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.
Let’s start this year with an out-of-this-world read! Set in space, this has ALL the Firefly vibes you never knew you needed. (Note: you do not have to have watched the TV show Firefly to enjoy this book, but if you’re looking for a quick season of AMAZING television to binge, I highly encourage you to check it out!)
Description:
Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She’s so desperate to reach the realm that she’s willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.
When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he’s been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe…
OUR BOOK CLUB RULES:
– Must be 21+ to attend
– Must have read the book in its entirety (or close enough) to attend
– No significant others or partners may attend with you (sorry, this isn’t an activity for couples!)
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. Plus we’ve got a few authors joining us for a wonderful night.
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 Wednesday, January 24th!
*Refunds or transfers can only be accommodated 48 hours prior to the event.
ABOUT BETH UZINS JOHNSON
Beth Uzins Johnson’s short fiction and essays have appeared in Massachusetts Review, Broad Street, Cincinnati Review, Story Quarterly, Mississippi Review, Southwest Review, “The Best American Essays,” and elsewhere. She was the recipient of the McGinnis-Ritchie Award in nonfiction and holds an MFA in fiction from Queens University of Charlotte. She lives and writes in Chicago, Illinois. Coming Clean is her first novel.
BOOK SUMMARY OF COMING CLEAN
A darkly complex, wildly funny story of haves vs. have-nots and healed vs. healed-nots as cleaning lady Dawn and her friend Matthew embark on a week-long, clandestine photography project–in the houses she cleans Dawn, a self-employed cleaning lady in upstate New York, agrees to pose in the houses she cleans for her friend Matthew’s provocative photography project. Over the course of one week, she and Matthew scour the contents of each home to find inspiration but what she un-covers instead is an unexpected connection to the people who live there: from the insecure Bridget Riley and the recent immigrant Wei Chen to the pretentious Robert McIntyre. But it’s the troubled housewife, Barb Turner, and the contents of her life that finally force Dawn to confront her darkest secret about the death of her fiancé. Coming Clean is a novel of forgive-ness, family, and fresh starts.
ABOUT CARLA DAMRON
CARLA DAMRON is a social worker, advocate and ward-winning author of The Stone Necklace, The Orchid Tattoo, and the Caleb Knowles mystery series. Damron holds an MSW and an MFA. Her careers of social worker and writer are intricately intertwined. Damron is a South Carolina native. Born in Sumter, she currently lives outside of Columbia with her husband and their blended family of assorted animals.
BOOK SUMMARY OF JUSTICE BE DONE
Social worker Caleb Knowles finds himself in the heart of a firestorm of racial tensions and violence in downtown Columbia, SC. When he interviews young Laquan Harwell, the truth behind Laquan’s crime becomes clear – it was born from years of racial mistreatment. However, Laquan’s assault on a white storekeeper lights the match that sets the town on fire: a hate crime sparks protests. Protests erupt into riots.
Downtown becomes a war zone.
The murder of a racist police officer further fuels the violence, and Caleb is deeply entangled in a desperate search for justice. As the riots escalate, Caleb’s brother Sam is injured, leading Caleb to take rash actions that put his career on the line.
As he uncovers the truth about the police officer’s death, Caleb’s efforts to save a client thrust him into the eye of the storm and endanger his life. Will justice prevail, or will the hate-spawned violence take more lives?
Read and discuss Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake. Registration required. Click the register button or call 864-269-5210 to register.
Part of the event series: Book Clubs
The folks at M. Judson are so excited to have Stacy Willingham back! Grab a cocktail and a seat because you’re not going to want to miss hearing her chat about her newest thriller Only If You’re Lucky: a novel.
Your ticket includes admission, a cocktail, and a copy of the book.
BOOK SUMMARY
A sharp and twisty exploration of female friendship from the New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things.
Lucy Sharpe is larger than life. Magnetic, addictive. Bold and dangerous. Especially for Margot, who meets Lucy at the end of their freshman year at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot is the shy one, the careful one, always the sidekick and never the center of attention. But when Lucy singles her out at the end of the year, a year Margot spent studying and playing it safe, and asks her to room together, something in Margot can’t say no–something daring, or starved, or maybe even envious.
