“Books By the River” is a nationally-distributed, interview-style show featuring notable South Carolina authors and stories. A new season of 30-minute shows, as well as a new podcast based on the shows, will launch in May 2025. The podcast will include audio snippets from the shows, as well as literary scholars engaging in discussions about the featured books and authors. SC Humanities helped support the podcast with a Mini Grant.
Previously known as “By the River,” “Books By the River” celebrates the spirit of Southern storytelling with conversations between host Holly Jackson and renowned Southern authors. Set in a cozy library by the Beaufort River, each episode delves into the inspiration and timeless charm behind Southern tales. Viewers will experience the passion that shapes these stories, revealing the cultural roots of the Southern narrative tradition. The show can be watched on Sundays at 5:00 pm on ETVHD, Thursdays at 8:00 pm on SC Channel, and Tuesdays at 11:30 am on ETV World. The show premieres on Sunday, May 4, 2025. “Books By The River” is a co-production of South Carolina ETV & the University of South Carolina Beaufort. Learn more: https://www.scetv.org/watch/booksbytheriver.
The podcast will launch in late May 2025 and will include 9 episodes: The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock (Episode 1), Sleeping with the Ancestors by Joseph McGill & Herb Frazier (Episode 2), Sullivan’s Island Supper Club by Susan Boyer (Episode 3), Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood (Episode 4), 54 Miles by Leonard Pitts Jr. (Episode 5), Summer at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (Episode 6), Salvage This World by Michael Farris Smith (Episode 7), Bitter & Sweet by Rhonda McKnight (Episode 8), and Red Clay Susie by Jeffery Lofton (Episode 9).
The podcast will help expand the dialogue around Southern Literature and will extend the reach of the programming to a newer, younger audience.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
