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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251225T140515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
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SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Carolyn Hooker\, Author of Leaving Edgefield
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with historical novelist Carolyn Hooker\, author of Leaving Edgefield\, on Thursday\, February 26\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE NOVEL\n“Carolyn Hooker’s Leaving Edgefield is an absolutely beautiful novel\, full of unquestionably genuine souls fighting to maintain dignity\, faith\, and affection in their lives. You will feel their love\, fall into their hope\, ache from their pain\, and experience the fullness of their humanity in this remarkable story about one family’s fight to stay together and control their destiny.”–Jeffery Blount\, Author of Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way  \n“Carolyn Hooker writes with courage\, imagination\, and keen insight\, and the result is a haunting tale of unflinching motherly love despite often crippling powerlessness. From the first page of Leaving Edgefield\, there’s an urgency in Carrie Butler’s story that will stay with readers long after the last\, perfectly nuanced sentence. Hooker is a masterful\, empathetic story teller and Leaving Edgefield is a triumph you’ll not soon forget.”–Michel Stone\, author of The Iguana Tree and Border Child \nIn the shadows of early 20th-century Edgefield\, South Carolina-a town steeped in tradition\, hierarchy\, and secrets-young Carrie Butler lived a life both ordinary and extraordinary. Born into a world that barely acknowledged her existence\, Carrie was thrust into the domestic service of one of Edgefield’s most powerful families. There\, her fate would become entangled with that of Strom Thurmond\, a future US Senator and staunch segregationist\, in ways history has long ignored. \nLeaving Edgefield reclaims the voice of a woman history nearly erased. Based on the real-life mother of Strom Thurmond’s biracial daughter\, this sweeping and lyrical work of historical fiction breathes life into the story of a young Black woman whose resilience becomes her legacy. From the rolling fields of Edgefield to the streets of Philadelphia\, from whispered betrayals to whispered prayers\, Carrie’s journey is one of unyielding spirit in the face of exploitation\, loss\, and silence. \nCarolyn W. Hooker paints a deeply moving portrait of a woman who\, though deemed invisible in her own time\, now claims her rightful place in the American story. For readers of The Bluest Eye and The Color Purple\, Leaving Edgefield is both a vital act of remembrance and a literary triumph-a tale of heartbreak\, dignity\, and the quiet defiance of survival. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nCarolyn W. Hooker is a South Carolina-based writer and educator whose work explores the intersections of history\, identity\, and resilience. With Leaving Edgefield\, she was moved to reimagine the silenced story of Carrie Butler through careful research and literary imagination\, creating a work of historical fiction designed to honor a woman deemed invisible in her own time. Hooker has deep ties to Spartanburg and Charleston\, grounding her work in the landscapes where this history still reverberates.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-carolyn-hooker-author-of-leaving-edgefield/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251206T140512Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
UID:10001171-1771691400-1771698600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort
DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, meets at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.) on third Saturdays from 4:30 to 6:30PM. Co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization)\, .this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \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. Additional dates and locations will be announced via www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-3/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251214T140509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
UID:10001178-1771520400-1771525800@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with South Carolina Novelists Dorothy McFalls and Linda Lovely
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening conversation for readers and writers with two South Carolina authors whose work spans multiple genres—Dorothy McFalls and Linda Lovely–on Thursday\, February 19\, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Conroy Center\, 601 Bladen St. Free and open to the public\, with books available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call 843-379-7025 in advance to reserve a spot. \nAuthors McFalls and Lovely are both avid readers who relish everything from cozy mysteries\, gritty thrillers\, and historical fiction to steamy romance and otherworldly fantasy.