And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It’s a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she’s been in since the end of high school, when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered… and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.
From the author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things comes a tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal–another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STACY WILLINGHAM is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things and Only If You’re Lucky. Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, was a 2022 finalist for the Book of the Month’s Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW’s Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages. Before turning to fiction, she was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and Labradoodle, Mako.
We are so excited to have Stacy Willingham back at M.Judosn Booksellers to spend an evening with us on Thursday, January 25th starting at 7:30 pm! Grab a cocktail and a seat because you’re not going to want to miss hearing her chat about her newest thriller Only If You’re Lucky: a novel.
Your ticket includes admission, a cocktail, and a copy of the book.
BOOK SUMMARY
A sharp and twisty exploration of female friendship from the New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things.
Lucy Sharpe is larger than life. Magnetic, addictive. Bold and dangerous. Especially for Margot, who meets Lucy at the end of their freshman year at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot is the shy one, the careful one, always the sidekick and never the center of attention. But when Lucy singles her out at the end of the year, a year Margot spent studying and playing it safe, and asks her to room together, something in Margot can’t say no–something daring, or starved, or maybe even envious.
And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It’s a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she’s been in since the end of high school, when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered… and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.
From the author of A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things comes a tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal–another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STACY WILLINGHAM is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things and Only If You’re Lucky. Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, was a 2022 finalist for the Book of the Month’s Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW’s Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages. Before turning to fiction, she was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and Labradoodle, Mako.
Join New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor for a moderated discussion at the Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library (304 Biltmore Road, Easley, SC 29640) on Friday, January 26th, at 7pm. Brad will discuss his new book, Dead Man’s Hand and will be available afterwards for a book signing. Fiction Addiction will be on-site for book sales.
This event is FREE and open to the public, or you can purchase a book ticket for $34.24. We will have books for sale at the event.
New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor is back with a propulsive and topical edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring Pike Logan as he goes head-to-head with Putin’s henchmen.
To finally end the war between their nations, a rogue band of Ukranian partisans known as the Wolves teams up with members of Russia’s military intelligence to assassinate Vladimir Putin.
But Putin is aware of the traitors in his midst and assigns the loyal commander of the Russian National Guard to root them out. It’s a mission Victor Petrov is expected to undertake after he prevents Sweden from joining NATO—by assassinating a deputy minister of foreign affairs.
After receiving intelligence about the threat in Sweden, the United States sends Pike Logan to identify Petrov’s target—only for him to get caught in the crossfire between Putin’s agents and the Wolves. When the smoke clears, Pike makes no effort to stop the Wolves on their ultimate mission, believing it just, until he discovers that their operation has unimaginable consequences.
For Putin is preparing a devastating endgame: activating the Dead Man’s Hand nuclear response that will launch Russia’s missiles in the event of his death. . .
About the Author:
Brad Taylor Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), is a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has written seventeen New York Times bestsellers and is a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and two daughters.
Thank you to the Pickens County Library System for co-sponsoring this event! The mission of the library is to provide all county residents with access to information through the development of appropriate collections and services. These collections and services must cover the informational, educational, cultural, and entertainment needs of county residents.
The Hampton Memorial Library honors Captain Kimberly Hampton, a native of Easley, SC, who was killed on January 2, 2004, when her OH-58 Kiowa Warrior observation helicopter was attacked near the Iraqi town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Captain Kimberly Hampton is the first female combat pilot killed by enemy fire in United States history.
We’re just as excited as you are for the release of the newest Crescent City Novel, House of Flame and Shadow. What better way to celebrate than a good ol’ fashioned Midnight Release Party?? Join us in the bookstore at 10:30pm for refreshments, trivia, a costume contest, and lots more fun before the big release at midnight when you’ll get your copy of House of Flame and Shadow!
Your ticket includes the book, refreshments, and entrance to the party. Join in on the fun!
