Remembering Senator Clemente Pinckney

Photo by Martha Casto

When a State Senator dies in office, his desk is draped in black. I had the privilege of working with Senator Clementa Pinckney during his tenure in the Senate. He began every conversation with me by asking, “How are you?” His colleague, Senator Wes Hayes, said that thinking of Senator Pinckney’s life reminded him of a saying in a Charleston churchyard: “We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings not figures on a dial. He lives most who thinks the most, feels the noblest, does the best.” A true and fitting tribute for an exceptional individual.

Photo at lying in state by Sean Rayford

Jim Jackson's Ant Farm

James M. Jackson

Congratulations, James M. Jackson, whose Seamus McCree mystery Ant Farm, a prequel to Bad Policy (2013) and Cabin Fever (2014), both published by Barking Rain Press, has been released through the Kindle Scout program. As Jim explains it in Judy Alter’s Judy’s Stew blog, Kindle Scout is an Amazon platform that allows readers to “nominate” books for publication as ebooks by Kindle Press. In Jim’s words, “Think ‘American Idol’ meets corporate behemoth Amazon.” In Ant Farm, financial crimes consultant Seamus McCree investigates the botulism murders of thirty-eight retirees at a picnic to celebrate their accomplishments. Wishing you great success, Jim!

Palmetto Chapter SinC at SC Book Festival

Jenny Milchman, Sasscer Hill, Suze Maze

Cathy Pickens, Raegan Teller, C. Hope Clark

Midday on Saturday at the SC Book Festival, the new Palmetto Chapter of SinC gathered at Longhorn’s restaurant across from the convention center and had a leisurely meet-and-greet with the authors from the KILLER THRILLERS and CRIME AND PUZZLEMENT panels. Former SinC National President Cathy Pickens also attended. Jenny Milchman let us give away an ARC of her latest novel, which went to Maxine Henry, writer and librarian, who was celebrating her first submitted short story. We were so pleased to have about forty people gathering to talk about books and writing. Looking forward to a repeat event next year!