\nMcFalls and Lovely also have chosen to write in more than one literary niche. McFalls has published 10 cozy mysteries\, 3 steamy romantic fantasies\, and 9 romances. Lovely’s 12 published titles explore a mix of mystery\, suspense\, thriller\, and romance subgenres. \nIn their conversation at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, the authors will share their experiences and discuss the risks and rewards for writers who stray beyond their established niche—including both the creative and marketing aspects of shifting or blending genres They’ll also discuss how this growing author practice can benefit readers. \nABOUT DOROTHY McFALLS\nAward-winning author Dorothy McFalls was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy beach community in South Carolina with her husband\, neurotic dog\, and persnickety cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her\, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She then put her educational experience to use\, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local\, regional\, state\, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization. \nSwitching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner\, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that\, her desire to tell the stories that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001\, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time. \nNow multi-published author since 2005\, Dorothy enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award\, Reviewers International Organization Award\, National Reader’s Choice Award\, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award\, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: “amazing”\, “perfect”\, “filled with emotion”\, and “lined with danger.” She writes mysteries as Dorothy St. James. \nABOUT LINDA LOVELY\nA journalism major who spent most of her career in PR. Linda Lovely now focuses on her first love—fiction. She’s published 12 mystery/suspense novels\, including traditional and humorous cozy mysteries\, romantic suspense thrillers\, and a stand-alone historical suspense set in 1938.\n“I write in genres I love to read\,” Lovely comments\, “and I’m hooked on all mystery/suspense/thriller genres.” \nFor the past four years\, Lovely has served as secretary of the six-state Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. A long-time member of Sisters in Crime\, she presided as president of the Upstate SC Chapter for five years. She also belongs to International Thriller Writers and the Authors Guild. Lovely teaches craft classes and often visits with book clubs. \nAn Iowa native\, Linda now lives with her husband beside a South Carolina lake. Her hobbies include reading\, swimming\, kayaking\, tennis\, and gardening.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-south-carolina-novelists-dorothy-mcfalls-and-linda-lovely/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23318_image_599949565_1285201020308036_6639518473054477661_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251225T140516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
UID:10001184-1770310800-1770316200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Award-Winning Journalist Steve Oney\, Author of On Air
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with award-winning journalist\, author\, and longtime Pat Conroy friend Steve Oney\, author of On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR\, on Thursday\, February 5\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Oney will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited for this free event; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE BOOK\n“A lively and engaging new history of the organization . . . Oney’s account of how all this developed has plenty of color and sweep.”—Washington Post \n“Engrossing and entertaining . . . A major work of media history.”—New York Times Book Review \n“A raucous history . . . Oney’s fleet-footed storytelling and immersive prose bring to life the network’s colorful personalities. The result is an entertaining window into the creative but rancorous scene at one of journalism’s most hallowed institutions.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) \nFounded in 1970\, NPR is America’s most powerful broadcast news network. Despite being overshadowed by the larger and more glamorous PBS\, public radio has long been home to shows such as All Things Considered\, Morning Edition\, and This American Life that captivate millions of listeners in homes\, cars\, and workplaces across the nation. NPR and its hosts are a cultural powerhouse and a trusted voice\, and they have created a mode of journalism and storytelling that helps Americans understand the world in which we live. \nIn On Air\, a book fourteen years in the making\, journalist Steve Oney tells the dramatic history of this institution\, tracing the comings and goings of legendary on-air talents (Bob Edwards\, Susan Stamberg\, Ira Glass\, Cokie Roberts\, and many others) and the rise and fall and occasional rise again of brilliant and sometimes venal executives. It depicts how NPR created a medium for extraordinary journalism—in which reporters and producers use microphones as paintbrushes and the voices of people around the world as the soundtrack of stories both global and local. Featuring details on the controversial firing of Juan Williams\, the sloppy dismissal of Bob Edwards\, and a $235 million bequest by Joan B. Kroc\, widow of the founder of McDonald’s\, On Air also chronicles NPR’s daring shift into the digital world and its early embrace of podcasting formats\, establishing the network as a formidable media empire. \nFascinating\, revelatory\, and irresistibly dishy\, this is a riveting account of NPR’s chaotic ascent\, cultural triumph\, and imperiled future. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nSteve Oney is a longtime journalist who worked for many years as a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Magazine and Los Angeles magazine. He has also contributed articles to many national publications\, including Esquire\, The Wall Street Journal\, New York magazine\, GQ\, and The New York Times Magazine. His history of the lynching of Leo Frank\, And the Dead Shall Rise\, won the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and the National Jewish Book Award. He is also a contributing writer to Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy and a featured presenter at the 2026 Savannah Book Festival. Oney was educated at the University of Georgia and at Harvard\, where he was a Nieman Fellow. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife\, Madeline Stuart.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-award-winning-journalist-steve-oney-author-of-on-air/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260124T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260124T113000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251212T140513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
UID:10001175-1769248800-1769254200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Grassroots Marketing for Authors: Workshop Led by Helen P. Bradley
DESCRIPTION:GRASSROOTS MARKETING FOR AUTHORS\nA Writers Workshop Led by Helen P. Bradley\, Author of Breach of Trust \nToday’s social media landscape is more saturated than ever\, making it hard for new writers to stand out\, connect with their target readers\, and sell more books. In this writers workshop\, instructor Helen P. Bradley will share how she promoted her debut novel Breach of Trust on a tight budget by using tried-and-true old school marketing. \nYou’ll learn how to: create community\, find book clubs and events\, write an elevator pitch\, organize a book launch\, create a mailing list\, and more. Even if you’re an introvert and marketing sounds more painful than a sunburn\, you can promote your book to your ideal audience with these authentic\, ethical marketing tools. \nThis workshop is for published authors as well as those still on the writing journey. It’s never too early to think about marketing. Come hang out with other writers and bring something to write with like old school pen and paper or your favorite device. \nLocation and Cost\nThis is an in-person writers workshop\, held at the Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St\, Beaufort). Limited to 15 participants with advance registration required; $50/person. \nAbout Our Instructor\nHelen P. Bradley’s debut novel\, Breach of Trust\, was released in April 2023. It draws from her experiences during twenty-seven years heading a nationally-recognized crime victim advocacy program. It’s about one woman’s fight to protect crime victims and expose corruption within the district attorney’s office that leads her on a harrowing and life-changing journey. \nHelen was nominated for 2024 Georgia Author of the Year for a debut novel. She recently was voted Best Local Author and Breach of Trust Best New Local Book in Connect Savannah’s Best Of contest. More than 100 people attended her book launch and broke all sales records for the bookstore selling her books. In August 2022\, she won first place in NextTribe’s essay contest. The essay about raising her grandson was selected out of a field of 55 entries from across the country. \nFor a decade (pre-Covid) she mentored middle school student writers through the Deep program which was recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama (www.deepcenter.org). She helped young people write their powerful stories and they\, in turn\, inspired her to write hers. \nShe’s written curricula\, essays\, and articles for The National Organization for Victim Assistance\, The National Victim Center\, and the Georgia Victim Assistance Academy. She was a journalist at two daily South Carolina newspapers and has had essays published in The Savannah Anthology\, Savannah Magazine\, The Savannah Morning News\, and Law Enforcement Magazine.After her victim advocacy career\, she started a wedding officiant business\, Savannah Simple Weddings. \nHelen has a degree in English from Clemson University and earned a master’s in public administration from Georgia Southern University. She served as a trainer for the National Organization for Victim Assistance\, The National Victim Center\, and numerous other organizations. She lives in Savannah\, Georgia\, with her husband\, teen grandson\, and an antisocial rescue cat. She enjoys practicing yoga\, gobbling chocolate\, and reading obituaries.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/grassroots-marketing-for-authors-workshop-led-by-helen-p-bradley/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251206T140514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034511Z
UID:10001173-1768667400-1768674600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Silent Book Club Beaufort
