Mary Ellen Thompson interviews Margaret Seidler, author of “ ‘Payne-Ful’ Business: Charleston’s Journey To Truth”

Introduction: I met Margaret Seidler at USCB in January at the opening reception for her book, “Payne-Ful” Business Charleston’s Journey To Truth. Her narrative is combined with artwork based on the advertisements for the sale of enslaved people, painted by John W. Jones. After Margaret spoke, I went right up to her and said “I’m […]

“The Cheese Biscuit Queen Kiss My Aspic!” by Mary Martha Greene

Are you hungry? Because if you are, Mary Martha Greene will send you straight into the kitchen with her new book, The Cheese Biscuit Queen Kiss My Aspic!. You’re probably not going to get past the first couple of recipes in this book before you have to gather your ingredients and make one of them. […]

Mary Ellen Thompson interviews Mary Martha Greene, author of “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Kiss My Aspic!”

Introduction: I have known Mary Martha Greene for years and have consumed more of her famous cheese biscuits than I care to admit. If there is a cocktail party in the lowcountry of South Carolina that doesn’t have a plate of her cheese biscuits—well, I won’t cast aspersions. Mary Martha’s newest book, The Cheese Biscuit […]

“Good Eye, Bad Eye” by Jeanne Malmgren

Readers of Jeanne Malmgren’s engaging memoir, Good Eye, Bad Eye, will find the universal themes and the clarity of her writing style appealing.  From her personal story of trauma following a childhood eye injury, life truths emerge as Jeanne struggles to find her way in the world. This is not another poor-pitiful-me memoir. Instead, it […]

BettyJoyce Nash interviews Carla Damron, author of “Justice Be Done”

Introduction: A social worker, Carla Damron is also an award-winning fiction writer. Her latest book is Justice Be Done (Bella Rosa Press 2023). Her titles also include The Orchid Tattoo (National Indie Excellence Award) and The Stone Necklace (Women Fiction Writers Award, also chosen as One Community Read for Columbia, S.C.) BettyJoyce Nash writes fiction in Charlottesville, […]

“Her Best Self” by Mindy Friddle

Her Best Self (Regal House 2024) by Mindy Friddle is a fascinating look inside a dysfunctional family in a well-crafted, evocative story with a psychological thriller quality to it. Throughout the novel, pervasive cunningness by several characters heightens tensions and casts a riveting net sure to pull readers deeper into the tale. A darkly comedic […]