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DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Dawn Tripp\, Author of Jackie
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with NeverMore Books\, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with novelist Dawn Tripp\, author of Jackie\, on Tuesday\, April 15\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Book and Author:\n“An intimate\, episodic narrative… Tripp’s wonderful\, pointillistic skill with physical description and the deft\, empathetic leaps she takes — jumping off from letters\, contemporary memoirs and photographs snapped of the former First Lady — gives “Jackie” undeniable emotional punch…Tripp’s book stands out for its psychological acuity… notable for its admirable emphasis on the intelligence and grace of this valiant American woman.”—Washington Post \n“Perfect for those who can’t get enough from one of the country’s most iconic couples.” —People \nIn this mesmerizing novel of the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis\, bestselling author Dawn Tripp has crafted an intimate story of love and power\, family and tragedy\, loss\, and reinvention. \nJackie is the story of a woman who forged a legacy out of grief and shaped history even as she was living it—a deeply private person with a nuanced\, formidable intellect. It is the story of a love affair\, a complicated marriage\, and the fracturing of identity that comes in the wake of unthinkable violence. \nWhen Jackie meets the charismatic congressman Jack Kennedy in Georgetown\, she is twenty-one and dreaming of France. She has won an internship at Vogue\, and she thinks Kennedy is not her kind of adventure: “Too American. Too good-looking. Too boy.”Yet she is drawn to his mind\, his humor\, and his drive. The chemistry between them ignites. During the White House years\, the love between two independent people deepens. Then\, a motorcade in Dallas: “Three and a half seconds—that’s all it was—a slivered instant between the first shot\, which missed the car\, and the second\, which did not. . . . A hypnotic burst of sunlight off her bracelet as she waved.” \nThis spellbinding novel is a window into the world of a woman who led many different lives: Jackie\, Jacks\, Jacqueline\, Miss Bouvier\, Mrs. Kennedy\, Mrs. Onassis\, Jackie O. It is at once a deeply human story and a captivating work of imagination that comes right up against what she was thinking and feeling\, what she was afraid of\, fought for\, and believed in. \nDawn Tripp’s novel Georgia was a national bestseller\, finalist for the New England Book Award\, and winner of the Mary Lynn Kotz Award for Art in Literature. She is also the author of three previous novels: Game of Secrets\, Moon Tide\, and The Season of Open Water\, which won the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-dawn-tripp-author-of-jackie-2/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250412T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250412T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204523Z
UID:10001416-1744475400-1744482600@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\, April 12\, 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)\, bringing together two organizations dedicated to fostering community connections and celebrating the love of literature. \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-11/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250410T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204523Z
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SUMMARY:Open Mic Night--Featuring Galen Warden\, Author of I Believe You\, Also Reading for Poet James Strazza
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, April 10\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. For National Poetry Month\, Open Mic Night will feature poet and memoirist Galen Warden\, author of I Believe You: When Doctors Won’t\, A Mother Must. She will also be reading on behalf of her son\, James Strazza\, author of Unsung: Poems Written in the Dark. 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\nGalen Warden has enjoyed poetry since childhood\, drawing from the joyful\, transcendent\, and most difficult moments of her life. From adolescence through motherhood\, divorce\, dating\, and caregiving—and throughout her career as a designer and marketer for Bowker and LexisNexis—poetry has been a steady companion. Her work has appeared in Sensations Magazine\, The Ever-Dancing Muse\, Get Satisfied\, and Lips\, plus the anthologies Poets of the Palisades\, The Paterson Literary Review\, and The World Book of Healing. Galen is a fourth-generation Beaufortonian who has cared for her adult son James in her home for the past five years. Her forthcoming memoir\, I Believe You\, captures the heartrending reality of very severe M.E. \n“I have come to know Galen as an amazing mother\, caregiver and advocate. Patients\, families\, caregivers and medical professionals will benefit from her lived experience and effectiveness…. Her book is a highly effective clarion call to anyone with ME or long COVID to just rest\, and to their loved ones to support them. I believe it’s what the world urgently needs right now.”—Janet L. Dafoe\, PhD\, psychologist  \nJames Strazza was a prolific songwriter as well as a professional music producer when his young life was destroyed by a serious neurological disease. His only creative outlet became texting on his phone\, so he leveraged his songwriting skills for a newfound passion: poetry. His second collection of poetry is Unsung\, Poems Written in the Dark.  \n“This poet—and he is a poet in the fullest sense—gives utterance to a horrific reality that escapes all utterance. Transforming us into witnesses\, he ignites our own soul: to read James Strazza is to burn with him.And to be forever transformed.”—David Patterson\, Hillel A. Feinberg Distinguished Chair in Holocaust Studies\, University of Texas at Dallas
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-galen-warden-author-of-i-believe-you-also-reading-for-poet-james-strazza/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250404T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250404T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Bestselling Novelist Colleen Oakley\, Author of Jane and Dan at the End of the World
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with USA Today bestselling novelist Colleen Oakley\, author of Jane and Dan at the End of the World\, on Friday\, April 4\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Oakley will be joined in conversation by Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Please call to reserve your seat in advance: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Novel:\nDate night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress\, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise. \nJane and Dan have been married for nineteen years\, but Jane isn’t sure they’re going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers\, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She’s pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary\, Jane thinks it’s as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce. \nBut before they even get to the second course\, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar. \nWhich means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago\, but if they can survive this\, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage. \n“Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a triumph! Poignant\, darkly funny\, and mind-bendingly twisty at every turn. With each new chapter\, I felt more invested in Jane and Dan\, the fate of their marriage\, and the outcome of their shocking predicament. I cheered for them all the way to the story’s satisfying end.”—Elle Cosimano\, New York Times bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice \n“Only Colleen Oakley could turn a terrorist attack on a restaurant into a charming story full of humor\, surprises\, and familial love. A delightful\, imaginative\, laugh-out-loud joy ride of a novel.”—Nina Simon\, New York Times bestselling author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night \nAbout the Author:\nColleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise\, The Invisible Husband of Frick Island\, You Were There Too\, Close Enough to Touch\, and Before I Go. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages around the world and have won multiple awards including Georgia Author of the Year and the French Reader’s Prize. A former magazine editor for Women’s Health & Fitness and Marie Claire\, Colleen lives in Atlanta with her husband\, four children\, three chickens\, and a mutt named Baxter. \nAbout the Interviewer:\nJonathan Haupt is the executive director of the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, the past director of the University of South Carolina Press\, and co-editor of the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy\, winner of 17 book awards. He is a frequent guest book reviewer for the Charleston Post and Courier and a mentor to the student leaders of DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-bestselling-novelist-colleen-oakley-author-of-jane-and-dan-at-the-end-of-the-world/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250325T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250325T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Penelope Coker Hall and Eliza Wilson Ingle\, Authors of A Curious Heart
