In October 2015, more than a thousand people participated in the Pat Conroy at 70 Festival celebrating a milestone birthday and honoring the iconic southern writer in his hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina. The event was a once-in-a-lifetime gift to the community and to the author himself, who passed away from pancreatic cancer just months later. The immersive festival model of author discussions, a film screening, a museum exhibition, a tour, and special lunch and reception events proved to be so successful that the organizers are continuing it as an annual event honoring Conroy and now called the Pat Conroy Literary Festival.

Beaufort native Anna Sheppard has taken third place in the third annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest, sponsored by The South Carolina Honors College and USC Press. Grand Judge Mary Alice Monroe judged the writings of the semi-finalists, 50 juniors and seniors, each of whom submitted two pieces of writing.

Silhouette artistry and storytelling are in Clay Rice’s DNA. His grandfather, Carew Rice, was described by poet Carl Sandburg as “America’s Greatest Silhouettist,” and he traveled the world, sharing his mesmerizing cutouts with delighted customers. His hauntingly beautiful landscapes of the South are still sought after by collectors far and wide.