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The Writers’ Prescription: Writing and Paying Attention with Author Thomas McConnell


Join us for a writing group held on the first Monday of each month for Hub City members and led by staff and local writers.

On June 3, author and USC Upstate professor Thomas McConnell will lead a session entitled "Writing and Paying Attention."

What distinguishes passable or tolerable writing from prose that excels? Partly it has to do with being alert to the pitfalls and promise of language. We'll examine particular passages from writers—famous and otherwise—who have a lot to teach us by example—for good or ill—about writing and paying attention.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month. Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

An Afternoon with the Lee Brothers


Hub City Bookshop will host an afternoon with James Beard Award-winning authors and culinary ambassadors Matt and Ted Lee to celebrate their new book, Hotbox: Inside Catering, The World’s Riskiest Business.

Tickets are $35 and include a signed hardback copy of the book, drinks (mimosas!), and canapés.

Matt Lee and Ted Lee take on the competitive, wild world of high-end catering, exposing the secrets of a food business few home cooks or restaurant chefs ever experience.

Hotbox reveals the real-life drama behind cavernous event spaces and soaring white tents, where cooking conditions have more in common with a mobile army hospital than a restaurant. Known for their modern take on Southern cooking, the Lee brothers steeped themselves in the catering business for four years, learning the culture from the inside-out. It’s a realm where you find eccentric characters, working in extreme conditions, who must produce magical events and instantly adapt when, for instance, the host’s toast runs a half-hour too long, a hail storm erupts, or a rolling rack of hundreds of ice cream desserts goes wheels-up.

 

A Day with Dorothea Benton Frank


Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank’s Carolina Lowcountry in this evocative tale that returns at long last to her beloved Sullivan’s Island.

Queen Bee is a classic Lowcountry Tale—warm, wise and hilarious, it roars with humanity and a drop of whodunit added for good measure by an unseen hand. In her twentieth novel, Dorothea Benton Frank brings us back to her beloved island with an unforgettable story where the Lowcountry magic of the natural world collides with the beat of the human heart.   Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. She resides in the New York area and South Carolina with her husband. Dorothea Benton’s Frank most recent bestseller, Same Beach, Next Year debuted at #4 on the New York Times list, where it remained in the top ten for three weeks. A contemporary voice of the South, Dorothea Benton Frank is beloved from coast to coast, thanks to her bestsellers including, Same Beach, Next Year, All Summer Long, All the Single Ladies, The Hurricane Sisters, The Last Original Wife, Porch Lights, Folly Beach, Sullivans Island, and Plantation.

Ticket price includes a signed copy of the book.

Beach Reads Night at Spartanburg Library featuring Kristy Woodson Harvey


Spartanburg Library Headquarters will host author Kristy Woodson Harvey. The first 100 guests will receive a free copy of Harvey's latest novel!

What goes into writing a beach read? Hear from Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of the novels Dear Carolina, Slightly South of Simple, and The Secret to Southern Charm. Southern Living has included Harvey's books on their Most Anticipated Beach Reads list. This is your chance to get beach ready too--the first 100 who come to the event will receive a free copy of Harvey's latest novel, The Southern Side of Paradise! There will be a signing after the event.

“Murder She Wrote” with Marilyn Reynolds


Sometimes killing off our literary darlings is a necessity. Would Little Women be the same without Beth’s heart tending departure? Would Game of Thrones be as thrilling without the death of ....insert one of many, many names. It can be hard to do in your own creation, but if it advances your plot pick up the knife, the gun, the arsenic—or the pen. Author and professor Marilyn Reynolds discusses these themes and more in "Murder She Wrote: Why I Happily Kill My Characters."

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift!  Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

“Beyond the Inc: Editing the Journal” with writersINC Editors


During this panel discussion, members of the Editorial Staff for writersINC, the USC Upstate student literary journal, will share readings from their original work and conduct a roundtable talk on how they make difficult editorial choices. Presenters will share their “diet” scale of evaluation for the magazine, and take questions from the audience. Award winning student writers from the 2019 writersINC publication will also join the staff to discuss their experiences getting published. This session will be of special interest to high school students and teachers, as well as college-age writers and anyone curious about publishing a literary magazine generated by student work.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift! Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

“Writing Grants That Win” with George Williams


In "Writing Grants That Win: Secrets of Successful Grant Writing," George Williams, USC Upstate professor and incoming chair of the LLC department, teaches participants how to research and write effective grant applications for a wide variety of projects.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift! Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

“Why I Write Memoir” with Cinelle Barnes


Memoirist and essayist Cinelle Barnes discusses the why, how, when, what, who and for whom of the genre/form, and the pre-publication, publication, and post-publication realities of authoring a memoir, and how her time in South Carolina served as an impetus for writing Monsoon Mansion. After the talk, she will lead the group in a short writing exercise.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift! Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

Refreshments will be provided. Books will be available for purchase through representatives of Hub City Bookshop. A portion of proceeds benefits the USC Upstate LLC Student Awards Fund.

