Several
times in WWK, I’ve written with enthusiasm about the South Carolina Book
Festival, which originally was held in February and later moved to May.
Organized by the Humanities Council of South Carolina, the Book Festival was a
highly anticipated event for folks who loved reading and writing. A WWK
blogging partner, James M. Jackson was a panelist one year. In the past, the
Book Festival has featured Jeffrey Deaver, Harlen Coben, Scott Turow, Robert
Dugoni, C.J. Box, Hallie Ephron, and Pat Conroy. So, when it was announced last
year that the Book Festival would be no more, the news was met with despair.
Fortunately,
a group of reading enthusiasts took up the mantle and organized a new festival
that will take place this coming weekend. Called Deckle Edge, after the deckle
frame used in manual paper making that leaves a ragged or feathered edge as the
paper comes through the machine, it promises a terrific three-day celebration
of all things literary.
 |
| Hank Phillippi Ryan |
The
local organizers welcomed our Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime’ request to
be involved and our chapter was delighted when Sisters in Crime National gave
us a grant to bring Hank Phillippi Ryan to participate. Not only will we be
celebrating Hank’s latest Agatha nominated What
You See, but also the reissuance of her first Charlotte McNally book, Prime Time, which won the Agatha for
best first novel. Hank will be involved in two events on Saturday, February 20,
the first at 9:30 AM moderating a panel of mystery authors that will include
Palmetto Chapter members C. Hope Clark and Sasscer Hill and the second at 12:30
PM being interviewed by former Sisters in Crime National President Cathy
Pickens. Since Hank also is a former SinC National President, it will be
wonderful to have two “goddesses” from National’s pantheon to enthrall us with
tales about their work and experiences in publishing.
 |
| Cathy Pickens |
On
Friday, February 19, I’m excited to be teaching a workshop called “Plotting
Strategies for Short Stories, Novels, and Plays.” Another member of the
Palmetto Chapter, J.E. Thompson, will have a segment about children’s mysteries
on Saturday. On Sunday, the Richland County Library is hosting a local author
showcase featuring some of our chapter’s members.
 |
| C. Hope Clark |
The
Palmetto Chapter is especially delighted that our member Carla Damron, a WWK
contributor, is being honored for her new book The Stone Necklace. As Carla has mentioned in her WWK posts, her
novel is being published by the University of South Carolina Press’ Story River
Books, Pat Conroy’s imprint. It has been selected for the “One Book, One
Community” program (where the folks in Columbia are urged to read and discuss The Stone Necklace), so Carla has been
making lots of personal appearances and many folks have been reading the
beautiful work where she has carefully crafted four intertwining, compelling
stories. Carla’s panel will close out the Deckle Edge Book Festival on Sunday.
 |
| Sasscer Hill |
If
you can attend the festival this coming weekend in Columbia, SC, you’ll hear
great authors and have the opportunity to view a number of historic venues. My
workshop will take place in the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, where the future
president spent his boyhood years. Hank’s events will be in the Columbia Museum
of Art.
So wish us well as we
embark upon this new endeavor. Do you have a book festival in your community?
Have you thought about initiating one?
 |
| Carla Damron |