ABOUT THE BOOK
The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.
Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse—with its future resting on their shoulders.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah J. Maas is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Crescent City, Court of Thorns and Roses, and Throne of Glass series. Her books have sold millions of copies and are published in thirty-eight languages. Sarah lives with her family in New York City.
We look forward to having author Nina Simon spend an evening with us on Tuesday, January 30th starting at 7:30 pm! Grab a cocktail and a seat because you’re not going to want to miss hearing her chat about her newest novel Mother-Daughter Murder Night: a novel.
Your ticket includes admission, a cocktail, and a copy of the book.
BOOK SUMMARY
The Maid meets The Last Thing He Told Me in this fun, fresh, and twisty debut whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio who come together as amateur sleuths to solve a murder in their coastal California town.
Nothing brings an estranged family together like a murder next door.
High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon has a lot to be proud of: her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.
Then Jack—tiny in stature but fiercely independent—happens upon a dead body while kayaking near their bungalow. Jack quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power.
With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn do the one thing they’ve always resisted: depend on each other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nina Simon writes crime stories about strong women. A former NASA engineer, slam poet, and museum director, Nina lives with her family in an off-grid community in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mother-Daughter Murder Night is her first novel.
Join us on Wednesday, January 31st at 5:30 pm for an In Conversation event with poet Morri Creech. He’ll be chatting about his new collection, The Sentence alongside Laura Tesh.
Find out more and don’t miss this free event!
BOOK SUMMARY
In The Sentence, Morri Creech interrogates our daily lives and experiences to examine the anxieties and despair that often attend our awareness of mortality. Through a variety of subjects, and through styles ranging from rhyme and meter to prose poetry, he takes an unflinching look at what it means to live in the shadow of the end, the common fate to which each of us is sentenced.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morri Creech is the author of five collections of poetry: Paper Cathedrals (Kent State U P, 2001), which received the Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize; Field Knowledge (Waywiser, 2006), which received the Anthony Hecht Poetry prize and was nominated for both the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Poet’s Prize; The Sleep of Reason (Waywiser, March 2013), a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize; Blue Rooms (Waywiser, October 2018); and, most recently, The Sentence (LSUP, September 2023). A recipient of NEA and Ruth Lilly Fellowships, as well as grants from the North Carolina and Louisiana Arts councils, he is the Writer in Residence at Queens University of Charlotte, where he teaches courses in both the undergraduate creative writing program and in the low residency M.F.A. program. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with the novelist Sarah Creech and their two children.
A 50-state tour highligting indie bookstores, local restaurants, and community.
Ghanaian-American author, Marjy Marj, has announced an upcoming 50-state tour dubbed “Building Bridges Tour.” This tour will involve Marjy visiting independent bookstores, local restaurants, and landmarks across the United States.
The Building Bridges Tour aims to shine a spotlight on the invaluable work of independent bookstores, placing a firm focus on authors from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Along the way, she will be highlighting tasty dishes offered by local restaurants, sharing stories about her books and Jollof rice — a West African staple dish — and reviewing 50 books, each carefully selected by her readers.
Join us for a reception with Marjy at Hub City Bookshop on February 1st , from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
Keep up with Marjy’s tour on Blog de Marj!
We look forward to having author Vanessa Miller spend an evening with us on Thursday, February 1st starting at 7:30 pm! Grab a cocktail and a seat because you’re not going to want to miss hearing her chat about her newest novel The American Queen.
Your ticket includes admission, a cocktail, and a copy of the book.
BOOK SUMMARY
In 1869 a kingdom rose in the South. And Louella was its queen.
Over the twenty-four years she’s been enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there’s no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.
But when William finally listens to Louella’s pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people out of their plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.
Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness—and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.
Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen shares the unsung true history of a kingdom built as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vanessa Miller is a bestselling author, with several books appearing on ESSENCE Magazine’s Bestseller List. She has also been a Black Expressions Book Club alternate pick and #1 on BCNN/BCBC Bestseller List. Most of Vanessa’s published novels depict characters who are lost and in need of redemption. The books have received countless favorable reviews: “Heartwarming, drama-packed and tender in just the right places” (Romantic Times book review) and “Recommended for readers of redemption stories” (Library Journal).
