Lowcountry Boil was released 13 years ago!
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Hey y'all,
Sugar and I are in St. Pete Beach, Florida, for the annual NINC (Novelists, Inc.) conference. As the weather turns crisp at night in South Carolina, I'm thankful to enjoy the warmth of Florida for a few days. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the cooler weather as well, but there's something about the sun on my face, a refreshing dip in the pool, and a warm ocean breeze that does my heart good. And it's so wonderful to reconnect with friends and colleagues I don't see very often as we meet to discuss the business of writing and publishing.
I'm looking forward to what fall holds, as moving into a new season on the calendar also means I'm starting a new project--one I hope you'll be as excited about as I am. I've turned in the edits for my April release, TROUBLE'S TURN TO LOSE, and when I get back from Florida--after a stop in Sullivan's Island on the way home for a book club visit, a meeting, and a bit of research--I'll be ready to dive into my fall release for 2026. I don't have a cover to share yet, but look for one around January - February. Speaking of TROUBLE'S TURN TO LOSE, preorders are now live!
Before I go and get too sentimental about changing seasons, there is much to celebrate this month. The second edition of Lowcountry Bordello is coming out on November 4, and I'm excited to share the new cover. There are a lot of fun elements we were able to include, but I think the starfish under the tree are my favorite.
Did y'all have a chance to enter the Facebook giveaway last month? Congratulations to Nina Kirby, our winner! I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know the members of The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club better. Let me know if you’d like to see more of these character spotlights in the future. What about the Liz Talbot characters? Would y’all enjoy seeing their profiles?
Now, for a moment, please walk with me down memory lane. Who remembers this cover? This is the very first cover for Lowcountry Boil! (We've come a long way since then.) The first edition was released on September 18, 2012. So much has happened since then!
When it was released, I couldn't imagine all the fabulous friends I'd make along the way or all of the incredible readers I'd meet. My readers are the reason I write, and I hope you've enjoyed being along for the journey!
Lowcountry Book Club members...Thursday, September 25, Susan Zurenda and I will chat with Vitoria Benton Frank about her brand new release, The Violet Hour. The video will be posted at 10:00 a.m. ET for you to watch at your convenience. Please share your thoughts in the comments, and remember, there are two door prize winners every month, one from the video comments / discussion and one from all discussion participants over the course of the month.
And now for this month's recipe...
Mamma's Baked Country Ham will be served on Carolyn Talbot's table in the upcoming TROUBLE'S TURN TO LOSE. Yes, this is a Carolina Tales series book, starring Hadley Cooper. But, Liz and her whole family will appear as well, and Mamma will put on an out-of-this-world Easter feast featuring this savory baked country ham alongside her legendary sides—think fluffy biscuits, deviled eggs, and all the trimmings that make a Southern holiday table unforgettable.
Until next month...
Warmly,
The latest news from The Lowcountry Book Club!
This month, we're reading The Violet Hour by Victoria Benton Frank.
Join us as we discuss in The Lowcountry Book Club and on YouTube on Thursday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Next month, we're reading Sing Me Home to Carolina by Joy Callaway.
We'll chat about this title on October 30. Please join us!
Lisa Bishop & Susan Abercrombie-Davis were August's Door Prize Winners in The Lowcountry Book Club!
Door prize winners receive their choice of any one of The Lowcountry Book Club's 2025 Books of the Month or a $25 gift card to Susan's store!
How does one enter this fabulous contest, you ask?
1. Be a member of the Lowcountry Book Club on Facebook.
2. Be a subscriber to my newsletter. If you're reading this, you're subscribed!
3. Join in the discussion by:
• posting your review, or informal thoughts, or questions for the author (if there's an interview scheduled) in the group during the month - OR -
• commenting on someone else's post or the author interview post (if one is scheduled) during the month.
The door prize drawing will take place on the last day of the month. Prizes must be claimed within one week.
This month's recipe
Mamma's Baked Country Ham
Laura Dorn is August's Newsletter Giveaway winner!
Laura, please email MaryAnn to claim your tumbler!
For a chance to win your own Sullivan's Island Supper Club tumbler, just click the
I want to win!! button below or near the bottom of the page.
As always, thank you all for reading my newsletters, hanging out with me on social media, reading and sharing my books, and tagging me in all your lovely photos and reviews! I hope you know how much joy you all bring to my life.
To order your copy of any of my books, click the button below to see a selection of retailers on my website. All books are available in print, eBook, and audio formats.
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