Monroe to present talk at Sumter County Museum 'The Summer Guests' latest by bestselling author

Mary Alice Monroe will present an evening talk and book signing Monday, as the Sumter County Museum continues its series of programs that bring bestselling writers to Sumter. Monroe is a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book, "The Summer Guests," is listed as one of "25 Beach Reads Perfect for Summer" by Southern Living magazine.

Best known for her Beach House and Lowcountry Summer series, the prolific author has also written nearly a dozen standalone books, two children's books and a work of fantasy. Her previous books have won numerous literary awards and have consistently earned excellent reviews. Monroe's "The Butterfly's Daughter," for example, was the winner of the International Book Award for Green Fiction and a finalist for 2012's Book of the Year prize by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.

"The Summer Guests," released June 11, has already received numerous highly favorable reviews. New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry found it " an intimate and wise novel about what matters most in our lives. Mary Alice Monroe writes with great wit and wisdom about what happens when both human nature and the natural world collide. A fierce hurricane bears down on the Southeastern coast, sending five people evacuating to one friend's (horse) farm in (Tryon in) the North Carolina mountains. As the storm gathers force, so do the emotions, confrontations and decisions of the summer guests. In the end, they will each leave as altered as the coast they escaped. Mary Alice Monroe writes a story that will make you both feel and understand - a rare combination. Transformational and poignant, this page-turner is your summer's must-read!"

Deep South magazine's review concludes "'The Summer Guests' is a beautifully woven tale of identity, self-discovery and the relationships that make us who we are. With its strong emphasis on sport and identity, and the ties between horses and riders, Monroe's latest novel is a must-read for any animal lover."

The New York Journal of Books called "The Summer Guests" "Fast-paced and fluid, (that) with heartache as well as joy make this a most enjoyable read," and Dorothea Benton Frank declared it "Magical! Mary Alice Monroe's writing is always sensitive and true and as inspiring as the natural wonder about which she writes."

Recognized as an environmental author, Monroe writes with insight about the bonds between animals and people, most notably those with horses and dogs in "The Summer Guests." The relationships among the human beings in the book, both those on the North Carolina farm and the couple trapped on the South Carolina coast during the hurricane, are also deftly explored.

Admission to Monday's 6:30 p.m. talk and book signing by Mary Alice Monroe is $30 for members of the Sumter County Museum and $35 for non-members. The fee includes a hardcover copy of Monroe's "The Summer Guests" and a wine-and-cheese reception.

The program will be held at the museum, 122 N. Washington St. Call the museum at (803) 775-0908 for more information. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sumtercountymuseum.org or by calling or visiting the museum today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.