Michael Parker: Reading and Signing


Author Michael Parker will visit Hub City Bookshop to discuss his new novel Praire Fever.

Set in the hardscrabble landscape of early 1900s Oklahoma, but timeless in its sensibility, Prairie Fever traces the intense dynamic between the Stewart sisters: the pragmatic Lorena and the chimerical Elise. The two are bound together not only by their isolation on the prairie but also by their deep emotional reliance on each other. That connection supersedes all else until the arrival of Gus McQueen.

When Gus arrives in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, as a first time teacher, his inexperience is challenged by the wit and ingenuity of the Stewart sisters. Then one impulsive decision and a cataclysmic blizzard trap Elise and her horse on the prairie and forever change the balance of everything between the sisters, and with Gus McQueen. With honesty and poetic intensity and the deadpan humor of Paulette Jiles and Charles Portis, Parker reminds us of the consequences of our choices. Expansive and intimate, this novel tells the story of characters tested as much by life on the prairie as they are by their own churning hearts.

A Literary Luncheon with Mary Alice Monroe


Hub City Bookshop will host New York Timesbestselling author Mary Alice Monroe for a 12 p.m. luncheon Monday, June 18, at the Piedmont Club.

Ticket price includes lunch and a signed hardback copy of Monroe's newest book, The Summer Guests (which takes place in Tryon!).

The Summer Guests is a heartwarming and evocative novel about the bonds and new beginnings that are born from natural disasters and how, even during the worst of circumstances—or perhaps because of them—we discover what is most important in life.

Late August is a beautiful time on the Southern coast—the peach trees are ripe, the ocean is warm, and the sweet tea is icy. A perfect time to enjoy the rocking chairs on the porch. But beneath the calm surface bubbles a threat: it’s also peak hurricane season.

An Evening with Trey Gowdy


On June 20 at 7pm, former Congressman Trey Gowdy will visit Hub City Bookshop to discuss his book Unified: How An Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope For a Divided Country. There will be a signing after the talk.

In a divided country desperate for unity, two sons of South Carolina show how different races, life experiences, and pathways can lead to a deep friendship--even in a state that was rocked to its core by the 2015 Charleston church shooting.

Tim Scott, an African-American US senator, and Trey Gowdy, a white US congressman, won't allow racial lines to divide them. They work together, eat meals together, campaign together, and make decisions together. Yet in the fall of 2010--as two brand-new members of the US House of Representatives--they did not even know each other. Their story as politicians and friends began the moment they met and is a model for others seeking true reconciliation.

In Unified, Senator Scott and Congressman Gowdy, through honesty and vulnerability, inspire others to evaluate their own stories, clean the slate, and extend a hand of friendship that can change your churches, communities, and the world.

In Conversation with Deb Spera


Join us for a special edition of Her Story on Wednesday, June 12. Author Deb Spera will visit the bookshop to talk about her new novel Call Your Daughter Home. There will be a wine reception from 5:30pm followed by a discussion and signing with the author at 6pm.

A stunning tour de force following three fierce, unforgettable Southern women in the years leading up to the Great Depression

It's 1924 South Carolina and the region is still recovering from the infamous boll weevil infestation that devastated the land and the economy. Gertrude, a mother of four, must make an unconscionable decision to save her daughters from starvation or die at the hands of an abusive husband. Retta is navigating a harsh world as a first-generation freed slave, still employed by the Coles, influential plantation proprietors who once owned her family. Annie is the matriarch of the Coles family and must come to terms with the terrible truth that has ripped her family apart.These three women seemingly have nothing in common, yet as they unite to stand up to the terrible injustices that have long plagued the small town, they find strength in the bond that ties women together. Told in the pitch-perfect voices of Gertrude, Retta and Annie, Call Your Daughter Home is an audacious, timeless story about the power of family, deep-buried secrets and the ferocity of motherhood.

Kate Daniels: Reading and Signing


Hub City Bookshop will host Kate Daniels who will be discussing and signing her new collection of poetry In the Months of My Son’s Recovery.

The moving poems in this collection take us on a journey through illness, grief, and the disappointment of unexpected jolts in life. With bold descriptions of medical processes, intense love, and the sometimes overwhelming feeling of despair buffeted by hope, Kate Daniels offers thoughts on how to navigate a world we didn't choose.

Beth Keefauver: “Wild Words: Adventures in EcoWriting”


"We can never have enough of nature," said Thoreau, a sentiment that rings especially true for writers, whether we see nature as an inspirational muse or a political platform. This class offers students an introduction to the variety of genres inspired by nature, place, wildlife, wilderness adventure, and environmentalism. Through nature-themed field writing exercises, participants will hone their observation skills and reflect on the value of the natural world as metaphor and reality. We will explore ecofiction, ecopoetry, the nature essay, nature journaling, as well as consider the special problems and opportunities eco-writers encounter. Participants can expect personalized feedback from the instructor and classmates in the workshop session. This class will take place outdoors, so dress for comfort and movement. The workshop includes a brief walk through the Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve. Journals and pens will be provided, but you may also bring your own.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift!  Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

Wayne Robbins: “Creativity Like A Freight Train: Writing New Songs from Old Songs”


In western music we have only 8 notes and 12 semitones.  This means much of popular music is recycled and recast.  In this workshop, Wayne Robbins will demonstrate methods of breaking down familiar songs by chords, structure, and lyrics, in order to put them back together as new, original ones.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift!  Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

Tessa Fontaine: “Writing Your Way to the Spark”


How does a writer translate personal experience and research into effective memoir or personal essay? In this talk, Tessa Fontaine will read from her memoir, The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts, and discuss putting personal experience and research down on the page—techniques useful for a writer in any genre.

Books will be available for purchase through representatives of Hub City Bookshop.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo) and is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. All those who preregister get a free gift! Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all here.

Party on the Patio with Quest


Downtown Music on Main Summer Series LIVE from the patio of Main Street Junction!!
The best of the best, local artists will entertain you with multiple genres of music over the course of the summer months! Kicking us off on June 6 is Quest!

Film Screening: The Burden


Directed by Roger Sorkin, The Burden tells the story of America's dependence on fossil fuels as the greatest long-term national security threat, and how the U.S. military is leading the way on renewables. At the intersection of national security and energy, the U.S. military is leading the way in saving our skins with renewable energy.

This is a free screening, but please RSVP using the ticket link provided here, or email Ben@cvsc.org.

 

Greenville Greek Festival


Come join us for our 33rd Annual Greek Festival at our beautiful Greek Orthodox Cathedral where we'll be having our delicious traditional Greek foods you look forward too ALL year long, Greek dancing, amazing vendors & SO much more!!! Follow us on instagram, facebook & twitter @GREEKFORADAY for all the newest updates & behind the scenes fun before our Festival & during!!! We can't wait to see you!

Brunch & Learn: Google Analytics 2.0


If you are trying to determine your website ROI, Google Analytics is the first place you need to go. This class is for those who already have Google Analytics set up but aren't sure how to get the most of its reporting features.

We will cover:

  • Vanity metrics vs. real metrics
  • How to track conversion and set up goals (the biggest factor in properly tracking ROI)
  • Top 10 metrics to look at each month and how to interpret them
  • How to customize your Google Analytics dashboard (so you can see what's important to you at a glance)

Seats are limited, advance RSVP is required.

Perceptions of Song: Building Lyrics through Narrative with Mark Tebalt


Mark Tebalt is a singer/songwriter who lives with his wife and two daughters in Inman, SC. A popular performer at venues all over Spartanburg, SC, and beyond, his work focuses on writing and performing songs that contain colorful narratives and characters. His workshop will include a discussion of the fundamentals of songwriting and a few group exercises that will help guide the creative process of building a song.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo.