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with Penelope Coker Hall and Eliza Wilson Ingle\, Authors of A Curious Heart: The Life and Letters of Elizabeth Boatwright Coker\, on Tuesday\, March 25\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Book and Authors\nWritten by Elizabeth Boatwright Coker’s daughter\, Penelope Coker Hall\, and granddaughter\, Eliza Wilson Ingle\, A Curious Heart chronicles the life and work of the award-winning author. \nIn this poignant literary biography\, Hall and Ingle give readers a front row seat to the remarkable life and career of award-winning author Elizabeth Boatwright Coker (1909-1993). Drawing liberally from Elizabeth’s own letters\, journal entries\, book passages and interviews\, A Curious Heart reveals for the first time the inner life of this complex\, Southern woman who dreamed of becoming a published writer. \nBorn in Darlington\, South Carolina in an era when women could not vote and the legacy of the Civil War suffused nearly everything\, Elizabeth was blessed with movie star beauty\, a keen intellect and sense of humor\, and extraordinary determination. At an early age\, she was mentored by inspired teachers and some of the great writers of the 20th century. She would go on to challenge the status quo\, in her life and her books. \nElizabeth’s journey juggling the demands of corporate wife and mother with that of working writer is a story of trial and triumph\, heartbreak and joy. Her life spanned nearly the entire century\, the second half of which yielded nine historical novels. With sensitivity and insight\, the authors chronicle the passion\, the powers of observation\, the gift of storytelling\, and the fierce independence that propelled their mother and grandmother to The New York Times bestseller list and the South Carolina Hall of Fame. \nBorn in Hartsville\, South Carolina\, Penelope Coker Hall matriculated to Sarah Lawrence College and eventually settled in New York\, becoming a writer and host for Metromedia’s Channel Five TV show “The New Yorkers.” Later at NBC\, Hall worked as a co-producer of several TV specials\, including “Vanishing 400” and “Debutante.” During this time\, she met and married film producer William Wilson and in 1968 their daughter\, Eliza\, was born. In 1972\, Hall left the performing arts and embarked on a new marriage with widower Mortimer Hall of Millbrook\, N.Y. Ensconced in Millbrook for 50 years\, Hall served as editor of Dutchess Magazine while raising daughter Eliza as well as Morti’s five young children\, along with a bevy of horses and dogs. Hall is author of several children’s books and the novel Riding High (under the pseudonym of Emily Brooks)\, written with former E.P. Dutton editor Ann LaFarge. Today\, she divides her time between Charleston\, S.C. and Millbrook. \nEliza Wilson Ingle is a New York native with Southern roots. She earned her BA in Dance from Middlebury College\, and after a brief stint in New York City\, moved to Charleston S.C. where she became a Professor of Dance at the College of Charleston. In addition to teaching\, Ingle has been a performer and choreographer with Anonymity Dance Company. A dance reviewer for The Post and Courier covering Spoleto Festival USA\, as well as a contributor to Charleston Magazine and Charleston City Paper\, and creator and co-host of “Just Imagine” – a radio program covering local cultural events and people – she stays tapped into the arts and believes\, as her grandmother did\, in the power of story.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-penelope-coker-hall-and-eliza-wilson-ingle-authors-of-a-curious-heart-2/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250322T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250322T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001423-1742661000-1742668200@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\, March 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)\, bringing together two organizations dedicated to fostering community connections and celebrating the love of literature. \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 soon via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-12/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250320T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250320T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001424-1742490000-1742495400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelists Dawn Major and Kim Poovey
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with authors Dawn Major and Kim Poovey portraying characters from their respective novels\, introduced by host Mary Ellen Thompson. Free and open to the public\, this special event will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Books will be available for sale and signing. Please call in advance to reserve a seat: 843-379-7025.  \nDawn Major is an associate editor for the Southern Literary Review. Her debut novel\, The Bystanders\, was named finalist for 2024 Georgia Author of the Year for Best First Novel. Set in the 1980s\, The Bystanders is the story of a family who moves from California to a small town in Missouri\, where\, to put it mildly\, they didn’t fit in. Dawn will converse from the point of view of her teenaged character\, Shannon Lamb\, who is the source of much gossip from the townspeople.  \nKim Poovey is a storyteller\, Victorian reenactress\, and has written nine novels. The first of her Dreamist Series\, The Haunting of Monroe Manse\, centers on Sarah Holden\, a smalltown antiques dealer who is “plagued by haunted dreams and gruesome visions.” As Sarah’s visions increase in intensity\, the reader is taken on a chilling page turning journey of the otherworldly. Kim will portray Sarah in the conversation.  \nAbout the Authors\nDawn Major’s debut novel\, The Bystanders\, was named finalist for 2024 Georgia Author of the Year for Best First Novel. Major has a graduate degree in Creative Writing\, is associate editor at Southern Literary Review\, and a co-editor at WELL READ Magazine where she writes a column called “TripLit with D. Major.” She enjoys advocating for Southern writers and artists on her blog\, SouthernRead. Major’s literary awards include the following: the Dr. Robert Driscoll Award for Excellence in Writing Award and a James Dickey Fellowship. She is a member of the William Gay Archive and helps edit and publish the late author’s works. She serves on the board at Broadleaf Writers Association\, is a member of multiple writing association\, as well as a member of M’ville\, an Atlanta-based artist salon. She has been published in multiple journals\, reviews\, and anthologies. Major lives in Atlanta\, GA with her family and is currently working on her novelette\, The Dandy Chronicles.  \nKim Poovey is a bestselling author of cozy horror and historical fiction. She has traveled the Southeast for more than 20 years presenting on 19th century fashion\, Victorian era mourning practices\, Ornamental Hairwork\, and the history of ghost stories. In 2011 she portrayed Mrs. Stanton\, wife of Secretary of War Stanton (Kevin Kline)\, in the Robert Redford film\, The Conspirator. Additional film projects include portraying the wife of a villainous husband in the Vook version of Jude Devereaux’ novella Promises and the documentary Beyond the Oaks\, Lowcountry Plantations. Kim has published nine books to include four in the Dreamist series and two in the Shadows trilogy. In addition\, Kim has written for several magazines to include Beaufort Lifestyles\, Bluffton Breeze\, Citizen’s Companion\, and the Civil War Times.bWhen not writing or performing\, Kim works as a school psychologist. She lives in a haunted 1890s Victorian cottage in the South Carolina Lowcountry with her husband\, Darryl\, and their furry children. \nMary Ellen Thompson is an associate editor for the Southern Literary Review. Her interview with the legendary Pat Conroy was published in A Lowcountry Heart. A lead features writer for Beaufort Lifestyle Magazine for eight years\, and columnist for Lowcountry Weekly for ten years\, she has also written for Pooler Magazine\, Effingham Magazine\, Carolina Arts Magazine\, St. Mary’s Magazine and Eat\, Sleep\, Play Beaufort. Mary Ellen has very happy feet and loves to travel. Raised on the Main Line of Philadelphia and the Eastern Shore of MD\, she has a B.S. From Skidmore College in Business. Currently living on Saint Helena Island\, SC\, she hosts a Writer’s Residency for the Pat Conroy Literary Center\, and is writing a retrospective narrative.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelists-dawn-major-and-kim-poovey/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001425-1741888800-1741894200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Susan Tekulve\, Author of Bodies of Light
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 13\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is multi-genre author Susan Tekulve\, whose newest book is Bodies of Light\, her first full-length poetry collection. Hosted by poet Melissa Whiteford St. Clair\, 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:\nSusan Tekulve’s newest book Bodies of Light is her first full-length poetry collection. She is the author of Second Shift: Essays (Del Sol Press) and In the Garden of Stone (Hub City Press)\, winner of the South Carolina Novel Prize and a Gold IPPY Award. She’s also published two short story collections: Savage Pilgrims (Serving House Books) and My Mother’s War Stories (Winnow Press). Her photo essay\, “White Blossoms\,” appeared in Issue 12 of the KYSO Flash Anthology. Her nonfiction\, fiction\, and poetry has appeared in journals such as Denver Quarterly\, The Georgia Review\, The Louisville Review\, Puerto del Sol\, New Letters\, and Shenandoah. Her web chapbook\, Wash Day\, appears in the Web Del Sol International Chapbook Series\, and her story collection\, My Mother’s War Stories\, received the 2004 Winnow Press fiction prize. She has received scholarships from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She teaches in the BFA and MFA writing programs at Converse University. \n“Susan Tekulve’s Bodies of Light both illuminates and enchants. In odes to body parts—teeth and thumbs\, feet and hair—as well as bodies inside bodies (pregnancies)\, this poet delights in the corporal and spiritual. In elegies\, Tekulve honors the bodies of her beloved dead and the magic of her garden. Hummingbirds\, tarantulas\, stinkbugs\, spiders\, and bees wearing ‘tiny yellow combat boots’ populate these terrific poems of wonder and dazzle.”–Denise Duhamel\, author of Pink Lady\, Scald\, and Blowout  \n“It’s a kind of magic\, the way Susan Tekulve’s forthright monosyllabic titles (Bonnet\, Grief\, Kimono\, Son—the list goes on) blossom into poems so lush in vision\, so voluptuous in vocabulary and song\, they feel as bountiful as the planet we live on. Tekulve’s poems have their specific concerns of course (parenting\, for example\, and world travel) but ultimately she’s in love with existence itself\, whether elegiac or celebratory\, and her one-word titles (Relics\, Geodes\, Feathers: the list goes on) are keys to a lavish proof of that love’s great depth.”–Albert Goldbarth\, author of History (and Pre-)\, Saving Lives\, and Heaven and Earth: A Cosmology
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-susan-tekulve-author-of-bodies-of-light/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250308T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250308T120000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001426-1741428000-1741435200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Writing Believable Law Enforcement Characters: A Workshop Led by Dana Ridenour & Eugene A. Rugala
