On Thursday, May 22, 2008, from noon to 1:00 p.m., the South Carolina Center for the Book located at the South Carolina State Library will host Bert Goolsby, author of Harpers’ Joy.  “John Grisham meets Andy Griffith a legal thriller packed with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of Southern charm.”  Bert Goolsby, a native of Alabama, is a member of the legal profession and a graduate of The Citadel, the University of South Carolina School of Law, and the University of Virginia School of Law. He has authored a collection of short stories, Sweet Potato Biscuits, and two novels, Her Own Law and Harpers’ Joy. The latter will be serialized in upcoming editions of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly.

The South Carolina Center for the Book is pleased to recognize nine students from across the state as winners of the 2008 South Carolina Letters About Literature writing contest. Judges selected Lindsay Pollard, a fifth grade student at Clemson Elementary School, first place in the Level I competition for children in grades 4 through 6 for her letter to Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of How I Came to be a Writer. Taking second place in Level I was Will Anderson, fifth grade student at North Elementary School in Lancaster for his letter to Will James, author of Smoky the Cowhorse.  Alysa Chirillo, sixth grade student at West Oak Middle School in Westminster, placed third for her letter to author Susan Pfeffer for her book, Life As We Knew It. 

The first place winner for level II (grades 7 through 8) was Sinead Rose-Innes of Riverside Middle School in Greer for her letter to Laurie Halse Anderson for Speak. Placing second was D. J. Lee from Dent Middle School in Columbia for a letter to author Orson Scott Card, author of Speaker for the Dead. Third place was awarded to Kiana Knowlin of Rosemary Middle School in Andrews for her letter to Elizabeth Weitzman, author of Let’s Talk About When a Parent Dies.

The first place winner for Level III (grades 9 through 12) was Rhett Ricard of Mid-Carolina High School in Newberry, who wrote to Pat Conroy about My Losing Season.  Taking second place was Katherine McCollough from the Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology in Myrtle Beach for her letter to author Stephen Chbosky for his book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  Third place was awarded to Danielle Lester from Mid-Carolina HS in Prosperity for her letter to author Elie Weisel for the book, Night.  The winning letters by first place winners Pollard, Rose-Innes, and Ricard advanced to the national competition.  An award ceremony will be held to recognize the nine winners, their teachers, and friends and family members on May 5th at 11:00am at the South Carolina Center for the Book located in Columbia at the South Carolina State Library, 1430 Senate Street in room 309.

S.C. Poetry Initiative Director Kwame Dawes and author and scholar John Jakes will be recognized during a special awards ceremony at 9:15 a.m. April 16 at the Statehouse. Both will also be honored at an awards luncheon at the Columbia Marriott Hotel following the ceremony.

The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner/Governor’s Awards for the Arts are the highest honor the state gives in the arts and recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina.