What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor. Brew up a batch of your favorite cup of tea or Indah coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally written books in Columbia.
Fiction
- The Lower Quarter by Elise Blackwell | Release date: Sept. 21, 2015 | Valuable art goes missing in this murder mystery set in post-Katrina New Orleans
- Let the Glory Pass Away by James D. McAllister | Release date: Jan. 17, 2017 | Columbia comes to life in this novel with fictionalized characters some may recognize from the Soda City cultural scene.
- The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston | Release date: June 28, 2022 | A supernatural ghost romance novel set in the fictional town of Mairmont, SC.
- The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston | Release date: June 27, 2023 | In this witty and wise novel by the New York Times bestselling author of “The Dead Romantics,” Clementine, an overworked book publicist with a carefully planned future, faces an unexpected challenge when she falls in love with her temporary roommate.
- The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown | Release date: Nov. 15, 2019 | This spooky ghost story for young adults begins when a young girl stumbles upon a crumbling gravestone in an abandoned cemetery.
Part of a series
- Amari and the Night Brothers by BB Alston | Release date: Jan. 4, 2022 | The first in a trilogy, this young adult novel tells the supernatural story and adventures of Amari Peters.
- Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution by Idella Bodie | The series of twelve biographies portray the lives of individuals who lived in SC or in some way served in the 137 battles fought in SC.
- Summoning Up Love – Heart and Soul Book 1 by Synthia Williams | April 26, 2022 | The first in the new series of spicy Southern romance novels, this book tells the story of Vanessa Steele’s recovery from losing her job and her fiancé.
- Amari and the Night Brothers #3 by B.B. Alston | Release date: February 6, 2024 | This is the third installment in the Supernatural Investigations series from the Lexington-based author who was the No. 1 Kids’ Indie Next pick.
- Bittersweet Motives by Tyora Moody | May 11, 2019 | The first in a series, former reporter Serena “Rena” Manchester uses her investigative skills to solve murders.
Learn something new
- University of South Carolina in Focus by Chris Horn | Release date: Aug. 2, 2022 | This book paints a rich and vivid history of SC’s flagship university charted in 1801.
- Hootie!: How the Blowfish Put Pop Back Into Pop Rock by Mike Miller | Release date: Jan. 1, 1997 | Former music writer for The State, Mike Miller, takes you on a journey with local band Hootie and the Blowfish, from Five Points to one of the top-selling albums of all time.
- Kugels and Collards by Rachel Gordin Barnett, Lyssa Kligman Harvey, III, John M Sherrer | Release date: August 29, 2023 | This book is a flavorful exploration of SC’s Jewish community through its diverse culinary traditions.
- Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams by Cecil Williams, Claudia Smith Brinson | Release date: January 9, 2024 | This book is a collaboration between Southern Black photojournalist Cecil Williams and journalist Claudia Smith Brinson, offering a firsthand account of SC’s civil rights movement.
For the family
- Sunday Week by Dinah Johnson (Author) Tyrone Geter (Illustrator) | Release date: July 4, 2023 | The celebratory picture book takes young readers through the daily chores and activities of each weekday.
- Dear America: I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly by Joyce Hanson | Release date: Oct. 1997 | Part of the Dear America series, this historical fiction is set in Mars Bluff, SC, and tells the story of a young freed slave after the Civil War.
- Black Magic by Dinah Johnson | Release date: Jan. 18, 2010 | This children’s book illustrated by R. Gregory Christie is a celebration of the African American spirit and paints a picture of the color black.
Personal stories
- Swimming with the Blowfish: Hootie, Healing, and One Hell of a Ride by Jim Sonefield | Release date: June 28, 2022 | A memoir from Hootie and the Blowfish drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefield, telling the inside story of the band’s humble beginnings, meteoric rise, sudden fall, and ultimate rebirth.
- How to Be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life by Jory Fleming |Release date: April 20, 2021 | UofSC grad, and Rhodes Scholar Jory Fleming examines what it means to be human through a series of conversations with writer Lyric Winik.
- Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father by Craig Melvin | Release date: June 15, 2021 | This memoir from Columbia native + news anchor of NBC’s Today show is an exploration of fatherhood and race.
- My Vanishing Country by Bakari Sellers | Release date: May 19, 2020 | This memoir tells the story of growing up in rural Denmark, SC, and the life lessons that shaped the local lawyer and CNN analyst.
- True Story: A Faith Journal by Greg Adalane | Release date: May 29, 2023 | This heartwarming collection of stories chronicles Greg’s journey from an unlikely broadcasting start to everyday experiences. Originally shared on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic, the well-received writings inspired Greg to compile them into this book.
Need more recommendations? Stop by Richland County Library , Odd Bird Books , or Ed’s Editions to get expert advice from Cola’s librarians and booksellers. 📚