DESCRIPTION:Writing Believable Law Enforcement Characters\nA Workshop for Writers Led by Dana Ridenour and Eugene A. Rugala \nLaw enforcement personnel are an integral part of crime fiction. Their roles range from those enforcing the law at street level up to the upper echelons of command. In this workshop retired FBI undercover special agent Dana Ridenour and a retired FBI agent and profiler Eugene A. Rugala will discuss the psychological toll of being a law enforcement officer\, how to write realistic law enforcement characters and crime scenes\, writing about firearms\, understanding jurisdiction\, writing realistic fight scenes\, and turning your real-life experiences into fiction. The instructors will also delve into opportunities for research and their own experiences with research—one as a novelist and the other as a consultant for books\, film\, and television. \nTime permitting\, some participants may also be able to read brief excerpts from drafts for feedback from the instructors. \nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). Limited to 20 participants with advance registration required: $60/person. \nRegister at: https://writinglawenforcement.eventbrite.com \nAbout our instructors \nDana Ridenour is the award-winning author of the Lexie Montgomery FBI Series: Behind the Mask\, Beyond the Cabin\, and Below the Radar. She is a retired FBI special agent who spent most of her career as an undercover operative. Dana entered on duty with the FBI in November of 1995 and retired in April of 2016 after over twenty years of service. She was assigned to four different FBI Field Divisions and had the opportunity to work a wide variety of cases\, to include multi-faceted narcotics investigations\, domestic sex trafficking of minors\, and violent crime. Over the years\, Dana was a proud member of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team where she and her team traveled to New York City in response to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. The highlight of her career came in 2003 when she attended and passed the FBI’s prestigious undercover school\, thus allowing her to work as an undercover FBI agent. This undercover certification opened the door for her to work a series of long term\, deep cover cases focusing on domestic terrorism. Dana had the rare experience of working a long-term undercover investigation with her husband who was also an FBI agent. She now lives\, writes\, and teaches in the South Carolina lowcountry\, where she also volunteers at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. \nEugene A. Rugala is principal of Eugene A. Rugala and Associates LLC\, a behavioral science\, consultation\, training\, and research firm based in Beaufort. One of the FBI’s “Profilers” in the unit made famous by the book and movie “The Silence of the Lambs”and the series “Criminal Minds” and “Mindhunter\,” Gene specializes in the detailed behavioral analysis of violent crimes\, including homicide\, sexual assault\, intimate partner violence\, stalking\, and workplace and school violence. He consults with many corporations and universities in developing and implementing procedures and protocols for the prevention of violence in the workplace and in schools to include threat assessment and management services. He is also a national advisory board member of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence\, a group of Fortune 500 companies who raise awareness and suggest strategies for companies to deal with intimate partner violence and its impact. Gene has contributed to the content and participated in the video production of Shots Fired: Guidance for Surviving an Active Shooter Situation\, Flashpoint: Recognizing and Preventing Violence in the Workplace\, and Silent Storm: Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking and Its Impact on the Workplace. A version of these programs has been developed for university settings as well. Gene is a coauthor of the book Workplace Violence: Issues in Threat Management.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/writing-believable-law-enforcement-characters-a-workshop-led-by-dana-ridenour-eugene-a-rugala/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23633_image_487313025_1072251618269645_1414565492011943761_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250301T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250301T120000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001427-1740823200-1740830400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Demythologizing the FBI: Writers Workshop Led by Dana Ridenour and Eugene A. Rugala
DESCRIPTION:Demythologizing the FBI: What Writers Get Wrong\nLed by Dana Ridenour and Eugene A. Rugala \nJoin retired FBI undercover special agent Dana Ridenour and a retired FBI agent and profiler Eugene A. Rugala in this workshop for writers (and interested readers) as they dispel the myths and clichés perpetrated by television and movies regarding the FBI. Writers will learn how to avoid the common pitfalls of writing FBI characters. The discussion will give writers a peak into the daily life of an FBI agent focusing on the FBI undercover program\, and the role of the FBI plays in terrorism and human trafficking investigations. The presentation will also explore the myths and realities of what the Behavioral Analysis Unit does and doesn’t do\, what is and what is not behavioral “profiling\,” what types of cases utilize this technique\, and what members of the BAU do on a daily basis. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to accurately portray FBI characters and investigations.\nTime permitting\, some participants may also be able to read brief excerpts from drafts for feedback from the instructors. \nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). Limited to 20 participants with advance registration required: $60/person. \nRegister at https://demythologizingthefbiworkshop.eventbrite.com \nAbout our instructors\nDana Ridenour is the award-winning author of the Lexie Montgomery FBI Series: Behind the Mask\, Beyond the Cabin\, and Below the Radar. She is a retired FBI special agent who spent most of her career as an undercover operative. Dana entered on duty with the FBI in November of 1995 and retired in April of 2016 after over twenty years of service. She was assigned to four different FBI Field Divisions and had the opportunity to work a wide variety of cases\, to include multi-faceted narcotics investigations\, domestic sex trafficking of minors\, and violent crime. Over the years\, Dana was a proud member of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team where she and her team traveled to New York City in response to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. The highlight of her career came in 2003 when she attended and passed the FBI’s prestigious undercover school\, thus allowing her to work as an undercover FBI agent. This undercover certification opened the door for her to work a series of long term\, deep cover cases focusing on domestic terrorism. Dana had the rare experience of working a long-term undercover investigation with her husband who was also an FBI agent. She now lives\, writes\, and teaches in the South Carolina lowcountry\, where she also volunteers at the Pat Conroy Literary Center. \nEugene A. Rugala is principal of Eugene A. Rugala and Associates LLC\, a behavioral science\, consultation\, training\, and research firm based in Beaufort. One of the FBI’s “Profilers” in the unit made famous by the book and movie “The Silence of the Lambs”and the series “Criminal Minds” and “Mindhunter\,” Gene specializes in the detailed behavioral analysis of violent crimes\, including homicide\, sexual assault\, intimate partner violence\, stalking\, and workplace and school violence. He consults with many corporations and universities in developing and implementing procedures and protocols for the prevention of violence in the workplace and in schools to include threat assessment and management services. He is also a national advisory board member of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence\, a group of Fortune 500 companies who raise awareness and suggest strategies for companies to deal with intimate partner violence and its impact. Gene has contributed to the content and participated in the video production of Shots Fired: Guidance for Surviving an Active Shooter Situation\, Flashpoint: Recognizing and Preventing Violence in the Workplace\, and Silent Storm: Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking and Its Impact on the Workplace. A version of these programs has been developed for university settings as well. Gene is a coauthor of the book Workplace Violence: Issues in Threat Management.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/demythologizing-the-fbi-writers-workshop-led-by-dana-ridenour-and-eugene-a-rugala/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250227T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001431-1740675600-1740681000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Jen Marie Wiggins\, Author of The Good Bride
DESCRIPTION:{Rescheduled from December 19} \nThe nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with novelist Jen Marie Wiggins\, author of The Good Bride\, on Thursday\, February 27\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Book and Author:\nOne of People Magazine’s Recommended Suspense Reads for 2025 \nThe Wedding of the Year turns disastrous in this twisty family drama full of lies and betrayals\, perfect for fans of Laura Dave\, Lucy Foley\, and Ruth Ware. \nOne year after a devastating hurricane\, bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying her perfect groom in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast. The weekend is carefully curated\, with the displays of pomp and social media magic meant to promote an area still struggling to rebuild as well as bring Ruth’s estranged family back together. \nYet as good intentions often go\, this road to wed is hell and paved in complications. With tensions rising between the family and the bridal party\, long-buried secrets come to light\, and accusations start flying. Things officially spiral out of control when the oceanfront rehearsal dinner is rocked by a series of gunshots\, and a high-profile guest goes missing. As the investigation gets underway\, it turns out that everyone has something to hide. \nBig Little Lies meets The Guest List in this gripping page turner that asks the big questions about messy family liaisons\, modern media\, and the lies we tell the world. \nJen Marie Wiggins’s first book\, the gifty nonfiction title Married AF: A Funny Guide for the Newlywed or Bride\, was published with Sourcebooks in 2022. She has a background in advertising and public relations\, and her writing has appeared in Southern Coastal Weddings\, Savannah Magazine\, Savannah Homes\, and elsewhere. The Good Bride draws much of its inspiration from the devastation and rebuilding struggles of Mexico Beach\, Florida\, a place near and dear to Jen’s heart.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-jen-marie-wiggins-author-of-the-good-bride-2/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250222T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250222T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001432-1740241800-1740249000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort
DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will hold its second meetup on Saturday\, February 22\, from 4:30pm-6:30pm at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, 601 Bladen St. Designed to offer 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)\, bringing together two organizations dedicated to fostering community connections and celebrating the love of literature. \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 soon via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. Come embrace the joy of reading at Silent Book Club Beaufort!
