Author Claire Cook is the bestselling author of over 24 books. Her target audience is “40 to forever women,” but in 2002, she wrote a book that had a universal appeal, which continues to this day. “Must Love Dogs” is now an eight-book series, and the film, starring John Cusack and Diane Lane, is a Hollywood classic. Claire will introduce the film, provide some “behind-the-scenes” stories about dealing with Tinsel Town, and discuss her future writing plans.

Watch the trailer – Must Love Dogs

PG 13; 98 minutes

Closed-captioning will be turned on

Author website –– Claire Cook

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

A Celebration of Pat Conroy. Jonathan Haupt is the co-editor of the anthology “Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy,” and winner of 17 book awards. He will talk about Beaufort’s Conroy Center and Pat’s rough entrance into being a published author and how those experiences compelled him to be a champion and mentor to so many of his fellow writers from that point onward. He’ll also discuss Pat’s creative process and the Lowcountry as his setting, muse, and character. 

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino – Room 108

Bookseller: G.J. Ford Bookshop

A St. Simons Writer’s Group Event

Jonathan will talk about the rocky road writers have to navigate in the publishing world and why he is happier in the business of saying yes than he ever was saying no. In a roundtable discussion, he’ll share his lessons learned while in the publishing business and his advice for aspiring writers. Jonathan will also talk about Pat Conroy’s very rough entrance into being a published author and how those experiences compelled him to be a champion and mentor to so many of his fellow writers from that point onward. 

About the speaker:

Jonathan Haupt is the executive director of the nonprofit Conroy Center and the former director of the University of South Carolina Press, where he created the Story River Books fiction imprint with Pat Conroy. He is co-editor with Nicole Seitz of the anthology Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy, the recipient of a dozen book awards. 

This event is free but registration is required ➜ https://forms.gle/Co4nCR9YyCyAdz686

The St. Simons Island Writers are excited to announce a new partnership with Glynn Visual Arts (GVA) to help make connections between our communities of creatives. If you're working on a children's book or any story where you need an eye for illustrations, you don't want to miss this exciting opportunity to meet and connect with GVA's talented artists. 

This event is FREE, but you must register by Friday, February 7. Space is limited.

Register ➜ Google Form

Jennifer is a USA Today bestselling author of four contemporary women’s fiction novels. Two of her novels were chosen as winners in the Best Fiction category of the San Diego Book Awards. She visits to talk about “The Girls of the Glimmer Factory” (publishes January 25, 2025), the story of childhood friends who meet again as adults during the making of the Nazi propaganda film Hitler Gives a City to the Jews. Hannah is a Jewish prisoner, and her former friend, Hilde, is now working for the German Ministry of Propaganda. When the two face off, they discover who they truly are--and who they are meant to become.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room Theater

Author website –Jennifer Coburn

Thanks to Righton Books for offering books for sale

Jen Marie Wiggins is a suspense author, freelance writer, wife, and boy mom. Her books have been featured by The Today Show, MSN, Yahoo, and People Magazine. You can find her writing in Savannah Magazine, Southern Coastal Weddings, Literary Mama, CrimeReads, and elsewhere.

Jen visits to talk about “The Good Bride,” where the wedding of the year turns disastrous in a twisty family drama full of lies and betrayals. A People Magazine's Most Anticipated Read of 2025!

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Author website –Jen Marie Wiggins

Thanks to G.J. Ford Bookshop for offering books for sale

Close friends of the Carters explore a lesser-known personal passion of both Jimmy and Rosalyn: fly fishing, an activity that cemented decades of friendships for the Carters and inspired many meaningful adventures. in their book titled Jimmy Carter: Rivers and Dreams

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Bookseller: Righton Books

Paul was the director of the Ossabaw Island Education Alliance from 2005–2017; he now serves as director emeritus. He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Oxford, an M.P.A. from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a B.A. from Princeton University. He co-edited “Coastal Nature, Coastal Culture: Environmental Histories of the Georgia Coast” and “African American Life in the Georgia Lowcountry: The Atlantic World and the Gullah Geechee.” He is the author of “On the Rim of the Caribbean: Colonial Georgia and the British Atlantic World.” His latest is “A Southern Underground Railroad.”