How to Write a Screenplay that Doesn’t Suck with LaTracey McDowell


Award-winning screenwriter and producer of The Group and Charlesvoix Street, LaTracey McDowell leads this screenwriting workshop. Screenplays are the starting points for all films and are an essential guideline for the director in bringing a story to life. This workshop will introduce you to the basic elements and key concepts behind a professional screenplay. Additionally, you will learn the techniques for generating ideas, the drafting process, the traditional three-act structure, dialogue, characterization, and screenplay formatting. By the end of the workshop, you will understand key concepts necessary to write an effective screenplay and will be fluent in the language used to discuss this encompassing art form.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo

Fiction Flight with Brock Adams at the Growler Haus


An interesting or exotic taste can trigger memories and inspire creativity, and what tastes better than a delicious beer? Brock Adams, award-winning author of Ember, has teamed with Growler Haus to pair an inspiring flight of beers with an interactive writing exercise. Drink, write, and see where the flavors will take you.

Books will be available for purchase through representatives of Hub City Bookshop.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo

From Hogwarts to Westeros: Building Realistic Fantasy Worlds with Jill Criswell


Jill Criswell, author of the young adult fantasy novel Beasts of the Frozen Sun, will read from her work and discuss how she developed the Celtic- and Viking-inspired world she writes about. She'll offer tips for creating realistic fantasy worlds, including landscapes, cultures, religions, and languages. After Q&A, aspiring writers will have time to write and workshop their own ideas for fantasy worlds.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo.

Can You Hear Me Now? How to Craft Authentic Voices for Characters from the Past with Susan Rivers


Readers of historical fiction know that a novel must be based in sound, accurate details of the time and place involved if it's to be convincing. Most importantly, they recognize that a novel sinks or swims by virtue of the authenticity of the characters' voices, whether shared through a first- or third-person narrator. Participants are welcome to attend one or both parts of this two-part workshop.

From 5-5:50, Award-winning novelist and playwright, Susan Rivers, author of The Second Mrs. Hockaday, will share her writing. Q&A and book signing to follow.

Books will be available for purchase through representatives of Hub City Bookshop.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo.

Economic Impact of Innovation


Innovative ideas are driving our economy and transforming businesses in amazing ways. i4Series and Upstate SC Alliance invite you to hear success stories and learn about resources that are available to help keep your business relevant in an innovation economy.

Panelists Include:

Elizabeth Feather, Director of Research & Strategic Initiatives
Upstate SC Alliance

Jill Sorensen, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs
South Carolina Research Authority

Chase Kasper, Director of Business Development
Clemson University Research Foundation

Can You Hear Me Now? How to Craft Authentic Voices for Characters from the Past


Readers of historical fiction know that a novel must be based in sound, accurate details of the time and place involved if it's to be convincing. Most importantly, they recognize that a novel sinks or swims by virtue of the authenticity of the characters' voices, whether shared through a first- or third-person narrator. Participants are welcome to attend one or both parts of this two-part workshop.

Part II: From 6-7:30, Award-winning novelist and playwright, Susan Rivers will lead a hands-on workshop in which she shares her methods for creating compelling and believable voices from the past--methods she employed while writing her Civil War-era novel, The Second Mrs. Hockaday (Algonquin Books, 2017), as well as her early 20th-century milltown novel, Troublefield (forthcoming by Algonquin). These techniques involve intensive research digs for primary source material, such as letters, newspaper stories, inquest reports, memoirs, journals, diaries, and oral histories.
Bring a character profile with you if you are currently working on an historical novel set in a specific period of time in a particular region. And don't forget your notebooks!

Books will be available for purchase through representatives of Hub City Bookshop.

This event is part of Upstate Writing Month (#UpWriMo). Look for other events on our calendar, or find them all at http://www.uscupstate.edu/upwrimo.

2019 Summer Workshop Series Sponsored by SC Farm to School


Pick A Farm Fresh School Gardening Workshop this Summer!

Grow your school garden program this summer- attend a School Gardening for SC Educators summer workshop sponsored by SC Farm to School!

Workshop participants will receive:

  • More information about SC Farm to School opportunities;
  • Grant writing resources;
  • Hands-on STEM lessons and activities modeled by Clemson Extension 4-H Agents;
  • Horticulture skill building to help your garden grow;
  • A certificate for 5 Continuing Education Hours;
  • A copy of The Garden STEM: Curriculum for Your Garden Classroom and Seasonal Planting Guide for your region!

June Toast ‘n’ Topics


Join us on Thursday, June 6th from 7:30 – 9:00 AM at The Bleckley Station for Toast 'n Topics.  We will be hearing from Pamela Evette, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina"  Make your reservation now.

Upstate Entrepreneur Support Providers Network Workshop


Special guest, Laura Corder, Director of the Office of Innovation for the State Department of Commerce, will introduce Scribble, the South Carolina Innovation Hub that lists entrepreneur resources and events.  Here is a link to the Scribble launch announcement and an article in the Greenville CEO newsletter.