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-13/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250221T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250221T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001433-1740157200-1740162600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with the Contributing Writers of The Heartbeat of Quiet Streets
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a discussion by a panel of contributing writers to the anthology The Hearbeat of Quiet Streets\, all members of the Chapin/Irmo Chapter of the South Carolina Writers Association\, on Friday\, February 21\, at 5:00 p.m. Panelists will discuss both the content of the book as well as its publication. This event is free and open to the public. Copies of the anthology as well as other books by the contributing writers will be available for sale and signing. To reserve a seat in advance\, please call 843-379-7025. \n“The Heartbeat of Quiet Streets is an outstanding collection of polished work from authors who know their canvas. The South\, small towns and mid-century summers collide in verse with quiet tension and churning drama.”–Kasie Whitener\, PhD\, University of South Carolina\, Darla Moore School of Business \n“The Heartbeat of Quiet Streets is an amazing title for a quality compilation of writing pieces. I chose one or two at a time to read\, to best enjoy them\, sinking into each\, basking in the unique world each had to offer. Kudos not only to the writers\, but to the editor who made the pieces an admirable whole.”–C. Hope Clark\, award-winning author of The Carolina Slade Mysteries\, the Edisto Island Mysteries\, and the Craven County Mysteries \nGlen Bramlitt\, an artist and engineer in South Carolina\, blends the boundless possibilities of ‘what-if’ with a vivid imagination. His current genre is dystopian fiction. Glen is an accomplished wood-working artist who carved charcuterie boards as a thank you to our guest testimonials.  \nSue Cryer served on the South Carolina Writer’s Association Board of Directors and co-edited Catfish Stew\, SCWA member’s anthology\, The Quill newsletter\, and The Petigru Review\, now an international publication. She also served on The State Newspaper’s Community Advisory Board and runs a home business. She recently completed a fictional memoir\, Surviving Riversedge. \nBy day\, Laura Lanni teaches organic chemistry and oversees her undergraduate research laboratory. When not teaching or writing\, she can be found working with writers in her critique group\, running\, hugging her grandchildren\, riding a jet-ski\, blogging\, and baking.  \nCarolyn Hartley is a six times #1 best-selling author. She has been in publishing for more than thirty years as an author\, publicist\, speaker\, and publisher for Fortune 500 companies. Her historical fiction trilogy\, The Buried Sunshine series\, won the International Book Impact Award in 2024 in the Historical Fiction category.  \nTerresa Cooper Haskew’s poetry and prose has appeared in more than fifty printed journal and anthology issues (Atlanta Review\, American Journal of Nursing\, The Main Street Rag). Her story\, “Living the Dream\,” was showcased in 2013 as a short film by Ron Hagell and Shirley Smith. Her first novel\, Winston’s Book of Souls is forthcoming in Spring 2025.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-the-contributing-writers-of-the-heartbeat-of-quiet-streets/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23647_image_487362393_1072856261542514_7141439673926290547_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001434-1739469600-1739475000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Open Mic Night -- Featuring Tayler Simon\, Author of Phases and Love & Other Forms of Heartbreak
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, February 13\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured author is Tayler Simon\, founder of Liberation Is Lit and author of Phases and Love and Other Forms of Heartbreak. 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 Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Author\nTayler Simon (she/her) is a writer\, social worker\, and the owner of the bookstore Liberation is Lit. She has self-published three books: Phases: Poems\, Writing Our Truths: A Guide to Self-Publishing for BIPOC Writers\, and Love and Other Forms of Heartbreak. Tayler is passionate about promoting social liberation through the power of transformative stories. \nAs part of her visit to the Conroy Center\, Taylor will also be teaching a writing workshop earlier that afternoon from 4:00 to 5:30: Writing Our Truths: The Power of Autobiographical Poetry & Self-Publishing Your Own Chapbook. Learn more at https://writingourtruths.eventbrite.com.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-tayler-simon-author-of-phases-and-love-other-forms-of-heartbreak/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T173000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001435-1739462400-1739467800@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Workshop -- Writing Our Truths: The Power of Autobiographical Poetry\, with Tayler Simon
DESCRIPTION:Writing Our Truths: The Power of Autobiographical Poetry & Self-Publishing Your Own Chapbook — Led by Tayler Simon \nTurn your life story into a compelling poetry chapbook! This workshop guides you through crafting autobiographical poems that capture personal experiences to resonate with readers. Through a guided writing exercise\, you’ll refine your work while learning the basics of self-publishing. We’ll cover chapbook organization\, layout\, and production options\, so you leave ready to bring your unique voice to print. Ideal for poets of all levels\, this workshop will empower you to create a poetic mini-memoir and self-publish a chapbook to use your story for good. \nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). Limited to 12 participants with advance registration required; $45/person. \nRegistration: https://writingourtruths.eventbrite.com \nAbout Our Instructor:\nTayler Simon (she/her) is a writer\, social worker\, and the owner of the bookstore\, Liberation is Lit. She has self-published three books\, Phases: Poems\, Writing Our Truths: A Guide to Self-Publishing for BIPOC Writers\, and Love and Other Forms of Heartbreak. Tayler is passionate about promoting social liberation through the power of transformative stories. \nTayler will also be the featured author at that evening’s Open Mic Night at the Conroy Center\, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/workshop-writing-our-truths-the-power-of-autobiographical-poetry-with-tayler-simon/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250125T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250125T120000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001437-1737797400-1737806400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Endings and Beginnings: Writing Workshop Led by Karen Salyer McElmurray
DESCRIPTION:Endings and Beginnings\nGraham Greene once said\, “a story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” This arbitrariness—catching hold of an idea or a dream or a moment of insight—is certainly part of the sheer magic of writing. Deciding how to start a story and how to end it involves careful translation of our original moments of insight. Beginnings and endings become careful revision once we capture the arbitrary experience we begin with. This workshop will look at some examples of openings and endings from essays and longer works of memoir. We will discuss\, and we will also begin work on writing some openings of our own. \nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.). Limited to 12 participants with advance registration required: $60/person. \nRegister: https://endingsandbeginningsworkshop.eventbrite.com \nAbout Our Instructor:\nKaren Salyer McElmurray’s Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother’s Journey\, was an AWP Award Winner for Creative Nonfiction. Her novels are The Motel of the Stars\, Editor’s Pick by Oxford American\, and Strange Birds in the Tree of Heaven\, winner of the Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. As a fiction writer\, she is the recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts\, the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the North Carolina Arts Council. Her work in nonfiction has been a recipient of the Annie Dillard Award for the Essay\, the New Southerner Award\, the Orison Anthology Award for Creative Nonfiction and\, most recently\, the LitSouth Award. She has co-edited\, with poet Adrian Blevins\, an essay collection called Walk till the Dogs Get Mean. Wanting Radiance\, a novel\, and Voice Lessons\, a short collection of lyric essays\, came out in 2021. A new essay collection\, I Could Name God in Twelve Ways came out in September 2024 from University Press of Kentucky.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/endings-and-beginnings-writing-workshop-led-by-karen-salyer-mcelmurray/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23655_image_486690129_1071161738378633_4065655314881508990_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250124T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250124T180000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204524Z
