Tuesday 08/11/2026 at 11:00 AM
Jacqueline Friedland
(Breathing Under Water) at Litchfield Country Club
A page-turning, big-hearted story about messy families, impossible choices, and human connection that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Berry thought she had it figured out—juggling her vice-principal role while raising her sixteen-year-old autistic son, Leo. But when a promotion opportunity collides with her family's deepest needs, she must confront whether she's been fighting the wrong battles all along. McKenna is drowning. Between caring for her grandmother with dementia, losing her swimming scholarship, and facing homelessness, the college student's carefully constructed world is crumbling. Her only lifeline? Teaching swim lessons to children with autism—including Leo. As these two women's paths converge in the most unexpected way, they discover that sometimes the people who need saving the most are the ones who end up saving you. A deeply moving exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the extraordinary connections that emerge when we're brave enough to let others see our struggles. Jacqueline Friedland graduated Magna Cum Laude from both the University of Pennsylvania and NYU Law School. After practicing commercial litigation in NY and determining that office life did not suit her, Jackie began teaching Legal Writing and Lawyering Skills at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan and working on her first book in her limited spare time. Finally deciding to embrace her passion and pursue writing full time, she returned to school to earn her Masters of Fine Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, graduating from the program in 2016.
$40

Tuesday 08/18/2026 at 11:00 AM
Lynn Bush Genda
(My Name is John, John Cooke) at The Village House, Litchfield (change of venue)
Gathering the threads of research by her grandmother and a cousin decades before, Lynn Bush Genda has completed her genealogical link to a Mayflower passenger and created a charming benchside interview between a fictional 1690s gentleman in Dartmouth and her famous ancestor, John Cooke. Follow the compelling journey from Amsterdam to the new world, with well researched responses to the questions we all have about the historic passage, its causes and consequences, the first winter, the relationship with native Americans, religious and governmental practices, and daily life. A satisfying conversation for all ages. After several years owning and managing a college bookstore, Titles and Texts in Gurnee, IL, Lynn and her husband retired to Murrells Inlet, SC. She worked as an employee in the gift shop at Brookgreen Gardens for 13 years and now volunteers for the Gardens. Since retiring, Lynn has had time to pursue her genealogical interests.
$40

Wednesday 09/09/2026 at 11:00 AM
Steve Hall and Diana Hochberg
(Blue Collar Poetry; Connected: Finding My Truth) at Caffe Piccolo
Join us for two CLASS originals! Diana's identity journey has continued since we published her memoir of self-discovery a couple of years ago. If you missed her amazing 30-year quest to identify her birth parents and the many true and false connections made in the process, come hear her riveting story. PLUS, Steve Hall may be "blue collar" but the heart of a bard beats in his chest and finds its unpretentious expression in charming, accessible, often funny verse, e.g., "Dollars and Sense / I write using simple words / The kind that most speak / Cause that’s who I am / A one-dollar guy / In a ten-dollar world / Just simple and plain / A little bit odd / No fancy ideas / No secret meanings / Simple thoughts in / Simple words."
$40

Wednesday 09/16/2026 at 11:00 AM
Rose Senehi
(A River Runs Through It – The Story of Hurricane Helene) at Litchfield Country Club
On the morning of Friday, September 27, 2024, the Rocky Broad River was made massive by four days of rain and the force of Hurricane Helene. It plowed through North Carolina's Chimney Rock Village and ruthlessly tore away most of downtown, a swath of houses, and a woman from her home. This is the story of the effect this historic storm had on its victims and the heartfelt response from every arm of government, charities, churches, and businesses to get the beloved mountain village of Chimney Rock back on its feet in the breathtaking span of one year. Rose Senehi lives in Chimney Rock, NC, and is the author of eleven books, eight of which are historical novels that take place in the mountains of Western North Carolina. "A River Runs Through It – The Story of Hurricane Helene, Chimney Rock, NC, 2024," is the latest of her Blue Ridge Series. Catching Fire, that chronicles the infamous Party Rock Fire of Nov., 2016 in Lake Lure, NC, received the 2019 Historical Book Award from the N.C. Society of Historians, Inc. Render Unto the Valley was awarded a 2012 IPPY Gold Medal for Fiction—Southeast. Dancing on Rocks received the 2014 Indi-Reader Discovery Award for Popular Fiction. In the Shadows of Chimney Rock was nominated for the 2009 SIBA Book Award, and The Wind in the Woods, was nominated for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Her other novels include Falling Off A Cliff, Carolina Belle, Pelican Watch, Windfall, and Shadows in the Grass.
$40

Wednesday 09/23/2026 at 11:00 AM
Dana Ridenour
(All the Hidden Pieces) at Kimbel's, Wachesaw
Welcome back Dana Ridenour, distinguished retired FBI agent and celebrated author, formerly of Murrells Inlet and now based in Beaufort, South Carolina. Known for her gripping FBI undercover novels, she has captivated readers with titles such as Behind The Mask, Beyond The Cabin, and Below The Radar. Her latest work, "All the Hidden Pieces," has just received a rave review from Reader's Favorites. When Julia Chandler's husband dies in a late-night car crash, grief and betrayal drive her to do something impulsive: hike all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Joined by three of her oldest friends, each carrying secrets of their own, Julia sets out to rediscover herself. What begins as an escape soon becomes a test of endurance, courage, and trust. As the friends tackle brutal climbs, raging storms, and dangerous wildlife encounters, they begin to shed the layers of guilt, fear, and regret that have long defined them. But when a heart-stopping accident occurs on the trail, their strength and courage are pushed to the next level. From Georgia to Maine, each mile strips away secrets and forces them to face the truths they've buried for years. An emotional, heart-pounding story about the unbreakable bonds that carry us through life’s roughest miles and the transformative power of nature. All the Hidden Pieces is a heartfelt story about friendship, resilience, and the power of starting over. A perfect choice for book clubs, it invites readers to reflect on the hidden pieces we all carry and the beauty of finding wholeness again.
$40

Wednesday 09/30/2026 at 11:00 AM
Donna Lynn Lito
(Maggie's Rise) at Wahoo's Fish House, Murrells Inlet
A continuation of "The Mixing Bowl," this emotionally rich novel follows Maggie Loring as she steps out from the shadows of family legacy to build a future entirely her own in a small town in South Carolina. Determined to stop living for others' expectations, Maggie pours her heart into a bold new business venture—one that carries not only her name but also her dreams. But when long-buried family secrets resurface, and a figure from the past threatens everything she's worked to create, Maggie must fight to protect both her business and the life she's finally beginning to claim as her own. Focused on building the future she's fought so hard to create, Maggie has little room for distractions — especially love. But as her world begins to shift, she wonders whether success alone is enough. Torn between protecting the life she's carefully built and risking her heart for the possibility of something more, Maggie must decide how much she's truly willing to let herself have. This story is about a woman determined not only to persevere but also to help others do the same — and about what can be accomplished through courage, resilience, and community. Perfect for readers who enjoy heartwarming stories with a touch of mystery, centered on strength, determination, and the tenacity to follow their dreams unapologetically.
$40