uscpress State of the Heart: South Carolina Writers on the Places They Love (University of South Carolina Friends Fund Book)

Review Southerners--whether they write poetry, fiction, or non-fiction--have a sense of place. In their work, sometimes that place is a literal, physical presence; sometimes it is spiritual. For some a place is a haven, for others it is a muse: a front porch, a garden, a cabin in the woods, a library, or the Carolina Coliseum. In this wonderful book of mini-memoirs you can discover the places that have inspired and continue to inspire a marvelous group of South Carolina writers.--Walter EdgarThe anthology reveals a state that is more than a playground for tourists; it is a state of human hiding places that echo in the hearts of its literary citizens.-- "McCormick Messenger" Product Description In <em>State of the Heart</em>, Aïda Rogers has crafted an artful love letter to our state, with contributions from a host of nationally and regionally recognised writers who have written short essays on the South Carolina places that they cherish. This anthology provides a multifaceted historical and personal view of the Palmetto State.<br><br>Thematically organised, this collection offers a geographic and emotional scope that is as diverse as its contributors. Sportswriters describe beloved arenas; historians reflect on church ruins and forts. A playwright recalls the magic of her first theatre experience; a food writer revels in a coastal joint that serves fresh oysters. Backyards, front porches, a small library at a children's home, the Savannah River Site, and places that are gone except in the memories of the writers who loved them—these are just a few of the locales covered, all showing how South Carolina has changed and inspired people in a variety of ways.<br><br><em>State of the Heart </em>evokes a sense of history and timelessness by bringing together heartfelt responses to South Carolina rooted in memory, drawing on reflection, inspiration, and love. The anthology reveals a state that is more than a playground for tourists; it is a state of human hiding places that echo in the hearts of its literary citizens. Though presented as a book about place, the collection is ultimately about our shared connections to one another, to a complex common past, and to ongoing efforts to frame and build a future of promise and possibility. From the Inside Flap A collection of heartfelt recollections of place from a pantheon of Palmetto State writers From the Back Cover A collection of heartfelt recollections of place from a pantheon of Palmetto State writers About the Author <strong>Aïda Rogers</strong> is a writer and editor whose feature journalism has won national and regional awards. She has worked in newpapers, television, and magazines and has coauthored <em>Stop Where the Parking Lot's Full,</em> a guidebook to South Carolina's favourite restaurants with Tim Driggers.