often in our country.”–Neema Avashia\, author of Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-novelist-laura-leigh-morris-author-of-the-stone-catchers/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22877_image_523128188_1163586115802861_5862508349665624991_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250823T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250823T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164523Z UID:10001388-1755966600-1755973800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will hold its next meetup on Saturday\, August 23\, from 4:30 to 6:30PM at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). A relaxed and pressure-free space for readers of all types\, this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). \nUnlike traditional book clubs\, Silent Book Club Beaufort has no assigned reading\, no deadlines\, and no discussions required. Whether you prefer ebooks\, audiobooks\, comic books\, textbooks\, or paperbacks\, readers are invited to bring their book of choice\, settle in\, and savor the joy of uninterrupted reading among like-minded individuals. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort also features a book swap: Leave a book\, take a book. \nThe casual meetups provide an excellent opportunity to discover new book recommendations\, make friends\, and reconnect with the love of reading. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading\, everyone is welcome. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-7/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22886_image_511318976_1139773131517493_5791145595947096506_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250814T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250814T193000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134524Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164523Z UID:10001389-1755194400-1755199800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Open Mic Night--Featuring Novelist Michael Spake\, Author of Life Close to the Bone DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, August 14\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured novelist will be Michael Spake\, author of Life Close to the Bone. Open Mic will also include short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Authors\nMichael Spake is the author of Life Close to the Bone\, his debut novel exploring the intricate layers of the past and the challenge of connecting them to the present. Inspired by his experience playing junior tennis in South Carolina and his career as a healthcare attorney\, the novel delves into themes of memory\, heritage\, and personal transformation. In addition to Life Close to the Bone\, Michael has published short stories in Well Read Magazine’s Best of 2023 and 2024\, capturing the culture and history of his hometown\, Anderson\, SC in Well Read Magazine’s Best of 2023 and 2024. Michael graduated from The Citadel in 1994 where he received the Granville T. Prior Award for his exploration of Christian Mysticism in the works of T.S. Eliot. Michael lives in Lakeland\, Florida with his wife Mary Lucia Spake. Together they have four children: Henry\, Mary Clare\, Kathryn\, and Vivian. \n“In Life Close to the Bone\, debut novelist Michael Spake skillfully explores the complexity of the past and the impossibility of ever escaping its impact on the present. As protagonist John Greenburn\, a former tennis star turned pharmaceutical ethics attorney\, struggles to uncover the potential danger of a new drug\, he is drawn back into a past that threatens to undermine all he’s worked to achieve. Despite his reluctance to revisit old traumas\, John’s only hope for redemption is to face headlong the long-buried demons he has yet to acknowledge. Ultimately\, John’s journey in connecting the past to the present belongs to all of us.”–Cassandra King\, author of Tell Me a Story: My Life with Pat Conroy URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-novelist-michael-spake-author-of-life-close-to-the-bone/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/22888_image_487085851_1073392904822183_8384317656739677512_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250719T183000 DTSTAMP:20260505T133114 CREATED:20260427T134525Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T164524Z UID:10001394-1752942600-1752949800@patconroyliterarycenter.org SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will hold its next meetup on Saturday\, July 19\, from 4:30 to 6:30PM at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). A relaxed and pressure-free space for readers of all types\, this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). \nUnlike traditional book clubs\, Silent Book Club Beaufort has no assigned reading\, no deadlines\, and no discussions required. Whether you prefer ebooks\, audiobooks\, comic books\, textbooks\, or paperbacks\, readers are invited to bring their book of choice\, settle in\, and savor the joy of uninterrupted reading among like-minded individuals. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort also features a book swap: Leave a book\, take a book. \nThe casual meetups provide an excellent opportunity to discover new book recommendations\, make friends\, and reconnect with the love of reading. Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or just getting back into reading\, everyone is welcome. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-8/ LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902 CATEGORIES:Other ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23566_image_510507684_1139771654850974_5153037391193994449_n.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR