Events Calendar
Explore family friendly events, theatres, galleries, concerts, nightlife, things to do, and more in the Greenville, SC and Upstate areas.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Join us for Lunch & Lit with Mary Adkins and her most recent book, Palm Beach.
A thought-provoking page-turner from the author of When You Read This and Privilege, Palm Beach captures the painful divide between the haves and have-nots and the seductive lure of the American dream in a book that unequivocally beachy.
Mary will be on hand to talk, answer questions, and sign books, and we’ll be dining at the hands of the fabulous Chef Shaun Garcia at Soby’s (which is hardly ever open for lunch).
Join us on Friday, August 19th at 5:30 pm for an In Conversation event with Liz Michalski!
We’ll be chatting about her new novel, Darling Girl: a novel of Peter Pan. In this beautiful, grounded, and darkly magical modern-day reimagining of J. M. Barrie’s classic, to save her daughter’s life, the granddaughter of Wendy, yes that Wendy, must take on the infamous Peter Pan—who is not the innocent adventurer the fairy tales make him out to be . . . This story brings all the magic of the classic Peter Pan story to the present, while also exploring the dark underpinnings of fairy tales, grief, aging, sacrifice, motherhood, and just how far we will go to protect those we love.
This is a free event!
We are so excited to spend an evening with Catherine talking over her latest book Please Join Us. What better way to do it than over a couple of cocktails??
“Catherine McKenzie knows how to write a twisty ending, and this one certainly delivers. Please Join Us has all the hallmarks of a great suspense novel—a secretive group, a woman at a crossroads, and a crime that might not be all it seems to be. The shocking conclusion pulls together all the pieces while leaving the reader guessing.”—Kaitlin O., Editor, on Please Join Us.
Please join us (ha!) Thursday, August 25th at 7:30 pm! Your ticket includes admission, a cocktail, and a copy of the book.
Join us for a book-inspired wine tasting! We pair the qualities of each wine with a book that shares the same spirit. Your ticket to the tasting, apart from the tastes, includes your choice of one of the featured books. Bottles of the featured wines will be for sale at great prices, too. This event is a crowd favorite, serving as a great date, a perfect girls night out, or treat to yourself. Buy your ticket now and join us on Tuesday, August 30th!
Time for your poems or stories or essays to be heard? Join us for something new… Open Mic Night!
Work up a 5 minute sample of your literary arts, then come sign up for a slot! The sign-up sheet will be available at 5:45 pm at M. Judson. Readings will start at 6pm. Get here early. Reading slots are limited!
If you aren’t one for sharing, come by for a listen. Grab a coffee, cookie, or glass of wine from Camilla Kitchen and prepare to be impressed!
* This is a free event sponsored by our friends at SCGSAH. As such, please keep the content of your readings family friendly.
Join us at the Launch Party for Landra Jenning’s debut: The Whispering Fog!
In this spooky and atmospheric debut contemporary fantasy (Middle Grade), Snow White and Rose Red meets the modern world after sisters Neve and Rose’s lives are upended when a swamp witch kidnaps Rose. This is perfect for fans of Jodi Lynn Anderson and Katherine Arden!
For twelve-year-old Neve, it’s always been she and her older sister against the world, their lives entwined just like sisters in a fairy tale. So, if Rose loves tennis, Neve will play it too—even if secretly she’d rather be home turning cardboard boxes into offbeat art projects. Not even being moved to the piney woods outside Etters, South Carolina, can change what they are to each other—until a mysterious fog seems to swallow up Rose before Neve’s eyes.
Naturally, the adults don’t believe that something supernatural is at play. So, with the help of Piper, a classmate with a tomato fixation; Sammy, a boy with memories of an otherworldly stranger; and a stray dog that seems to belong to the woods, Neve discovers that her sister has been taken by a swamp-dwelling witch with a terribly wicked plan. It will be up to Neve to save her sister. Otherwise, she’ll be separated from Rose . . . forever
A gorgeous, haunting debut about sisterhood and finding your voice.
Reviews:
‘With a dose of creepiness and a dash of delight, Landra Jennings brews a bewitching tale of sisterly love, finding your voice, and the value of a good tomato. I love this book.’ — Anne Ursu, author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy
‘The Whispering Fog is a dark and twisty retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, with a delicious page-turner of an ending. But underneath the magic, it’s a refreshingly honest story about imperfect families, about how sometimes we care best for others by being real with ourselves. I loved it.’ — Laurel Snyder, author of Orphan Island and My Jasper June
This is a FREE EVENT, perfect family event, fun for all ages!
Join us for a book-inspired wine tasting! We pair the qualities of each wine with a book that shares the same spirit. Your ticket to the tasting, apart from the tastes, includes your choice of one of the featured books. Bottles of the featured wines will be for sale at great prices, too. This event is a crowd favorite, serving as a great date, a perfect girls night out, or treat to yourself. Buy your ticket now and join us on Tuesday, September 20th!
The Creative and Professional Writing Program is excited to host award-winning novelist Robert Olmstead for a reading on September 20 at 8:00 p.m. in Zimmerli Common Room, Howard Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Prof. Rick Mulkey with questions.
Robert Olmstead is the author of nine books, including Savage Country which was published by Algonquin, and was an Amazon “Best Book of October 2017.” Other recent award-winning novels include The Coldest Night, and Coal Black Horse published by Algonquin Books. He also has published a textbook for fiction-writing workshops (“Elements of the Craft”) and a non-fiction memoir (“Stay Here with Me: A Memoir”), plus numerous individual stories and essays in some of our nation’s finest magazines. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship and an NEA grant. He has taught in numerous colleges, universities and writing workshops, including Dickinson College, UC Irvine, Boise State University and the Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia. His novel Far Bright Star is in the early stages of production as a feature film directed by Casey Affleck and adapted for the screen by Damien Ober.
Olmstead is a core faculty member in the Converse Low Residency MFA program, and he is visiting campus for a month in Fall 2022 as the Sara Lura Mathews Self Writer-in-Residence, and is teaching an Advanced Tutorial Fiction course.
The Jump Off: The Importance of the Inciting Incident will help writers craft exciting openings to hook an audience. “If you don’t grab an audience in the opening moments of a speech, play, novel, or even television series, they’re lost forever. Learn how to identify a compelling inciting incident and make it riveting.”
Raegan Payne is a published, award-winning playwright whose plays have been produced from Los Angeles to Lagos. She studied Shakespeare at the British American Drama Academy and improv/sketch writing at The Groundlings in Los Angeles and has just finished a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge in Writing for Performance. She is a member of Ammunition Theatre Company’s Writers Group, the Dramatist Guild, Actors’ Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative. She unwinds by fostering kittens and practicing Aikido. For more info go to: raeganpayne.com
Hub City Bookshop is excited to welcome author and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to the Converse University Twichell Auditorium at Zimmerli Performance Center on Tuesday, September 27th for an evening celebrating the release of his new book, “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization.” Bringing his signature insight to some of the most crucial fault lines of our time—war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race—Tyson’s book provides an antidote to the earth-bound point-of-view that so often divides us in contemporary times. The author will be joined in conversation by Dr. Will Case, Converse University Associate Professor of Chemistry.
This is a ticketed event, with each ticket including a signed copy of the book. Tickets are available through the Converse University website.
The event will begin at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:15. Can’t wait to see you there!
Time for your poems or stories or essays to be heard? Join us for something new… Open Mic Night!
Work up a 5 minute sample of your literary arts, then come sign up for a slot! The sign-up sheet will be available at 5:45 pm at M. Judson. Readings will start at 6pm. Get here early. Reading slots are limited!
If you aren’t one for sharing, come by for a listen. Grab a coffee, cookie, or glass of wine from Camilla Kitchen and prepare to be impressed!
* This is a free event sponsored by our friends at SCGSAH. As such, please keep the content of your readings family friendly.
Stop by Saturday, October 22nd to meet Author, TEDx speaker & captain, US Coast Guard (ret) Martha LaGuardia-Kotite. She’s bringing her three of her five award winning books: Changing the Rules of Engagement, So Others May Live, and My Name is Old Glory.
Using her own “sea stories” and profiles of top leaders to inspire others, Martha’s leadership and inspirational presentations and books are influenced by her 30-year career serving at sea and ashore. She believes that no matter your age or experience, you can be bold, you can achieve your daring dreams and you can enjoy the journey of life!
Come meet her, hear more about her books and life, and get a signed copy!
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Captain Martha LaGuardia-Kotite’s bold leadership style empowered her to be one of the first female officers to serve aboard two Coast Guard cutters with all male crews. Patrolling the Pacific, Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, Martha remained true to herself while changing the rules of engagement.
Martha is qualified as a USCG Master of Vessels less than 100-tons. She drives Seabourn’s Zodiac MK6’s and MK5’s in Alaska, British Columbia, Norway and soon around the globe while also sharing stories from her career and award-winning books for Seabourn cruise guests on center stage.
Martha is an experienced TEDx speaker, TEDx coach and keynote speaker, making a difference using her own “sea stories” and profiles of top leaders to inspire others, her leadership and inspirational presentations are influenced by her 30-year career serving at sea and ashore. She believes that no matter your age or experience, you can be bold, you can achieve your daring dreams and you can enjoy the journey of life!
A graduate of the Coast Guard Academy with a masters from Harvard University, Martha rose to the senior rank of captain in the US Coast Guard, earned numerous personal and team awards for her mobilizations during national disasters, missions saving lives at sea and work as a public relations spokesperson for the Service. Hand- picked to serve as the Commandant’s Press Secretary she also worked in New York City for a public relations firm as account director for IBM.
She is an award-winning author of five books including the award-winning So Others May Live – Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Saving Lives, Defying Death which was used by Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher for their roles in the movie The Guardian.
An avid sailor, paddle boarder, mother of two sons, Martha lives in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida with her husband.
Join us for a book-inspired wine tasting! We pair the qualities of each wine with a book that shares the same spirit. Your ticket to the tasting, apart from the tastes, includes your choice of one of the featured books. Bottles of the featured wines will be for sale at great prices, too. This event is a crowd favorite, serving as a great date, a perfect girls night out, or treat to yourself. Buy your ticket now and join us on Tuesday, October 25th!
Stop by Saturday, October 29th to meet author T.J. Champitto and hear about his novel The Shadowmaker!
A local author, Champitto has been given the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, the Maxy Award for Best Thriller, and was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award. In this new novel, Henry Sirola is one of the world’s greatest art and jewelry thieves, and an upcoming star in the Croatian mob. But Henry has a secret. He’s also an FBI informant, known only as The Shadowmaker. When a priceless treasure, seemingly lost to history, is plucked from the ocean floor, Henry’s two worlds are put on a deadly collision course…
Come meet Champitto, hear more about his novel, and get a signed copy! This is a free event.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T.J. Champitto is the Amazon bestselling author of The Medina Device and The Shadowmaker. In 2020, Champitto was given the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, the Maxy Award for Best Thriller, and was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award. He currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife and two dogs.
BOOK SUMMARY
Henry Sirola, a world-renowned art and jewel thief, is given a new assignment by the Croatian mob to retrieve a priceless artifact previously lost to history. He knows it could be the biggest score of his life, but he has a secret. He’s also an FBI informant.
Henry and his associates are tasked with securing the artifact in Brazil where their mission spirals out of control, and when they return home, an assassin strikes at the heart of their team.
With his former girlfriend, Isabell, Henry now must hunt down a cold-blooded killer. A series of clues lead to a mysterious farmhouse in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and a laptop that just might hold the answers to his troubled past.
Meanwhile, an NSA agent seeks information about the man known only as The Shadowmaker. Henry fights to keep his identity hidden, but he and his team are summoned to Europe to finish the mission and find a buyer for the mob’s priceless new treasure. His battle for survival has only begun as his quest for the truth will take him from the bistros and castles of Italy to the back alleys of Zürich, and he will be forced to choose between the safety of the FBI and a life of boundless wealth.
The Shadowmaker hurtles through the dark underworld of organized crime into a pursuit of self-discovery as the battle between good and evil turns personal.
We couldn’t be more excited to have Kardea Brown and her new cookbook, The Way Home, in our store!! We know you’re excited too, so we wanted you to have the chance to not only get her cookbook, but have it signed by her, for you, in person!
Your ticket covers the cost of your book and we’ll email you after you place your order with your time slot for the signing line. Claim yours now!
SUMMARY
In April 2015, Kardea Brown made a leap of faith, quitting her job as a social worker in New Jersey to pursue a career in the food industry. She opened the New Gullah Supper Club, a restaurant and social destination centered around the food she grew up eating at her grandmother’s house on South Carolina’s Wadmalaw Island.
After an appearance on Food Network, Kardea caught the attention of executives at the cooking channel and over the course of nearly four hardworking years became a star–sparring with chefs on hit shows like Beat Bobby Flay and hosting Cupcake Championship. Viewers fell in love with her Southern warmth, love of family, and awe-inspiring New Gullah meals, and Kardea quickly landed her own show, the top-rated Delicious Miss Brown.
In this, her first cookbook, Kardea shares her multi-generational “passed down” recipes and innovative takes on Gullah classics with home cooks everywhere. “Gullah” and “GeeChee” refer to a distinct group of African Americans living in the coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia who have preserved much of their West African language, culture, and cuisine. The Way Home is an unabashed love letter to her family’s roots, packed with dishes that combine West African herbs, spices, and grains with traditional Southern cooking. “Gullah people laid the foundation for Southern cooking. Before farm-to-table was a fad, it was what Gullah people did,” Kardea explains. “I want to show the world that soul food is not monolithic. It’s so much more than fried chicken and vegetables cooked in pork. It’s seasonal, fresh and delicious! “
Filled with more than 100 mouth-watering recipes for starters, main courses, sides, desserts, and more, The Way Home brings a taste of the Lowcountry South home, offering flavor-packed dishes everyone will enjoy such as: She-Crab Soup, Seafood Potato Salad, Crabcake Benedict, Smoked Pasta Salad, Savory Bread Pudding, Peach Dump Cake, Blood Orange Salmon, Smothered Chicken, Low Country Spaghetti, Sweet Potato Cheesecake…
Kardea flavors her recipes with cherished family anecdotes, memories, and helpful tips. A perfect blend of the modern and the traditional, The Way Home honors her proud heritage and shows off her own signature class and sass. The result is a marvelous, big-hearted collection of recipes and stories that will nourish you, body and soul.
Time for your poems or stories or essays to be heard? Join us for something new… Open Mic Night!
Work up a 5 minute sample of your literary arts, then come sign up for a slot! The sign-up sheet will be available at 5:45 pm at M. Judson. Readings will start at 6pm. Get here early. Reading slots are limited!
If you aren’t one for sharing, come by for a listen. Grab a coffee, cookie, or glass of wine from Camilla Kitchen and prepare to be impressed!
* This is a free event sponsored by our friends at SCGSAH. As such, please keep the content of your readings family friendly.
Bring your laptop or pen and paper and work toward your writing goal. Registration required. Email [email protected] or call 864-963-9031 to register
Join us on Wednesday, November 16th at 5:30 pm for an In Conversation event with Brian O’Hare, winner of the 2021 Veterans Writing Award!
We’ll be chatting about his novel, Surrender. In the tradition of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Brian O’Hare’s Surrender is a rich collection of coming-of-age stories, a journey into the heart of the American hero myth, from the Friday night football fields of Western Pennsylvania to a battalion of Marines in the Persian Gulf and beyond. But what happens when the crowds stop cheering and the welcome home parades are over? Find out at this free event!
SUMMARY
Winner of the Syracuse University Press’ 2021 Veterans Writing Award chosen by National Book Award winner and Marine Phil Klay
In the tradition of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, Brian O’Hare’s Surrender is a rich collection of coming-of-age stories, a journey into the heart of the American hero myth, from the Friday night football fields of Western Pennsylvania to a battalion of Marines in the Persian Gulf and beyond. But what happens when the crowds stop cheering and the welcome home parades are over? Guilt, fear, and brutality collide with love and acceptance as a diverse cast of characters struggle to reconcile mythology with reality, and to find meaning in a uniquely American chaos.
In bittersweet stories with surprising humor, the characters grapple with the choices they’ve made and a country they no longer understand. Written in spare and unsentimental prose, yet with a startling emotional punch, these stories, and the unforgettable characters who tell them, will live long in the reader’s imagination.
REVIEWS
“SURRENDER is written in delightful, incisive prose bursting with humanity. It is deeply observed and emotionally powerful, sharp on both the cultural mores of young men and on the deeper consequences of what happens when that mixes with American military power. And each story boasts richly imagined characters that live on in the mind long after you’ve finished reading”
— Phil Klay, author of Redeployment, winner of the National Book Award
“What does it mean to be a man? It’s a good (and complicated) question, but Brian O’Hare’s collection, SURRENDER, can stand with Hemingway’s Nick Adams stories and the work of Andre Dubus in those writers’ attempt to illuminate the cost and fragility of that answer. These stories are not long, but each is a jab to the heart.”
—Jim Krusoe, author of The Sleep Garden
“O’Hare’s SURRENDER crackles with not only the gunfire of combat but the livewire sparks of human emotions. His characters, led by the war-haunted Marine Lieutenant Francis Keane, are as authentic as they come: they ache and groan and break into pieces only to rebuild themselves, shard by shard. This fiction is the stuff of real life. These pages breathe, my friends.”
—David Abrams, author of Brave Deeds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian O’Hare is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and former US Marine Corps officer. His career began in a Baltimore bar, the legendary Club Charles, where director John Waters cast him to appear in his film Cry Baby. Currently, he’s an award-winning writer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. His work has appeared in War, Literature and the Arts; Santa Fe Writers Project; Hobart; and other journals, and he has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. He was named a Writing Fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and recently served as Visiting Writer at CUNY/Kingsborough (Brooklyn). This is his debut novel.
Join us for a book-inspired wine tasting! We pair the qualities of each wine with a book that shares the same spirit. Your ticket to the tasting, apart from the tastes, includes your choice of one of the featured books. Bottles of the featured wines will be for sale at great prices, too. This event is a crowd favorite, serving as a great date, a perfect girls night out, or treat to yourself. Buy your ticket now and join us on Tuesday, November 17th!
Program Room Bring your papers, essays, and writing assignments to this informal, drop-in setting. Staff will be available to read and provide feedback on academic writing materials and share helpful online Library System resources.