UID:10001438-1737738000-1737741600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Karen Salyer McElmurray\, Author of I Could Name God in Twelve Ways
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with award-winning writer Karen Salyer McElmurray\, author of the essay collection I Could Name God in Twelve Ways and the novel Wanting Radiance\, on Friday\, January 24\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Sponsored in part by WayWord Books\, this author event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nMcElmurray will also lead a writing workshop on Saturday\, January 25\, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Details and registration: https://endingsandbeginningsworkshop.eventbrite.com \nABOUT I COULD NAME GOD IN TWELVE WAYS \n“I could dream in poetry\, could summon words for spiritual experience\, could name God in twelve ways and in ten times and places in history.”  \nAward-winning writer Karen Salyer McElmurray details her life’s journey across continents and decades in a poetic collection that is equal parts essay-as-memoir\, memoir-as-Künstlerroman\, and travelogue-as-meditation. \nIt is about the deserts of India. A hospital ward in Maryland. The blue seas of Greece. A greenhouse in Virginia. It is about the spirit houses of Thailand. The mountains of eastern Kentucky. The depths of the Grand Canyon. A creative writing classroom in Georgia. An attic in a generations-old house. It is about coming to terms with both memory and the power of writing itself.\nAt turns lyrical\, poignant\, and alluring\, McElmurray probes her personal history from the stance of different places\, perspectives\, and vulnerabilities as she tenderly and fiercely searches for acceptance and a place to call home. \n“McElmurray teaches us how to reckon and ravel\, how to unpack secrets\, abandon maps\, and learn from everything\, even vertigo\, even a global pandemic. This book is for everyone who has ever felt vulnerable in this world\, which is to say\, everyone.”―Julie Marie Wade\, author of Otherwise: Essays and Just an Ordinary Woman Breathing \n“The essays in this stunning collection are elegiac\, urgent\, vulnerable―full of loss and longing. Although the narrative is rooted in Kentucky\, the scope is global as the narrator travels literally and metaphorically toward love and away from the ghosts of the past.”―Sue William Silverman\, author of Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul \nABOUT WANTING RADIANCE \nMiracelle Loving’s world comes crashing down when her mother\, Ruby\, is murdered during a fortune-telling session gone wrong. Without the guidance of her mother\, Miracelle grows up following the only path she knows\, traveling from town to town\, sometimes fortune-telling\, picking up odd jobs to fill the time and escape the ever-present lostness she can’t seem to run far enough away from. \nUncertain of what she wants and\, indeed\, whether she wants anything or anyone at all\, the now thirty-something-year-old finds herself working as a card reader in a Knoxville dive bar\, selling fictions as futures\, when she is confronted with her mother’s ghost voice promising to reveal the truth about her shadowy past. Desperate for answers\, Miracelle sets out on a magical road trip unlike any other\, in search of her own story and a father she’s never known. \nFollowing snowy highways and backroads\, Miracelle stumbles across a museum of oddities and a hole-in-the-road town called Radiant\, ultimately wandering into the town of Smyte\, where she begins waitressing at the Black Cat Diner. Here\, she befriends card-playing has-been Russell Wallen\, whom she joins for a series of nighttime adventures\, long drives\, and after-dark visits to a Holy Roller church. This mythical journey uncovers family secrets and forgotten truths\, transforming a familiar story of love and betrayal to reveal the binding power of magic and memory. \n“A poetic tale of a daughter’s quiet exploration of her past and how it pushes her forward.” —The Rumpus \n“An incantatory Appalachian gothic tale of love\, murder\, and restless souls\, populated with unforgettable flesh-and-blood characters . . . [a] masterpiece.” —Amy Greene\, national bestselling author \nABOUT THE AUTHOR \nKaren Salyer McElmurray’s Surrendered Child: A Birth Mother’s Journey\, was an AWP Award Winner for Creative Nonfiction.Her novels are The Motel of the Stars\, Editor’s Pick by Oxford American\, and Strange Birds in the Tree of Heaven\, winner of the Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing.As a fiction writer\, she is the recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts\, the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the North Carolina Arts Council. Her work in nonfiction has been a recipient of the Annie Dillard Award for the Essay\, the New Southerner Award\, the Orison Anthology Award for Creative Nonfiction and\, most recently\, the LitSouth Award. She has co-edited\, with poet Adrian Blevins\, an essay collection called Walk till the Dogs Get Mean. Wanting Radiance\, a novel\, and Voice Lessons\, a short collection of lyric essays\, came out in 2021. A new essay collection\, I Could Name God in Twelve Ways came out in September 2024 from University Press of Kentucky.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-karen-salyer-mcelmurray-author-of-i-could-name-god-in-twelve-ways/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23657_image_487067493_1071148395046634_4351417413639415887_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250111T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250111T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001439-1736613000-1736620200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort
DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, will launch Saturday\, January 11\, from 4:30pm-6:30pm at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, 601 Bladen St. Designed to offer 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. \nThe inaugural Silent Book Club Beaufort is co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization)\, bringing together two organizations dedicated to fostering community connections and celebrating the love of literature. \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. \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. Participants can drop in late or leave early to fit their schedules\, with the simple request to arrive 5-10 minutes early to avoid disruptions. \nSilent Book Club Beaufort is free to attend and proudly supports local businesses and organizations. Additional dates and locations will be announced soon via the SBCB Instagram page at www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort. Come embrace the joy of reading at Silent Book Club Beaufort!
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-14/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001440-1736445600-1736451000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night -- Featuring Niles Reddick\, Author of Who's Going to Pray for Me Now?
