At the College of Charleston, English professors practice what they preach; engaging writing about fascinating topics ranging from religion, racism, history, biography and more.
On Tuesday, September 17, 2013 the English department will celebrate its own bestsellers, nationally recognized experts, foremost scholars and acclaimed specialists as they present recent book publications to College of Charleston students and Charleston community members.
Bret Lott, Julia Eichelberger, Joseph Kelly and Simon Lewis will host the New Book Presentation and Celebration at 4 p.m. in the Robert Scott Small building (175 Calhoun Street).
In Lott’s 14th book, Letters and Life: On Being a Writer, On Being a Christian, he writes six reflective essays about his life, writing process and religion. Lott is a New York Times bestselling author whose work has gained him prestigious national awards and honors. Learn more about Lott’s books here, or contact him at lottb@cofc.edu.
Eichelberger’s Tell About Night Flowers: Eudora Welty’s Gardening Letters, 1940-1949, is an annotated epistolary collection that delves into the personal messages within Welty’s letters on gardening, revealing her thoughts on close friends and anxiety about her fiction pieces. Find out more about Eichelberger here, or contact her at eichelbergerj@cofc.edu.
Kelly’s historical nonfiction America’s Longest Siege: Charleston, Slavery, and the Slow March Toward Civil War details the life of Bishop John England, his interaction with southern American slavery and the evolution of slavery in Charleston and the South. Kelly specializes in Irish studies and has published work about James Joyce in many literary collections. Read about Kelly’s previous books and experience here, or email him at kellyj@cofc.edu.
Ambiguous Anniversary: The Bicentennial of the International Slave Trade Bans is Lewis’ nonfiction about the events and actors leading up to the international slave trade ban. Lewis has tuaght African and 
post-colonial literature and South Carolina-West Africa connections since 1996. Learn about his expertise and published work here, or contact him at lewiss@cofc.edu.
Attendees of the event have the opportunity to socialize with the featured professors during the book signing and reception following their presentations.
