Meet the Authors Visiting CLS this Summer
One of the great joys of a library is the opportunity to encounter new ideas through the people who bring them to life.
Each season, our Main Reading Room becomes a gathering place for new ideas, fresh perspectives, and meaningful conversation. Through our author programs, the Charleston Library Society welcomes writers whose work invites us to think more deeply, travel further through history, challenge assumptions, and better understand both ourselves and the world around us. This summer is no exception. From international affairs and climate fiction to memoir, history, and literary escapism, the months ahead promise a remarkable lineup of conversations in the Main Reading Room.
Whether you’re drawn to contemporary issues, historical discovery, or simply the pleasure of hearing an author discuss the creative process behind a new book, we hope you’ll join us.
Retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis has worn many hats throughout his distinguished career—military leader, diplomat, educator, and bestselling author among them. Following the success of 2034 and 2054, Stavridis returns with his latest work, 2084: A Novel of Future War, a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of a world reshaped by climate change and geopolitical conflict.
Drawing on decades of leadership experience and expertise in international relations, Stavridis crafts fiction that feels both imaginative and unsettlingly plausible. His visit offers a rare opportunity to hear from one of the nation’s foremost thinkers on global affairs as he discusses the intersection of policy, technology, climate, and storytelling.
Charleston readers may remember Cinelle Barnes from her visit supporting the launch of our Book Drop initiative in 2024. This June, we are honored to welcome her back during publication week for her newest memoir, A Way Home.
A deeply personal story of resilience and recovery, the book chronicles Barnes’s journey following a traumatic brain injury that erased memories of her past, her family, and even herself. Through the lens of an unfinished manuscript and the support of loved ones, Barnes explores what it means to rebuild a life and rediscover identity after profound loss.
Known for her acclaimed memoir Monsoon Mansion and her thoughtful explorations of belonging, family, and place, Barnes brings both vulnerability and extraordinary insight to the page. We could not be more honored to celebrate the publication of this deeply personal work alongside her.
A familiar and beloved guest at the Library Society, Andrea Wulf returns this summer with her latest book, The Traveler.
Having had the pleasure of hosting Andrea several times before, we are delighted to welcome her back to 164 King for another evening of discovery and conversation. An award-winning historian and biographer, Wulf is best known for bringing overlooked figures and ideas to life through richly researched and deeply engaging narratives. In The Traveler, she introduces readers to George Forster—a naturalist, writer, explorer, and revolutionary whose remarkable life took him around the globe and into some of the most transformative moments of the eighteenth century.
Through Forster’s story, Wulf examines questions of exploration, human rights, equality, and our shared humanity. As always, her work reminds us that history is not simply a record of the past, but an ongoing conversation with the present.
For readers who enjoy a little literary adventure, Kate Eberle’s debut novel offers a delightfully inventive twist on the stories we love.
In If Books Could Kill, romance and suspense collide when an avid romance reader finds herself transported into a fictional world—only to discover she’s landed in a crime thriller rather than the happily-ever-after she expected. The result is a clever, fast-paced novel that blends humor, mystery, and a healthy appreciation for the power of books.
A self-described “grown-up theater kid,” Eberle brings infectious energy and imagination to her writing. We look forward to welcoming her to Charleston as part of her debut book tour and celebrating the arrival of an exciting new voice in fiction.
Join Us This Season
From visionary futures and remarkable historical lives to powerful memoir and imaginative fiction, this summer’s author lineup reflects the wide range of interests that have long defined the Charleston Library Society.
For more than 278 years, the Charleston Library Society has served as a place where ideas are exchanged, stories are celebrated, and curiosity continues to thrive. We hope you’ll join us in the Main Reading Room this summer as we welcome these outstanding authors, their newest works, and the conversations they inspire.
We look forward to seeing you at 164 King.