Visit her online at vanessamiller.com; Twitter: @Vanessamiller01; Instagram: @authorvanessamiller; Facebook: @Vanessamiller01.
Some of the best times we have at M. Judson come from our collaborations with Mission Grape and Camilla Kitchen, where we let the food and wine do the storytelling. One afternoon amongst the bottles, Chef Teryi got to talking about her not-so-distant tradition of Runaway Fridays, where a person might sneak off for a midday margarita and be all the better for it. And we figured we can do better than that.
So join us for our favorite getaway in The Gallery at M.Judson: Runaway Friday Wine Lunch. We’ll pair three wines from the same producer with three small plates from Camilla Kitchen, get some delicious education from Danny Baker and Chef Teryi, as well as a sweet little treat to go.
Wines will be for sale, tickets will be limited!
We will be spaying and neutering OUTDOOR cats living in GREENVILLE COUNTY ONLY at this event Participating cats are required to be in a humane live trap. Max 4 community cats per vehicle. All cats will be spayed/neutered, ear-tipped, and vaccinated. No other medical services will be offered (No Felv/FIV testing).Join us for a Sit Down Supper in honor of Crystal Wilkinson and her new cookbook Praisesong For The Kitchen Ghosts. We’ll gather around the table on Sunday, February 4th starting at 6:30 pm for a five course dinner prepared by Chef Teryi Youngblood Musolf with wine pairings from Mission Grape.
Your ticket includes a welcome cocktail and five course dinner inspired by Crystal’s cookbook and an evening around the table right in the bookstore at M. Judson.
BOOK SUMMARY
A lyrical culinary journey that explores the hidden legacy of Black Appalachians, through powerful storytelling alongside nearly forty comforting recipes, from the former Poet Laureate of Kentucky.
People are always surprised that Black people reside in the hills of Appalachia. Those not surprised that we were there, are surprised that we stayed.
Years ago, when O. Henry Prize-winning writer Crystal Wilkinson was baking a jam cake, she felt her late grandmother’s presence. She soon realized that she was not the only cook in her kitchen; there were her ancestors, too, stirring, measuring, and braising alongside her. These are her kitchen ghosts, five generations of Black women who settled in Appalachia and made a life, a legacy, and a cuisine.
As the keeper of her family’s stories and treasured dishes, Wilkinson shares her inheritance in Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts. She found their stories in her apron pockets, floating inside the steam of hot mustard greens, and tucked into the sweet scent of clove and cinnamon in her kitchen. Part memoir, part cookbook, Wilkinson weaves those stories together with recipes, family photos, and a lyrical imagination to present a culinary portrait of a family that has lived and worked the earth of the mountains for over a century. An expert cook, Wilkinson shares forty family recipes rooted deep in the past, full of flavor—delicious favorites including Corn Pudding, Chicken and Dumplings, Jam Cake, and Praisesong Biscuits, brought to vivid life through stunning photography. Together, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts honors the mothers who came before, the land that provided for generations of her family, and the untold heritage of Black Appalachia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Crystal Wilkinson, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate from 2021 to 2023, is the award-winning author of Perfect Black; The Birds of Opulence; Water Street; and Blackberries, Blackberries. She is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, an O. Henry Prize, a USA Artists Fellowship, and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. She has received recognition from the Yaddo Foundation, Hedgebrook, The Hermitage Foundation, and others. Her short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She currently teaches at the University of Kentucky in the creative writing MFA program.
Join Hub City Writers Project for an event exploring the legacy of Black Appalachians. Author Crystal Wilkerson will be in the Barrett Room at the Spartanburg County Libraries Headquarters on February 5th at 6pm. Don’t miss this night of recipes, history, and powerful storytelling. Get a 10% discount on the book when you reserve your spot and copy through Eventbrite.