DESCRIPTION:Silent Book Club Beaufort\, a unique take on the traditional book club\, meets at the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center (601 Bladen St.) on third Saturdays from 4:30 to 6:30PM. Co-sponsored by the Conroy Center and the student book club DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization)\, .this community gathering invites book lovers to enjoy their current reads in a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. \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. Additional dates and locations will be announced via www.instagram.com/silentbookclubbeaufort.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/silent-book-club-beaufort-4/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23288_image_594059390_1279171300911008_5875602477022042608_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T173000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20251212T140514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034512Z
UID:10001176-1768060800-1768066200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Afternoon with USA Today Bestselling Novelist Jennifer Moorman\, Author of The Charmed Library
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon with USA Today bestselling novelist Jennifer Moorman\, author of The Charmed Library\, on Saturday\, January 10\, at 4:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Moorman will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. This free event is presented in partnership with the Storybook Shoppe. Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE CHARMED LIBRARY\nLike many other public libraries\, the one in Blue Sky Valley\, North Carolina\, is a haven for readers. But it’s also unlike any other. In this library\, fictional characters step off the page into real life. Assistant librarian Stella Parker has no idea. Still reeling from her father’s death and–more recently–a breakup\, she hasn’t noticed. All she knows is she’s stuck in a job she’s overqualified for and stumped about what to do with her life. \nEverything changes when she burns her beloved journal. Words matter to Stella. For as long as she can remember\, she’s seen them. Words appear–in varying colors and fonts–rising from surfaces\, bouncing over objects\, and even wiggling out of people. Words give her insight into emotions and untold stories. But the words change for Stella after she burns her journal. Suddenly they’re demanding\, urgent–and painful. \nThen Stella stumbles upon strange characters in the library after hours. One is an oddly familiar World War II soldier who introduces himself as Jack—Jack Mathis\, the main character from her favorite book. A fictional hero and Stella’s first crush. Standing in front of her in the flesh. \nJack tells Stella about the magic hidden in the library. Skeptical\, Stella rashly invites a villain to visit\, and chaos ensues. As she discovers the importance of protecting the library’s secret and gets to know the real Jack\, words continue to appear. What are they trying to tell her? Much too quickly\, Stella is faced with the reality that all stories must end\, and magic comes at a price. The characters who visit the library can only stay for fourteen days. And Jack’s time is almost up. \n“Moorman delivers the perfect blend of magical realism and romance in this sweet tale about the power of books . . . With enough surprises to keep it from being predictable\, Moorman’s delightful story will charm readers.”—Library Journal \n“Moorman examines the consequences of losing oneself to grief and the magical\, healing power of books. This enchanting and delightful read is a must for book and library lovers.”—Booklist \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nJennifer Moorman writes enchanting novels inspired by the everyday magic and whimsy in the world around her. She is the bestselling author of the magical realism Mystic Water series\, The Baker’s Man\, and The Magic All Around. Born and raised in Southern Georgia\, Jennifer has a deep love for nature\, a fondness for honeysuckle\, and childhood memories of whippoorwills singing her to sleep. When she’s not writing\, you can find her testing a new recipe\, chasing rainbows\, or stargazing. She lives in a magic house in Nashville\, Tennessee.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-usa-today-bestselling-novelist-jennifer-moorman-author-of-the-charmed-library/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251213T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251213T160000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260302T154517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034512Z
UID:10001204-1765634400-1765641600@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:Book Signing with Susan Stone and Ifetayo J. White
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an afternoon book signing with two local writers\, Susan Stone (The Magical Nature of Humans) and Ifetayo J. White (Reiki Heart and Soul) on Saturday\, December 13\, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conroy Center\, 601 Bladen St. Free and open to the public\, the afternoon will include a brief discussion between the authors\, with books available for sale and signing. No advance registration required; drop-in guests welcome.  \nABOUT THE AUTHORS\nSusan Stone is a Reiki 3/ Master\, Level 3 Reconnection practitioner\, and Certified Crystal Healer. After being struck by lightning\, she developed the ability to connect and communicate with people beyond the veil of this world. In 2008 she was adopted by the Cherokee Nation and named Great Bear Medicine Woman and is now recognized as a Clan Grandmother. In 2009 she was initiated as a shaman and ordained as a non-denominational minister. During the course of her practice\, she has met hundreds of people awakening to their potential\, all of whom had amazing stories to share. She compiled their stories and combined them with some of her own in The Magical Nature of Humans. Currently\, Susan operates a school of arts in Port Royal\, leading others to discover the artist\, poet\, musician and mystic that exists within us all. \nIfetayo J. White\, an influential figure in the realm of Reiki and wellness\, hails from Washington\, DC\, but now calls St. Helena Island her home. She established the Lowcountry School of Reiki and CHOICES Birthing and Wellness Support\, contributing significantly to healing practices in the area since 2000. A Howard University graduate\, she pursued diverse paths before dedicating herself to healing modalities such as reflexology\, Jin Shin Do Acupressure\, and massage therapy. As a Usui Reiki Master Teacher since 1999\, Ifetayo continues to share her expertise through sessions\, workshops\, and her own Reiki certification program. Her heart is also filled with love for her family\, crafting\, cooking\, and beach walks.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/book-signing-with-susan-stone-and-ifetayo-j-white/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/23253_image_587701662_1267914152036723_1704586456333365967_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260427T134522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034514Z
UID:10001364-1762448400-1762453800@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Andrew K. Clark\, Author of Where Dark Things Rise\, in Conversation w/ Dana Ridenour
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with novelist Andrew K. Clark\, author of Where Dark Things Rise\, in conversation with Dana Ridenour\, author of the Lexie Montgomery Series\, on Thursday\, November 6\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited: please reserve in advance to attend this free author event: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE NOVEL\nSixteen-year-old Mina is frustrated by Daddy’s drinking\, her mom’s fanatical religious beliefs\, and growing up poor in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Most of her teachers assume she won’t amount to much despite her 4.0 GPA\, and the country club guys think she’s easy prey. But they don’t know Mina’s dark secret: She can control a magical force of supernatural creatures known as the Shadow Faces. Mina doesn’t want powers. All she wants to do is escape the trailer park for a leafy college campus far away. But when her crush\, Gabe\, is stalked by a shapeshifting preacher/wolf\, Mina learns to use her powers to protect him. Mina soon discovers the same preacher is trafficking teens for a mystical brothel and has kidnapped her best friend\, Erin\, after a failed attempt at conversion therapy. Can Mina use the Shadow Faces to save Erin and the other kids without losing her chance at a normal life? \n“Magical realism and small-town horror intertwine…[and] hums with a satisfying mix of humanity and creepiness. Where Dark Things Rise is ultimately about acceptance\, family (both blood and found)\, and the power of choice. Fans who like some heart in their horror will find plenty of it beating here.”–Publisher’s Weekly \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nAndrew K. Clark is a writer from Alexander\, North Carolina\, outside of Asheville where he now resides. His debut novel\, Where Dark Things Grow\, was published in 2024. His first full-length collection of poetry\, Jesus in the Trailer\, was short-listed for the Able Muse Book Award. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in UCLA’s Out of Anonymity\, Coffin Bell Journal\, The Journal of American Poetry\, Appalachian Review\, Rappahannock Review\, fall/lines\, The Wrath Bearing Tree and many others. Clark earned his a B.A. in English and M.B.A. from Georgia Southern University\, and an M.F.A. from Converse College.  \nABOUT THE INTERVIEWER\nDana Ridenour is the award-winning author of the Lexie Montgomery FBI Series: Behind the Mask\, Beyond the Cabin\, and Below the Radar. Ridenour is a retired FBI special agent who spent most of her career as an undercover operative. She now lives and writes in the South Carolina lowcountry.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-andrew-k-clark-author-of-where-dark-things-rise-in-conversation-w-dana-ridenour/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260427T134523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034515Z
UID:10001366-1761670800-1761676200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Carla Damron\, Author of The Weird Girl