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be as a virtual event\, live-streamed to our Facebook page\, on Thursday\, January 9\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenter is Niles Reddick\, award-winning short story writer and author of Who’s Going to Pray for Me Now? 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:\nNiles Reddick is author of a novel\, four short fiction collections\, and two novellas. His work has appeared in over five hundredpublications including The Saturday Evening Post\, New Reader Magazine\, Cheap Pop\, Flash Fiction Magazine\, Citron Review\, Hong Kong Review\, and Vestal Review. \n“Even though we don’t know when it’s going to happen\, be damn sure\, if it’s going epic than we need a 1965 Skylark\, fast and focused with a smooth and graceful landing\, to help blast the transition! Reddick presses fiction into the ultimate excursion. DEATH! Who’s Going To Pray For Me Now is a mesmerizing collection: flammable and saturating tales of those final moments when we become feverish weeds whacked into oblivion. These narrative adventures are palpable and inescapable. LOVE! GET A COPY”–Meg Tuite\, author of White Van and an editor at Bending Genres \n“The stories in Niles Reddick’s Who’s Going to Pray for Me Now? show us what it means to be in the know\, whether it’s the inside of a 1965 Skylark or the way to handle snakes in a county church. But there’s also a lot of heart here\, the little hurts and reconciliations of coupledom in a world where two equals more than one plus one. The best flash fiction keeps opening outward after you’ve read it. Reddick’s stories do that and more.”—David Galef\, author of My Date with Neanderthal Woman and editor of Vestal Review
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-niles-reddick-author-of-whos-going-to-pray-for-me-now/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241214T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241214T160000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001443-1734184800-1734192000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Drop-In Book Signing for Local Children's Author Nancy E. Merrill\, Author of Elf Dust
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in book signing for local children’s author Nancy E. Merrill\, author of the holiday picture book Elf Dust. Join us outside (weather permitting) on Saturday\, December 14\, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing.  \nAbout the Book and Author:\nElf Dust is a charming and captivating look into the world of elves\, their visits to see children and how they magically evade humans and pets and always leave their magical calling card. \n“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane\, author and educator  \nNancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust. Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today\, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing\, communications\, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/drop-in-book-signing-for-local-childrens-author-nancy-e-merrill-author-of-elf-dust/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241212T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241212T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001445-1734026400-1734031800@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Open Mic Night -- Featuring Nancy E. Merrill\, Author of the Children's Book Elf Dust
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, December 12\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured presenters is Nancy E. Merrill\, author of the new children’s holiday book Elf Dust. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Presenter\nNancy E. Merrill is a mom of two children who were born in Hong Kong where she lived and worked for many years. Living there was an important element in the creation of Elf Dust. Highrise apartment life meant there were no chimneys and Santa wasn’t going to land on the roof. Something had to be found to ignite imagination and magic for her kids. Elf Dust did not disappoint. Today\, Nancy lives in South Carolina after a consulting career around writing\, communications\, and creativity. She is delighted to offer Elf Dust to all who celebrate Christmas and the magic of imagination. \nAbout Elf Dust’s Illustrator\nColleen Sgroi dreamed of being an artist since she was a young girl. Her work is available worldwide on puzzles\, calendars\, prints\, and greeting cards\, and her art has been included in films by major motion picture companies. Her illustrations in children’s books have earned her a Moonbeam Best Illustrator Award\, Feathered Quill Book Award\, Mom’s Choice Awards\, and IBS International Book Awards. She lives and creates in Massachusetts.  \n“A new addition to our Christmas library. Children will fall in love with the elves and Elf Dust. The illustrations bring you back to your childhood. Absolutely beautiful. This book will be your go to picture book this holiday season. Can’t wait to use this with my class.”–Heidi Lane\, author and educator
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-nancy-e-merrill-author-of-the-childrens-book-elf-dust/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T140000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001446-1733659200-1733666400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Book Launch and Reading for Jared Madison\, Author of The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a book launch for Beaufortonian Jared Madison\, author of The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace\, on Sunday\, December 8\, from noon to 2:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments provided. Please call in advance to reserve: (843) 379-7025. \nAbout the Book: \nOne of three writers of the “Wholly Holistics” column in Lowcountry Weekly and host of the blog\, “Magical Minute”(Instagram and TikTok @themagicalminute)\, Jared Madison has penned a self-help book for people who want more peace in their lives. In The 30 Day Guide to Inner Peace\, Madison shares the method that helped him find his own inner peace through an immersion into positive life changes\, a day at a time\, for 30 days. \nEach day offers a message and a practice. For example\, the practice for Day 7 suggests that whenever you feel stuck\, take a nap. Napping involves letting go\, accepting\, and getting comfortable with the seeming non-movement you’re experiencing. Purely practical. \nRepresentative chapters include: “Judge Not\,” “Radical Acceptance\,” “What Do You Fear?” “What No Longer Serves You?” “Peace Through Forgiveness\,” and “Making a Loving Commitment to Yourself.” \nAccording to Madison\, to attain inner peace\, you must look inside yourself with a clear mind\, see and accept whatever you observe\, change the things you don’t like\, and move ahead.\n“Life gives us no shortage of experiences that may normally trigger an adverse reaction within us\,” says Madison. “However\, [in this book] you are given the tools to counteract your reactiveness. Instead\, you will find yourself responding.”  \nAbout the Author:\nJared Madison is an entrepreneur and business owner\, an artist\, a writer\, a Reiki practitioner\, a student of quantum physics\, and a passionate traveler who has spent his life being a student of self-development. Realizing the link between science and spirituality\, Madison began studying quantum physics in 2014 by attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s free online quantum physics classes. From there Madison would go on to obtain an associate’s degree in Math & Science\, with plans to further his education in the field of Cell Development and Genetics. In 2015\, Madison launched a successful clothing brand company based in Tempe\, Arizona\, with a focus on meaningful spiritually symbolic design graphics. Today his clothing company has grown into 4 distinct brands with a remolded business blueprint launching in early 2025. In 2020\, Madison returned to Beaufort\, after a successful stent in Los Angeles\, and began the realization and life changes which have now culminated in The 30 Day Guide To Inner Peace\, his third book. Madison is engaged to fiancé Kanani Robinson and is more than proud to call his mother one of his best friends. He has a fur child named Mama Kitty.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/book-launch-and-reading-for-jared-madison-author-of-the-30-day-guide-to-inner-peace/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241115T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241115T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001450-1731690000-1731695400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Nancy Murray\, Author of No Experience Necessary
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with memoirist Nancy Murray\, author of No Experience Necessary\, on Friday\, November 15\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Book and Author:\nIn No Experience Necessary\, Nancy Murray shares the insights\, pitfalls\, and strategies that she gleaned along her journey toward meaningful employment. Her stories prove that even so-called nowhere jobs can be crucial steps to not only establishing a career\, but to discovering ourselves.  \nNancy’s workplace tales span a colorful spectrum\, from selling speakers from a seedy van to driving a posh limo; from performing as a professional clown to financial advisor. With each job she profited in ways beyond a traditional paycheck.  \nSome might consider this a cautionary tale\, but it’s also a field guide for anyone preparing to fill out their first job application\, not to mention a humorous flashback for those who recall the trials and tribulations of the workplace all too well. \n“Through the many jobs—both ordinary and extraordinary— in this memoir of working\, Nancy Murray shows not only how willing she is to take a chance and fail\, but to grow from those failures with her trademark blend of humor and humility. What really stands out\, however\, is her prose—like a long lunch with a good friend\, there is never a dull moment.”—Jen Michalski\, author of The Company of Strangers \n“No Experience Necessary is an extraordinary account of what it means to work. In vivid and engaging prose\, the book illuminates the struggles and triumphs of insisting on a creative life. A tightly-focused and engaging memoir\, this is an amazing read!” —Kathy Flann\,award-winning author of Smoky Ordinary and Write On: Secrets to Crafting Better Stories \nNancy Murray is a poet\, playwright\, and storyteller. Her first memoir\, One Child for Another\, was published by 11th Hour Press\, and was recognized by Baltimore Magazine as one of the Ten Best Reads in 2015. Her storytelling was showcased by the Women of the World Festival in Baltimore\, Maryland. Nancy’s plays and poetry have been produced and published in various venues and presses including\, Ireland’s HCE Review\, The Maryland State Poetry and Literary Society\, and in multiple anthologies. Her most recent publication\, a poetry collection called The Colors of Fear\, waspublished by Cyberwit Press. She teaches compositional writing at the Community College of Baltimore County and hosts a series of poetry workshops at the Arts Lab of South County\, Maryland.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-nancy-murray-author-of-no-experience-necessary-2/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241114T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241114T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001451-1731607200-1731612600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Open Mic Night - Featuring Mamie Morgan\, Author of Everyone I've Danced with Is Dead
