The 2018 Short Story America Festival and Conference is scheduled for the weekend of September 28-30 in downtown Beaufort. This fifth celebration of short fiction will feature top presenting authors like John Engell (San Francisco, CA), Niles Reddick (University of Memphis), Marjorie Brody (San Antonio, TX), Gregg Cusick (Durham, NC), Nancy Allen (Dallas, TX), John Newlin (Wilmington, DE), James Goertel (Rochester, NY), Ray Morrison (Winston-Salem, NC), and Beaufort-based author and editor Tim Johnston (left).

The Pat Conroy Literary Center’s Visiting Writers Series presents Thomas McConnell reading from his debut novel The Wooden King at NeverMore Books (702 Craven St., Beaufort) on Thursday, September 27, at 4:00 p.m. and Georgia poet Clifford Brooks reading from his collections Athena Departs and The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics on Tuesday, October 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hilton Head Island Library (11 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head). Both events are free and open to the public, with book signings to follow the readings.

Last fall’s inaugural Lowcountry Book Club Convention was an informative, empowering day of fellowship among over 100 readers and writers. The Pat Conroy Literary Center will host a second annual Convention on Saturday, October 6, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Technical College of the Lowcountry’s MacLean Hall (104 Reynolds St, Bldg 12) in Beaufort.

The event is free and open to the public, sponsored in part by grants from South Carolina Humanities and a gift from the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, and presented in partnership with TCL.