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with award-winning novelist Carla Damron\, author of The Weird Girl\, on Tuesday\, October 28\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Damron will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and DAYLO student leader E Achurch. 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 WEIRD GIRL\n“A riveting read that will fill you with outrage and hope.”—Catherine Matthews\, author of Releasing the Reins \nAward-winning social worker turned award-winning novelist Carla Damron writes crime fiction to make a difference—humanistic cautionary tales populated by believably engaging characters confronting real-world dilemmas.  \nThe Weird Girl heralds the return of Georgia Thayer\, the social worker protagonist of Damron’s 2022 novel The Orchid Tattoo\, winner of the PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence. Georgia has spent her career fighting for the vulnerable\, but nothing could prepare her for being a foster mom to Tessa—a teenager haunted by her traumatic past. Determined to give her a normal life\, Georgia’s hopes are crushed when a neighborhood party spirals into disaster\, leaving one girl fighting for her life and another who vanishes without a trace. \nAs Georgia undertakes a frantic search for the missing girl\, she uncovers a dangerous fentanyl trade that snakes from hospital emergency rooms to high school hallways to the darkest corners of her city. She is up against a charismatic candidate for attorney general and a ruthless drug kingpin\, two powerful men willing to use lethal means to bury their secrets. \nWith her chosen family threatened\, her faith in herself shaken\, and an unexpected ally emerging from the shadow\, Georgia’s efforts to save one girl puts her own in danger. The clock is ticking. The truth is deadly. And every second lost could mean another life destroyed. \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nCarla Damron is a fiction writer and social worker. Her first Georgia Thayer novel\, The Orchid Tattoo\, won a 2023 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence. Damron is also the author of The Stone Necklace\, which winner of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association’s Star Award for best novel\, and of the Caleb Knowles mystery novels: Keeping Silent\, Spider Blue\, and Death in Zooville. Her novels explore social issues like addiction\, homelessness\, mental illness\, and human trafficking.Her short stories have appeared in Fall Lines\, Six Minute Magazine\, Melusine\, In Posse Review\, and other journals. In 2014\, Damron was recognized as the South Carolina Social Worker of the Year\, and in 2017\, she was honored with the Pioneer Award by the University of South Carolina College of Social Work for her advocacy on the state and national levels. She holds a Master in Social Work (USC) and an MFA in creative writing from Queens University. She lives and writes in Columbia\, South Carolina.  \nABOUT THE INTERVIEWERS\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. \nE Achurch is junior at the Complete Student\, where she is founding president of her school’s chapter of DAYLO: The Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization. She is a counselor for the Conroy Center’s Camp Conroy summer writing and art program and a past participant in the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities summer program.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-carla-damron-author-of-the-weird-girl/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260427T134523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034515Z
UID:10001375-1759856400-1759861800@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Elaine Neil Orr\, Author of Dancing Woman\, in Conversation with Bren McClain
DESCRIPTION:NeverMore Books and the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with visiting novelist Elaine Neil Orr\, author of Dancing Woman\, in conversation with fellow novelist Bren McClain\, award-winning author of One Good Mama Bone. Free and open to public\, this in-person event will be held at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort) on Tuesday\, October 7\, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.\, with books available for sale and signing through NeverMore Books. Seating is limited; please call the store to reserve your spot: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE BOOK\nElaine Neil Orr\, born in Nigeria to expat parents\, brings us an indelible portrait of a young female artist\, torn between two men and two cultures\, struggling to find her passion and her purpose. It’s 1963 and Isabel Hammond is an expat who has accompanied her agriculture aid worker husband to Nigeria\, where she is hoping to find inspiration for her art and for her life. Then she meets charismatic local singer Bobby Tunde\, and they share a night of passion that could upend everything. Seeking solace and distraction\, she returns to her painting and her home in a rural town where she plants a lemon tree and unearths an ancient statue buried in her garden. She knows that the dancing female figure is not hers to keep\, yet she is reluctant to give it up\, and soon\, she notices other changes that make her wonder what the dancing woman might portend. \nAgainst the backdrop of political unrest in Nigeria\, Isabel’s personal situation also becomes precarious. She finds herself in the center of a tide of suspicion\, leaving her torn between the confines of her domestic life and the desire to immerse herself in her art and in the culture that surrounds her. The expat society\, the ancient Nigerian culture\, her beautiful family\, and even the statue hidden in a back room—each trouble and beguile Isabel. Amid all of this\, can she finally become who she wants to be? \n“Sure to become a popular book club pick.”—Southern Review of Books \n“Brimming with vivid description\, deeply rooted in time and place\, and with a fascinating cast of complicated\, enigmatic characters\, Dancing Woman is ultimately a story of longing—for a sense of self\, community\, redemption\, and healing—and a profound exploration of the transformative power of art in its many forms.”