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held virtually on Thursday\, November 14\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured writer is poet Mamie Morgan\, author of Everyone I’ve Danced with Is Dead. Open Mic will also feature short readings of 3 to 5 minutes each by other writers in many genres. \nInterested in reading as part of Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Writer\nMamie Morgan received an MFA from UNC Wilmington and a BA in English and Religious Studies from Wofford. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in numerous literary journals\, including Washington Square Review\, the Oxford American\, Fish Barrel Review\, Nimrod\, Muzzle\, Four Way Review\, Yemassee\, Carolina Quarterly\, Inkwell\, and the Greensboro Review. She lives in the woods with her husband and their two pit bulls\, Henrietta Modine and Wednesday Stewart. \n“Reading these poems is like sitting down with a friend for a conversation-the kind of friend you trust to tell all of the truth\, but with mercy. These whip-smart poems don’t flinch\, even at the hardest truths about what it means to be human-to love and to lose\, to damage and be damaged\, to live through moments ‘where the quake originates\,’ that make you cling to ‘every word that had ever made me want to stay alive.’ These poems have an electric power\, one strong enough to change lives. Morgan faces devastation with such an open grace and generosity that a reader can’t help but feel there’s one truth more real than any other: that even in the moments that shake us to the core\, there is always hope.”–Emma Bolden \n“The central organ pumping blood through these poems is wonderment. Morgan’s particular brand of wonder knows no hierarchies: love\, betrayal\, fallings out\, quotidian\, joy\, jail\, sex\, school\, the body\, war\, race\, politics\, and that old tricker Death all crowd around the same table. This book pulls you forward and shows you the world as it is–a mess worth celebrating\, recoiling from\, enduring\, and embracing. These poems are built of risk and witness–importantly\, they have the language and daring to match. This is one helluva barn burner.”–Michael McGriff
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/virtual-open-mic-night-featuring-mamie-morgan-author-of-everyone-ive-danced-with-is-dead/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T160000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204525Z
UID:10001455-1729951200-1729958400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Drop-In Book Launch with Joy Corley\, Author of the Children's Book Percy Goes Camping...Maybe
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a free public drop-in launch event for local author Joy Corley’s debut children’s book\, Percy Goes Camping…Maybe. Join us outside on Saturday\, October 26\, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) in downtown Beaufort. No advance registration required. Books will be available for sale and signing. Light refreshments will be provided.  \nAbout the Book and Author:\nPercy Goes Camping…Maybe is a true story about overcoming your fears. Percy is an 80-pound\, fun loving\, Red Nose Staffordshire Terrier who is afraid of most anything new\, and the teardrop camper Ladybug was no exception! \nAlways curious\, Percy was the first one to bolt out the door when the camper appeared in the driveway and he was the first one to whip around and quickly head back inside\, seeking safety from this strange contraption. Being ever-so-nosy\, he eventually and very cautiously began to get acquainted with Ladybug\, but only after running away and hiding in the bushes multiple times before deciding this camping business might not be so scary after all. \n“In this clever\, relatable\, and heartwarming story\, Percy the dog shows us how overcoming our fears can open up a world of fun! I recommend this beautifully illustrated story to little ones ages 4 to 8 as well as their big people.”—Susan Sullivan\, author of Bob Tales\, Land of the Woody Warbles \n“PERCY! Where have you been all my life\, sweet boy? You make me want to go camping with you and try new things! | hope every child gets to read your story and be inspired to try something new. Go Percy GOOOOO!”—Bren McClain\, author of One Good Mama Bone \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. Joy became a lover of children’s books after her son Clay was born in 1982. She always wanted to write a children’s book and was just looking for the right inspiration whenever Percy came into her life. Always an animal lover\, Percy became the new character in a long list of characters in the household she shares with her husband\, Rick and five other rescues. Joy also enjoys reading\, being a volunteer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program and Beaufort County Animal Services.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/drop-in-book-launch-with-joy-corley-author-of-the-childrens-book-percy-goes-camping-maybe/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T190000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134534Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204528Z
UID:10001457-1729184400-1729191600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Writing Family Stories: Writing Workshop Led by Estelle Ford-Williamson
DESCRIPTION:If\, according to Pat Conroy\, the most powerful words in the English language are “Tell Me a Story\,” then the most regretful ones are: “I never got Mama’s (or Daddy’s) stories.” Or you may have a fantastic personal story that begs to be told and you’re afraid it won’t happen. This workshop helps you avoid that regret! \nWe’ll cover:\nTips for Starting and Re-Starting Stories\nFinding Structure in Your Many Tales\nSeveral Writing Prompts\, Reading\, and Feedback Opportunities.\nDiscussion of Publication Options \nLed by an award-winning memoirist and novelist\, this workshop is for those who want to put in writing their cache of family legends or happenings\, for the memoir writer\, and for those who want to assist their parents or relatives or friends in doing just that. It’s a great time to start your stories for holiday giving!\nThis interactive writers workshop will be held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort) on Thursday\, October 17\, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Limited to 15 participants. $45/person. Advance registration required. \nLearn more and register at https://patconroyliterarycenter.eventbrite.com \nABOUT OUR INSTRUCTOR\nEstelle Ford-Williamson is a former UPI reporter whose most recent book is Rising Fawn\, a novel set in Atlanta and Lookout Mountain\, GA. Previously she published Abbeville Farewell\, a Novel of Early Atlanta and North Georgia\, and co-wrote a memoir\, Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a ‘Lost Boy’ Refugee with Majok Marier. For four years\, she led “Writing Your Story” workshops at a senior center in the Atlanta area; a dozen students went on to publish full memoirs. She has received awards for her novels and short fiction\, and offers writing workshops through the Pat Conroy Literary Center and the South Carolina Writers Association. Estelle lives on nearby St. Helena Island.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/writing-family-stories-writing-workshop-led-by-estelle-ford-williamson/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241010T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204528Z
UID:10001458-1728583200-1728588600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Open Mic Night - Featuring Jennifer Bartell Boykin\, Author of Only Believe
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, October 10\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured writer is Columbia City Poet Laureate Jennifer Bartell Boykin\, author of Only Believe\, selected for the 2023 Hilary Tham Capital Collection. 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 Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Writer\nPoet Laureate of Columbia\, South Carolina\, and a 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow\, Jennifer Bartell Boykin is the author of the poetry collections Traveling Mercy and Only Believe. Her poetry has also appeared in Obsidian\, Callaloo\, the Raleigh Review\, kinfolks: a journal of black expression\, the museum of americana: a literary review\, and Scalawag. \nBartell Boykin is the recipient of fellowships from Callaloo and The Watering Hole. A school librarian at Muller Road Middle School in Blythewood\, SC\, she previously taught creative writing and English at Spring Valley High School in Columbia\, SC\, where she was also named the 2019–20 Teacher of the Year. She has been recognized as an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar and an Augusta Baker Scholar at the University of South Carolina’s School of Information Science\, where she earned her master of library and information science degree. Bartell Boykin was born and raised in Bluefield\, a Black community in Johnsonville\, South Carolina. \n“Bartell’s Only Believe carefully treads through remembering childhood assault confounded with good memories that some would struggle to keep\, including memories that elders lose if we’re not quick enough to catch them. These poems are part oral history and part affirmation\, but this collection complicates faith and walks readers closer to truth\, healing\, and forgiveness and standing tall in a grandmother’s house.”–Tara Betts\, author of Refuse to Disappear and Break the Habit \n“There are two stories in Only Believe–the story of a girl who doesn’t know how or when to tell what happened to her\, and the story of her grandma\, whose house is a place of both refuge and danger\, whose decline into Alzheimer’s is a counterpoint to the speaker’s own struggles with memory. Memory\, as Jennifer Bartell reminds us\, is neither window nor mirror nor veil\, but all at the same time. Religion promises answers—’My Black Jesus can do anything’–but tricks her into blame and shame instead. Something happened to that girl and she knows that ‘it’s time to speak / it’s time to heal.’ The only way to do that is by telling both stories\, that of the girl struggling to speak\, and that of the grandmother\, whose life reminds her that ‘God is a woman / on a big black Singer / sewing machine\, whose quilts became her tablets\, whose needle becomes her pen.’–Ed Madden\, author of A Pooka in Arkansas and Ark
