Presenting Authors

The Highlands-Cashiers area has been fortunate enough to draw plenty of worth-reading authors over the years, especially during the summer season, and summer 2023 is no different.

George McDaniel is part of the 2023 Cashiers Historical Society’s Mountain Heritage Lecture Series and is in partnership with the Friends of the Library. As director emeritus of South Carolina’s historic site, Drayton Hall, McDaniel will present at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library, July 21 at 3:00 P.M., his book, Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People, which is a mosaic of stories and photographs, He will also treat participants to an informative lecture, “People and Places: Historic Preservation Today.”

Author Katherine Reay shares her most recently published book, Shadow in Moscow, on August 4 at 1:00 P.M. in Cashiers and then on August 4 at 4:00 P.M. at Hudson Library in Highlands as part of the latter’s Books & Bites series, involving a new wine and cheese format.

Her best-selling historical fiction book, The London House, boosted her into readers’ consciousness, and she told The Laurel that her research for that book led to Shadow in Moscow: “I spent quite a bit of time researching WWII female spies for The London House and stumbled upon their careers following the war; I discovered war didn’t end. A new one began – one that simmered along for, some might say 42 years, and others might say it’s simmering still. The Cold War fascinated me, as did the changes in spycraft and the demands on agents’ lives for prolonged periods of time under extreme pressure. What came from all that research and all those stories is, in many ways, a tribute to those brave men and women, and a story of family, love, courage, sacrifice, and the human instinct to chase freedom.”

Before Reay begins to write a new book, she said she “saturates herself in the world” in which she is writing about. Reay returns to the Plateau after visiting the area during spring 2022 to present The London House. “What a gorgeous part of the world. I am delighted to get to return this summer.”

During author events, books are available for sale and for signings by authors.

In addition, other book-related and/or inspired events include the Family Concert of Ferdinand the Bull and Ice Cream Social, on July 12 at 3:00 P.M., at the Cashiers library; this event is presented by the Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. At the Highlands library on Friday, July 14, at 11:00 A.M., local photographer and author Cynthia Strain will talk about her beautiful new book, Highlands North Carolina Through the Years.

Adult and children reading programs are also ongoing at both libraries.