—Charles Frazier\, Cold Mountain and The Trackers \n“The urgency of protagonist Isabell Hammond’s voice and her desires mixed with the dreaminess and other-worldliness of the setting creates a singularly spellbinding and original read. I literally could not put this book down!”—Lee Smith\, Silver Alert and The Last Girls \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nThe author of six books\, Elaine Neil Orr was born and grew up among the forests and rivers of Southwestern Nigeria. Her explorations of home and exile and spiritual connection are rooted in those rich formative years. She comes to the American South by way of that other South in West Africa. After devoting herself to literary scholarship in the early part of her career\, Elaine could no longer resist the call of creative writing. She first published a memoir\, Gods of Noonday: A White Girl’s African Life\, followed by two novels\, A Different Sun and Swimming Between Worlds\, finalist for the 2019 Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award in fiction. Dancing Woman is her third novel. \nElaine has received numerous prizes and awards\, including most recently the 2023 John Ehle Prize\, North Carolina Literary Review\, and the 2021 Denny C. Plattner Award in Creative Writing\, Appalachian Review. She has won grants from the NEH\, the North Carolina Arts Council\, and North Carolina Humanities. Elaine received her Ph.D. from Emory University and is Professor of English at North Carolina State University. She also serves on the faculty of the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing. She lives in Raleigh\, North Carolina\, with her husband\, Andy\, and their beloved pup\, Sam. \nABOUT THE INTERVIEWER\nBren McClain’s critically acclaimed debut novel One Good Mama Bone won the 2017 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction and the 2018 Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature. It was also named Pulpwood Queen 2017 Book of the Year\, a 2017 Great Group Reads by the Women’s National Book Association\, a Southeastern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA) Okra pick\, longlisted for SIBA’s Southern Book Prize and a finalist for the 2018 Crook’s Corner Prize. Most recently\, the French translation (retitled Mama Red) was selected for the 2021 Prix Maya\, an award given for France’s best animal novel. Bren is now working on her next novel\, which has already received the gold medal for the William Faulkner Novel-in-Progress. Bren hails from upstate South Carolina\, Anderson\, where her novel is set.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-elaine-neil-orr-author-of-dancing-woman-in-conversation-with-bren-mcclain/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250717T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250717T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260427T134525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034516Z
UID:10001395-1752771600-1752777000@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Novelist Katherine Scott Crawford\, Author of The Miniaturist's Assistant
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, in partnership with Beaufort Bookstore\, will host an evening with novelist Katherine Scott Crawford\, author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant\, on July 17 at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort).Books will be available for sale and signing. Seating is limited; please call in advance to reserve: 843-379-7025. \nABOUT THE BOOK\nThe Miniaturist’s Assistant explores the mystery of time\, how our choices ripple throughout history\, and what it means to be a fully-realized woman— in any century. \n2004: In historic Charleston\, recently divorced art conservator Gamble Vance throws herself into her career restoring centuries-old miniature portraits. But one portrait haunts her: a woman in a fox stole\, with familiar hazel eyes. When Gamble meets a girl in an alley\, she’ s convinced it’ s the same woman— and it’ s not the first time they’ ve met. For help\, Gamble turns to African American Studies scholar Tolliver Jackson— a former foster kid with secrets of his own. But as Gamble’ s memories resurface\, the pair discover a connection which may endanger more than one life… in more than one lifetime.  \n1804: Miniature portraitist and fallen-away Quaker Daniel Petigru paints for Charleston’ s high society. Daniel and his sister live with a free Black family\, their connection long and complicated. When Gamble arrives from the future and her presence puts them all at risk\, Daniel must decide if he loves her enough to let her go.  \n“What a lush\, bold novel is The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford\, blending love\, intrigue\, and the role of portrait art in history for a story that is as suspenseful as it is wildly romantic. I’m not a fan of time travel tales in general\, but the astounding journey of art restorer Gamble Vance through the Charleston of the present and the very long past transcends genre and takes the reader places that are entirely new.”—Jacquelyn Mitchard\, author of The Deep End of the Ocean and The Birdwatcher \n“The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a multifaceted love story wrapped in a mystery that unfurls on the changing winds of history. A rollicking\, page-turning tale\, this unforgettable novel explores time travel\, art\, passion\, the complexity of past sins\, and the abundant promises embedded in the here and now. Katherine Scott Crawford has written a beautiful book steeped in humanity\, truth\, and wonder.”