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-jennifer-bartell-boykin-author-of-only-believe/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T183000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204528Z
UID:10001462-1726765200-1726770600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Roger Jones\, Author of The Final Victory
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with novelist Roger Jones\, author of The Final Victory\, on Thursday\, September 19\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nAbout the Book:\nIn a novel that fuses the riveting action of The Boys in the Boat with the emotional heft of The Fault in Our Stars\, twenty men and women with cancer-ridden bodies compete in a grueling race only to discover that real victory is achieved within. \nAfter he is diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer\, Tripp Avery feels like all is lost. He finds himself coaching a team of twelve men and eight women with cancer diagnoses of their own\, hoping to qualify for the Mixed Masters Dragon Boat national championship and defy their prognoses. If they win\, they will represent the United States at the International Dragon Boat races in Hong Kong. \nBut things soon get complicated\, as four of his teammates struggle against their physical limitations and the psychological weight of their conditions. In the summer heat of Chattanooga\, their resolve grows thin—along with Tripp’s patience. After a devastating loss to the defending national champions\, Tripp can only see the finish line\, and he pushes the team even harder. Soon\, the team starts to fall apart. \nAs members of the team collapse under the pressure and one is hospitalized\, he must confront his own failings and find a way to move forward. He begins to question his motives\, wondering if the win is worth the trauma and what that says about him. Despite the odds\, he resolves to rally the team toward a comeback that seems impossible\, if only for one final victory.  \n“What is courage? In this notable debut\, Roger Jones explores the strength\, resilience\, compassion\, and willpower of a band of athletes who define courage and triumph over unspeakable odds.These twenty men and women overcome cancer to not merely win a national championship but to survive. I laughed. I cried.I was inspired. The Final Victory is an uplifting novel we all need to read.”—Mary Alice Monroe\, New York Times bestselling author \n “An inspiring and stirring tale of courage\, The Final Victory is inspired by the true story of a group of athletes who face life-threatening illnesses and are bonded together by their indomitable will to win. Jones gives us a novel that is equal parts laugh out loud funny\, moving\, and uplifting. You will love it!”—Patti Callahan Henry\, New York Times bestselling author \n“The Final Victory brilliantly demonstrates that women recovering from breast cancer can lead full and active lives — paddle for sure\, but also pick up and hug their grandchildren. Dragon boating challenges the limits of human performance\, especially for those with more than their share of hurdles to clear. That’s the magic that Roger Jones captures\, and that’s why The Final Victory is a great book.”—Dr. Don McKenzie\, Founder of the original Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team \nAbout the Author\nRoger Jones\, businessman\, philanthropist\, humanitarian and avid athlete has founded numerous business and community organizations. In 1996\, he started Companion Associates\, Inc.\, one of South Carolina’s largest privately held real estate development firms. Companion Associates was distinguished as one of South Carolina’s fastest growing companies by The South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Jones has helped establish and launch a number of non-profit organizations including Reading Partners of South Carolina\, Charleston Social Venture Partners\, and The Charleston Paddle Club.  \nDuring a 2012 trip to East Germany to receive a newly developed intensive radiation treatment for Neuroendocrine Cancer\, Jones decided to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a writer. The Final Victory is his first novel. He has had articles and short stories published in several local publications as well as The Writers Digest. Married for forty-seven years\, he is the proud father of three children and grandfather of three grandchildren. His life’s greatest lesson is quoted by The Final Victory’s protagonist Tripp Avery\, “Forgiveness is the foundation of every miracle.”
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-roger-jones-author-of-the-final-victory-2/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240914T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240914T160000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204528Z
UID:10001463-1726322400-1726329600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:The Hilton Head Poetry Trail -- A Presentation by Poet Elizabeth Robin
DESCRIPTION:Let’s talk about the Hilton Head Poetry Trail \nHave you heard? Hilton Head Island has a poetry trail! Want to visit but can’t get there now? Know what’s in store before you go? Learn how to create a trail in your own town? Join us for a special presentation by award-winning poet Elizabeth Robin\, all about the Hilton Head Poetry Trail.  \nA marriage of technology\, creative writing\, public art\, and arts-minded businesses\, the Hilton Head Poetry Trail offers a new way to see Hilton Head Island: through the eyes of the poets who live there. Grabbing extra copies of Local Life Magazine? Scan the sign placed inside the front door and read a Pop-up Poets collaboration. Contemplating the landscape as you rest on Toni Morrison’s bench at Mitchelville Freedom Park? Read James Mallory’s poem “The Beautiful Couple.” Confused\, asking “What is it?” as you stare at Caracol in Shelter Cove Park? Scan the trail sign and Jacque Markham gives you one interpretation.  \nIt’s the kind of collaboration that makes the arts an experience. A unique approach to a public arts project\, this trail brings poetry into public spaces in a permanent-yet-flexible medium. Because it uses QR codes\, the trail can track its visits and regularly switch out trail content to include more poets and poems at each site. Monthly visits have averaged over 300 readings from 20-plus states and 4 or more foreign countries in its first year. Some poems have been read over 1\,000 times! \nThe project is a partnership between the town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Island Writers Network. The technology guru and idea man on the project is Bill Schmitt\, who developed the logo\, the sign design and Facebook page. Natalie Harvey\, the Director of Cultural Affairs\, oversees the sculptures approved for the project and the affixing of signs near the public art and park installations. Poet Elizabeth Robin recruited the poets and the businesses that are participating\, and pairs poems to locations. \nElizabeth Robin\, retired teacher and award-winning poet\, is the author of three collections of poems published by Finishing Line Press: To My Dreamcatcher (2022)\, Where Green Meets Blue (2018) and Silk Purses and Lemonade (2017). She partnered with the Office of Cultural Affairs to establish the Hilton Head Poetry Trail\, a 25-station route of local poets. A Piccolo Spoleto Sundown Poet (2023)\, she won the 2021 Carrie McCray Nickens Fellowship\, was an Island Writers Network open mic emcee for eight years\, and creates literary programs on Hilton Head Island. Recent work appears in Tall Women\, The Jasper Project: Poetry of the People\, Poetry Society (SC) Yearbook\, Catfish Stew\, Ukweli\, Drunk Monkeys and others.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/the-hilton-head-poetry-trail-a-presentation-by-poet-elizabeth-robin/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240912T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240912T193000
DTSTAMP:20260505T165938
CREATED:20260427T134537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T204528Z
UID:10001464-1726164000-1726169400@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Open Mic Night -- Featuring Deirdre Garr Johns
DESCRIPTION:The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s monthly Open Mic Night will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.) on Thursday\, September 12\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Our featured writer is Deirdre Garr Johns\, author of the forthcoming children’s picture book Weathering the Storm and the forthcoming poetry chapbook Fallen Love. 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 Open Mic? Let us know at contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org. \nAbout Our Featured Writer\nDeirdre Garr Johns writes poetry\, nonfiction\, and children’s fiction. Her work is often inspired by the beauty of nature and the memories of people and places. Deirdre hopes to inspire others and create a sense of connectedness to the world around us. Deirdre’s poetry has appeared in Sylvia Magazine\, South Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology\, Eunoia Magazine\, Nymeria Magazine\, Silver Birch Press\, Stone Poetry Quarterly\, Pink Magazine\, and more. Her nonfiction has appeared in Sasee Magazine. \nFallen Love (Finishing Line Press)\, her first chapbook collection\, will be available for pre-sales this fall and published in January 2025. Her children’s book\, Weathering the Storm\, will be published later this fall. She currently resides in South Carolina with her family\, but Pennsylvania will always be home. She enjoyed a teaching career for eighteen years. Learn more at www.amuseofonesown.com.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/open-mic-night-featuring-deirdre-garr-johns/
LOCATION:601 Bladen Street\, Beaufort\, SC\, United States\, South Carolina 29902
CATEGORIES:Other
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