We will cover the following items:

  • Discuss with Laura our priorities for Upstate entrepreneurs and how that fits into the Scribble platform
  • Report on our work group activities
  • Report from the Kauffman Foundation ESHIP Conference
  • List and discuss Global Entrepreneurship Week activities
  • Share our local ecosystem development activities and events

This is an important meeting to attend and bring your colleagues.  The workgroups are launching, the State has a potential resource for us to consider and plans for an even more robust Global Entrepreneurship Week will be developed.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Erin at ehouzts@bellsouth.net.

Strawberry Festival


Let's celebrate strawberry season with a day full of festivities and strawberry-centric menu items! We'll have strawberry specials in the cafe, grocery, and at Swamp Pizza, all day long! Face painting 12 noon to 4 pm; Live music from Kelly Jo 5:30 to 8 pm!

Celebration of Sport


Join the City of Spartanburg, our City Parks & Recreation team, and the Northside Community at the Fairground basketball courts on Saturday, May 25th, for a “Celebration of Sport.”

This FREE, family-friendly community event and court dedication will have food, games, entertainment, and giveaways from 10am-3pm. At noon, enjoy a complimentary lunch from Cribbs Catering, music from 96.3 “The Block," and the court dedication ceremony with remarks from Councilwoman Erica Brown.

There will be Youth Skills Competitions (ages 8-17) from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, and Adult Open Run basketball (18+) from 10am-3pm. Participation is "first come, first served."

ColorForOne Color Run


Love where you live...love where you run!

Join the movement and our city this May for our annual 5k color run. Hosted in efforts to raise awareness for sexual exploitation this community event sparks conversations about human trafficking and unites the community in taking a stand against it. In partnership with Switch, Project4one is hosting its annual ColorForOne color run this May 25th.

Proceeds go directly to Switch.

REGISTRATION STARTS @ 9:45am
RACE BEGINS @ 10:30am

Take Flight 5K


Register today! Don't miss the one day of the year when you get to run (or walk) on the runway. Join us on Memorial Day weekend at the Greenville Downtown Airport. 7th Annual Take Flight 5K will be held on Saturday, May 25th, 2019 and money raised will go to help construct a parking lot for Runway Park!

We'll start by honoring our veterans with a Memorial Day Ceremony,
followed by a true test of speed for runners. This is the flattest 5K in the Upstate!

T-shirts, awards and fun door prizes will be given out.

Our Musical Journey Around the World: Middle East & Asia


CHILDREN’S SUMMER MUSIC CLASSES
This summer, give your children the opportunity to experience the colorful & diverse world of music through a series of four interactive classes at the Carolina Music Museum. Led by Jeff Holland, a renowned multi-ethnic percussion instructor, Our Musical Journey Around the World will explore music from various regions & cultures around the globe.

OUR MUSICAL JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD: MIDDLE EAST & ASIA
SUNDAY, JUNE 23RD AT 3:00 PM
TICKETS $10

Memorial Day Weekend Event


Free Military T-Shirt’s

15% Off Licensed Apparel and After Market Accessories

To All Who Served, THANK YOU

Free Hot Dog Plates, Chips and A Drink

FREE BEER while supplies last

12pm- 3pm Bikini Bike Wash

Taste of Cherokee County History Tour


Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cherokee Historical & Preservation Society during the Taste of Cherokee County History Tour!

8:00 to 10:00 a.m.—Biscuits and coffee at Fort Thicketty (Goucher Creek Road, 29340)

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.—Smoked jerky at the Vinson-Blanton Burying Ground (Spring Lake Road, 29340)

12:00 to 2:00 p.m.—Dumplings at the History & Arts Museum ( 301 College Drive, 29340)

2:30 to 4:30 p.m.—Ice cream and cobbler at Possum Trot School (742 Peachoid Road, 29341)

No charge—food items will be provided as long as supplies last. Rain or shine!

Upstate Concert Band Festival


Start your summer with an extravaganza of concert music at the Upstate Concert Band Festival this Memorial Day weekend. Four concert bands representing three Upstate counties perform from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mauldin Cultural. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for traditional Americana, marches, show tunes, old favorites and new music from the Greenville Concert Band, the Spartanburg Community Band, the Easley Community Band, and the Greenville Textile Heritage Band. Food, drink and activities will be available; admission is free.