—Connie May Fowler\, author of Before Women had Wings \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nKatherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide\, adjunct professor\, and recovering academic\, her newspaper column appeared weekly across the country and abroad\, including in USA Today\, The Detroit Free Press\, the Herald Scotland\, and more. Winner of a North Carolina Arts Award in fiction\, she holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else\, enjoys curious people\, adventure\, and snow—and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner\, she directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge in Western North Carolina\, where she lives with her family.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-novelist-katherine-scott-crawford-author-of-the-miniaturists-assistant/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250605T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250605T183000
DTSTAMP:20260526T004017
CREATED:20260427T134525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T034516Z
UID:10001403-1749142800-1749148200@patconroyliterarycenter.org
SUMMARY:An Evening with Julia Elliott\, Author of Hellions
DESCRIPTION:The nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center\, in partnership with NeverMore Books\, will host an evening with acclaimed fiction writer Julia Elliott\, author of the newly published story collection Hellions—named a TIME Best Book of the Month and a Lit Hub Most Anticipated Book of the Year—on Thursday\, June 5\, at 5:00 p.m.\, at the Conroy Center (601 Bladen St.\, Beaufort). Elliott will be in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt and DAYLO student leader E Achurch. 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\nFrom the acclaimed author of The Wilds comes an electric story collection that blends folklore\, fairy tales\, Southern Gothic\, and horror\, reveling in the collision of the familiar with the wildly surreal. \nIn a plague-stricken medieval convent\, a nun works on a forbidden mystic manuscript\, pining for Christ’s love. During a long\, muggy July in rural South Carolina\, an adolescent girl finds unexpected power as her family obsesses over the horror film The Exorcist. On the outskirts of a Southern college town\, a young woman resists the tyranny of a shape-shifting older professor as she develops her own sorceress skills. And at a feminist art colony in the North Carolina mountains\, a group of mothers contends with the supernatural talents their children have picked up from a pair of mysterious orphans who live in the woods. \nWith exuberance\, ferocity\, and astounding imagination\, Julia Elliott’s Hellions jumps from the occult to the comic\, from the horrific to the wondrous\, presenting earthbound characters who long for the otherworldly. \n“Intoxicating\, fantasy-tinged. . . . Elliott’s rich and magical landscape will pull readers in.”―Publishers Weekly \n“Bewitching. . . . Gothic\, atmospheric\, and filled with the lavish symbolism contained in the natural world.”―Booklist \n“A genius at the short-story form\, Julia Elliott achieves new highs with the astonishing Hellions. Beautiful\, visceral\, surprising stories\, both wild and dangerous\, with a Southern twang but universal appeal…. One of my favorite collections of the past few years.”―Jeff VanderMeer\, author of Absolution \n“Julia Elliott’s fiction is its own country. Every sentence drips and unsettles\, every character lusts and schemes\, every landscape is alien and forbidding. But there is something eerily familiar pulsing underneath the wildness―the way your waking life snakes through the logic of your dreams. I am obsessed with these lush\, feral stories.”―Carmen Maria Machado\, author of Her Body and Other Parties \nABOUT THE AUTHOR\nJulia Elliott is the author of the story collection The Wilds\, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice\, and the novel The New and Improved Romie Futch (both from Tin House). Her work has appeared in The Georgia Review\, Tin House\, Conjunctions\, and the New York Times. She has won a Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award\, and her stories have been anthologized in Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses. She teaches English and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina and lives in Columbia with her husband\, daughter\, and five hens. \nABOUT THE INTERVIEWERS\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. \nE Achurch is sophomore at the Complete Student\, where she is founding president of her school’s chapter of DAYLO: The Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization. She is a counselor for the Conroy Center’s Camp Conroy summer writing and art program and a past participant in the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities summer creative writing program.
URL:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/calendar/an-evening-with-julia-elliott-author-of-hellions/
LOCATION:Pat Conroy Literary Center
CATEGORIES:Other
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23584_image_491834618_1088519629976177_5677921539137299121_n.jpg
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