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Thanks to Righton for offering books for sale

Norway, 2022, directed by Joachim Trier. Renate Reinsve, who plays the main character Julie, won Best Actress at Cannes. This dramady follows Julie from her mid-20’s to her early 30’s. She’s exploring life, both educationally and emotionally. All just long enough to know that this isn’t what she wants. She’s still searching.

In Norwegian with English subtitles; 128 minutes; Rated R.

Watch the trailer –The Worst Person in the World

No reservations necessary

$3 suggested donation

A St. Simon’s Writer’s Group Event

Masterclass Series #1– Show, Don’t Tell – Dialogue that Beguiles

Attendees will receive instruction on Dialogue, Author Voice, and Scene Setting. Please bring a laptop or writing method, plenty of ideas, and a learner’s spirit. Grow your ability to use descriptive language to set the tone of your stories.

This program is the first in a series of three Saturday sessions. Each program will feature a different topic and speaker.

ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT ALONG WITH A CELEBRATION AT THE END OF THE MASTERCLASS.

About the Speaker – Laura Kelly Robb:

Laura Kelly Robb grew up in New York, the fifth of six daughters. She earned a BA from the University of Toronto and went to work in Vigo, Spain. She lived in a small village and studied part-time at the University of Santiago. Returning to the US, she taught Spanish and History in Seattle Schools. After attending an Iowa Writers Workshop summer session, she began to submit short stories and write novels. China Rock, set in Washington State's San Juan Islands, was published in 2013. She now writes full-time, with The Laguna Shores Research Club published in September 2022 and a sequel coming in 2024. She lives with her husband, Paul, dividing their time between Georgia and Washington State.

This event is free, but registration is required ➜https://forms.gle/2pAMKsgPgfJz1Uwn9

A St. Simon’s Writer’s Group Event

Masterclass Series #2– Show, Don’t Tell – Voice Lessons

Attendees will receive instruction on Dialogue, Author Voice, and Scene Setting. Please bring a laptop or writing method, plenty of ideas, and a learner’s spirit. Grow your ability to use descriptive language to set the tone of your stories.

This program is the second in a series of three Saturday sessions. Each program will feature a different topic and speaker.

ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT ALONG WITH A CELEBRATION AT THE END OF THE MASTERCLASS.

About the Speaker

Nikki Walbridge has been an educator for nearly 30 years and is currently the Director of College Counseling at Frederica Academy. While she has taught English, both literature and composition, in grades 6-12 and all levels, her passion now is helping students with the college admissions essay. Nikki lives on St. Simons with her husband and children and works on her first novel when she has a few spare moments.

This event is free, but registration is required ➜ https://forms.gle/qywaP6qUTShUtjFW8

2024, USA, directed by Simon Cellan Jones. The story follows Michael (Mark Wahlberg) and his Adventure Racing Team on an endurance race of 400 miles, taking them across the Dominican Republic. During the race, they come across a stray dog that guides and follows them the entire time.

107 minutes; rated PG 13.

Closed-captioning will be turned on

Watch the trailer – Arthur the King

No reservations necessary

$3 suggested donation

Mark has published two previous books: “Mountain Miles: A Memoir of Section Hiking the Southern Appalachian Trail” and “The View from Hadrian’s Wall: Two Friends Hike Along the Ancient Roman Frontier.” “The Crimson and Gold” is a comprehensive narrative detailing the struggle for integration in Athens, Georgia, in the context of highly competitive football as experienced by athletes, their fellow students, teachers, journalists, and school administrators at Athens High School and Burney-Harris High School and eventually Clarke Central High School. The proud sports traditions of two high schools—both adored by their respective communities—eventually become inextricably linked with the larger battle for equal rights during the tumultuous 1960s and early 1970s.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Thanks G.J. Ford Bookshop for offering books for sale

Mary is a South Carolina native and government relations consultant who perfected her entertaining skills for making friends and engaging clients during her forty-year career. The author of “The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All: Southern Recipes, Sweet Remembrances, and a Little Rambunctious Behavior,” and her second book, “The Cheese Biscuit Queen: Kiss My Aspic” comes out February 18.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website – Mary Matha Greene

Thanks to G.J. Ford Bookshop for offering books for sale

A St. Simons Writer’s Group Event

Masterclass Series #3– Show, Don’t Tell – Setting the Mood

Attendees will receive instruction on Dialogue, Author Voice, and Scene Setting. Please bring a laptop or writing method, plenty of ideas, and a learner’s spirit. Grow your ability to use descriptive language to set the tone of your stories.

This program is the third in a series of three Saturday sessions. Each program will feature a different topic and speaker.

ATTEND ALL THREE SESSIONS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT ALONG WITH A CELEBRATION AT THE END OF THE MASTERCLASS.

About the Speaker – Ciera Smith

Ciera Smith is the St. Simons Writer’s Group’s social media and website assistant and the fiction group leader. Ciera is also an experienced educator and copywriter. With a Bachelor's in English from the University of Georgia and a Master's in English in progress at Valdosta State, she is knowledgeable about the literature of every genre. She has over a decade of experience teaching Creative Writing to various age groups and loves to help writers work through the nitty gritty of their stories.

This event is free, but registration is required – https://forms.gle/7HzDAJUKSdA5rdedA

2023 Italy, Belgium, France, directed by Matteo Garrone. Senegalese cousins and aspiring musicians Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall) must brave through long stretches of desert and water, not to mention brutal smugglers and traffickers, to realize their dreams in Europe.

In French and Wolof with English subtitles

120 minutes; Rated R

Watch the trailer – Io Capitano

No reservations necessary

$3 suggested donation

Sharon Burton has actively worked as a visual artist, art curator, poet, podcaster, teaching artist, and creativity coach for 20 years in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas.

Sharon visits to discuss Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations & Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife, a guide to rekindling creative and artistic passions, such as painting, writing, music, and crafts.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website – Sharon Burton

Join Chris Slack, President of the Coastal Photographers Guild, for an “Armchair Travel” experience showcasing captivating corners of the world rarely seen by tourists. Embark on a journey through Yemen, exploring its rich history, the cultural significance of Khat, stunning Old City architecture, and the charm of its rural countryside. From the arid deserts, travel to Ecuador’s vibrant rainforest, viewed from both above and within, and learn about the construction of an environmentally friendly pipeline deep in the jungle. Conclude with a visit to Guatemala’s historic former capital, Antigua, during the colorful Easter celebrations. This is a visual and cultural adventure you won’t want to miss!

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Emily is the critically acclaimed Amazon bestselling author of suspense novels, “Burying the Honeysuckle Girls,” “The Weight of Lies,” “Every Single Secret, Until the Day I Die,” and “Reviving the Hawthorn.”  After graduating from Auburn with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, she moved to New York City. She’s worked as an actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant for the CBS shows As the World Turns and Guiding Light.

She visits to talk about her latest book, Gothictown (publication date: March 25), about a restauranteur lured by pandemic-era incentives who moves her family to a seemingly idyllic small town in Georgia, only to discover darkness lurking beneath the sun-dappled streets and Southern hospitality.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Seating is limited; registration is suggested via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website – Emily Carpenter

Bookseller: GJ Ford

UK, 2024, directed by Uberto Pasolini. James Norton (“Grantchester”) stars as John, a thirty-four-year-old window cleaner, who is given only a few months to live. He attempts to find a new, perfect family for his three-year-old son, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation.

96 minutes

Not Rated.

No reservations necessary

$3 suggested donation

Watch the trailer – Nowhere Special

Laura is an art historian and the USA Today bestselling author of travel guides and historical fiction. She visits to talk about her latest book, The Keeper of Lost Art (publication date: April 22), set in World War II when a young girl makes an unbreakable connection with a boy sheltering in her family’s Tuscan villa, where the treasures of the Uffizi Galleries are hidden. It’s a moving coming-of-age story about the power of art in wartime, based on actual events.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Seating is limited; registration is encouraged via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website –– Laura Morelli

Thanks to G..J. Ford Bookshop for offering books for sale.

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel. Mads Mikkelsen stars in this story of Danish soldier and explorer Ludvig Kahlen, who explored and cultivated Denmark's wild Jutland, which now comprises the vast majority of the country, in the mid-18th century.