About the Book
People are always surprised that Black people reside in the hills of Appalachia. Those not surprised that we were there, are surprised that we stayed.
Years ago, when O. Henry Prize-winning writer Crystal Wilkinson was baking a jam cake, she felt her late grandmother’s presence. She soon realized that she was not the only cook in her kitchen; there were her ancestors, too, stirring, measuring, and braising alongside her. These are her kitchen ghosts, five generations of Black women who settled in Appalachia and made a life, a legacy, and a cuisine.
An expert cook, Wilkinson shares nearly forty family recipes rooted deep in the past, full of flavor—delicious favorites including Corn Pudding, Chicken and Dumplings, Granny Christine’s Jam Cake, and Praisesong Biscuits, brought to vivid life through stunning photography. Together, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts honors the mothers who came before, the land that provided for generations of her family, and the untold heritage of Black Appalachia.
As the keeper of her family’s stories and treasured dishes, Wilkinson shares her inheritance in Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts. She found their stories in her apron pockets, floating inside the steam of hot mustard greens and tucked into the sweet scent of clove and cinnamon in her kitchen. Part memoir, part cookbook, Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts weaves those stories together with recipes, family photos, and a lyrical imagination to present a culinary portrait of a family that has lived and worked the earth of the mountains for over a century.
About the Author
Crystal Wilkinson, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate from 2021 to 2023, is the award-winning author of Perfect Black; The Birds of Opulence; Water Street; and Blackberries, Blackberries. She is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, an O. Henry Prize, a USA Artists Fellowship, and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. She has received recognition from the Yaddo Foundation, Hedgebrook, The Hermitage Foundation, and others. Her short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She currently teaches at the University of Kentucky in the creative writing MFA program.
Join our Novel Tea Book Club. We will be discussing books written by South Carolina authors that we have chosen to read. It’s up to you. Choose yours and bring it to share. No spoilers, please.
The Boozy Book Fair is Back!
There was nothing like the elementary school book fair – the smell of new books in the air, the rush of racing your friends to find the next installment of your favorite series, and, if you were lucky, the crinkle of money from Mom in your pocket.
Life felt so much easier back then, didn’t it? Don’t you find yourself wishing from time to time that you could just go back?
This February, you can – but we’re doing it grown-up style.
Don’t miss our Boozy Book Fair at Magnetic South Brewery (701 Easley Bridge Rd, Greenville, SC 29611) on Sunday, February 18th from 1-3pm!
Book categories will include:
–Romantic Reads
-Geeks and Gamers
-Gothic and Ghastly
-Read the Rainbow
-Truth ‘R Us
-Criminally Good Reads
…and much much more!
This event is FREE and open to the public, so bring your friends! Be sure to RSVP so we have the booze + books ready – we can’t wait to see you there.
Thank you to the lovely Jennifer Sutherland for being our host this month. This month we’ll be reading Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Jennifer provide the place, the rest of us provide the snacks. This home has two large dogs and cats. PM me for the address.
We are so excited to welcome Sadeqa Johnson to M. Judson for a Lunch & Lit event featuring her new paperback release The House of Eve! Sadeqa will be on hand to talk, answer questions, and sign books, as we enjoy an incredible lunch at Soby’s!
Get your ticket today!
BOOK SUMMARY
1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.
Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the MFA program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia with her husband and three teens.
Some of the best times we have at M. Judson come from our collaborations with Mission Grape and Camilla Kitchen, where we let the food and wine do the storytelling. One afternoon amongst the bottles, Chef Teryi got to talking about her not-so-distant tradition of Runaway Fridays, where a person might sneak off for a midday margarita and be all the better for it. And we figured we can do better than that.
So join us for our favorite getaway in The Gallery at M.Judson: Runaway Friday Wine Lunch. We’ll pair three wines from the same producer with three small plates from Camilla Kitchen, get some delicious education from Danny Baker and Chef Teryi, as well as a sweet little treat to go.
Wines will be for sale, tickets will be limited!