In Danish with English subtitles

127 minutes; Rated R.

$3 suggested donation

Watch the trailer – The Promised Land

Maggie is a four-time finalist for the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Nonfiction Prize. Her essays have appeared in Reed magazine, the Briar Cliff Review, Athen’s magazine, and the Sycamore Review, where she was a double finalist for the Wabash Prize for Nonfiction.

She visits to discuss her book, Trials of a Dead Lawyer’s Wife: A True Story —a journey through her dead lawyer husband’s drug abuse, possible murder, and her desire for justice.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Seating is limited; registration is suggested via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino – Room 108

Author website – Maggie Redmon

Bookseller: GJ Ford.

A St. Simons Writer’s Group Event

HOW TO SAVE YOUR HISTORY & WRITE YOUR LIFE STORY  

Everyone has a story to tell. Too often, these stories and personal histories are lost unless they’ve written a biography or memoir. But it’s not easy, and new writers may wonder how and where to start, what to include, and what to leave out. Award-winning writer Vic DiGenti works as a ghostwriter, biographer, and publisher. He’s written 11 biographies and family histories for clients and will share practical information based on his past and most current books on leaving a lasting legacy. 

About the Speaker:

Vic DiGenti is the award-winning author of six novels, a collection of short stories, and eight works of nonfiction. His books include the Windrusher trilogy of adventure fantasies and the Quint Mitchell Mystery series, published under the pen name Parker Francis. Vic also works as a ghostwriter, biographer, and publisher using his imprint, Windrusher Hall Press. He’s a longtime member of the Florida Writers Association, serving as Regional Director for NE Florida and on the Board of the Beaches Museum. 

Free; registration is required ➜ https://forms.gle/phCeYyNPYGHcnZdk6

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen uplifting works of historical and contemporary fiction, Marie’s books are beloved by readers across the globe.

She visits to talk about her latest book, The Book Club for Troublesome Women (publication date: April 22), about a group of women who meet to discuss a controversial book. The women share secrets and cocktails and discover that the American dream they've been sold isn't all it seems. 

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Seating is limited; registration is encouraged via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website ––Marie Bostwick

Bookseller: Righton Books.

Directed by Ken Kwapis. Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski star in this rescue advanture—the true story of a family of whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

107 minutes; Rated PG.

$3 suggested donation

Watch the trailer – Big Miracle

Japan/Germany, 2023, directed by Wim Wenders. Hirayama works as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. He seems content with his simple life. He follows a structured everyday life and dedicates his free time to his passion for music and books. Hirayama also has a fondness for trees and photographs them. More of his past is gradually revealed through a series of unexpected encounters.

In Japanese with English subtitles

124 minutes; Not Rated

No reservation needed

$3 donation suggested

Watch the trailer – Perfect Days

Rebecca is a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University. Previously, she taught at Madeira School and American University. She has a PhD in history, an MA in public history from American University, and a BA in history and philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. In 2023, she was awarded a Cokie Roberts Fellowship from the National Archives Foundation and a Rubenstein Center Research Fellowship from the White House Historical Association. Her writing has been published in the Washington Post, Time, Slate, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and elsewhere. Rebecca visits to talk about her book – “Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’s Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany.”

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Author website –Rebecca Brenner Graham

Thanks to G.J. Ford Bookshop for offering books for sale

Kaira Rouda is an award-winning, bestselling author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her books include The Next Wife, The Second Mrs. Strom, Beneath the Surface, The Widow, and more. Kaira visits to talk about her latest book – Jill is Not Happy (release date – June 10, 2025).

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Theater

Author website – Kaira Rouda

Thanks to Righton Books for offering books for sale

Kimberly is the award-winning author of “The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare” and “The River Witch.” She founded Tinderbox Writers Workshop and has been a guest lecturer for many regional and national writing workshops, including at the Pat Conroy Literary Center.

Kimberly visits to talk about her book, The Fabled Earth, in which Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in a sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape.

Free for members; $10 for non-members.

Registration is required via Eventbrite

St. Simons Casino Room 108

Author website –Kimberly Brock

Bookseller: GJ Ford. Bookshop