Months after his death, Pat Conroy will again speak to readers
Months after his death, Pat Conroy will continue to speak to readers.
Conroy’s publisher will print a collection of the bestselling author’s nonfiction writing this fall, according to a news release.
“A Lowcountry Heart: Reflections on a Writing Life” will be published by Nan. A. Talese/Doubleday on Oct. 25, the day before what would have been the “Prince of Tides” author’s 71st birthday.
The book will include letters, interviews and magazine articles, the release said. There will be tributes from Conroy’s friends and an introduction by Conroy’s widow, novelist Cassandra King.
The selections include Conroy’s thoughts on his favorite reads, exercise and the loss of friends.
Before he died in March, Conroy had also submitted fewer than 200 pages of a new novel, “Storms of Aquarius,” the release said. The book is about four friends coming of age during the Vietnam War.
“We are still searching his journals for more on this novel, and at some point we may have something to share with you,” Talese wrote in a note to readers in the upcoming nonfiction book.
Conroy died March 4, weeks after announcing he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Plans formed immediately for ways to remember the Beaufort author.
The inaugural Pat Conroy Literary Festival will be held in Beaufort Oct. 20 to 23. The event will follow the blueprint of a successful weekend-long 70th birthday celebration last October.
Numerous authors are expected to attend, including those associated with Story River Books, the University of South Carolina Press imprint Conroy edited.
In May, King announced a planned literary center in Conroy’s memory. The details have yet to be announced, but King said a board is being formed.
“It’s going to be an outreach into the community for people who loved Pat, who loved his writing,” King said at a memorial event in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. “It’s a way of carrying on his legacy.”
Among the writings in the new book will be a letter Conroy penned last year to his 13-year-old grandson, Jack. In the note, published this week by Garden & Gun magazine, Conroy talks about basketball and sportsmanship.
Conroy played guard at The Citadel, a time he chronicled in his book “My Losing Season.”
“Basketball is a sport of inordinate nobility, and you owe it your deepest respect,” Conroy wrote to his grandson. “Your character as a man and a player will be judged by how you comport yourself on the court in victory or defeat.”
Stephen Fastenau: 843-706-8182, @IPBG_Stephen
Remembering Pat Conroy — 1945-2016
Beaufort's prince, Pat Conroy, goes home ☙ Conroy's wife organizes memorial event at Waterfront Park ☙ Pat Conroy’s last days ☙ State of Surprise: Pat Conroy’s love letter to South Carolina ☙ Pat Conroy literary festival dates set ☙ Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute from principal Bill Dufford ☙ In his honor, Conroy’s ‘losing season’ teammates revisit the moment at The Citadel ☙ Cartoonist Robert Ariail's tribute to Conroy ☙ Pat Conroy mourned by dignitaries, cadets and friends with ‘personal grief’ ☙ Ervena Faulkner: A meal to mourn Pat Conroy ☙ SC lawmakers honor Conroy following funeral ☙ Kathleen Parker: Conroy’s writing made him the sexiest man alive ☙ Lauderdale: I could hear an ‘amen’ at Pat Conroy’s funeral ☙ Why graduates of The Citadel, class of 2001, united to attend Conroy funeral ☙ Hundreds pay respects to Pat Conroy, family in Beaufort ☙ How 10 minutes with Pat Conroy changed my life ☙ Lauderdale: Pat Conroy expects all the shrimp in Beaufort to be pickled for his funeral (+recipe!) ☙ Op-ed: 'Let something legendary' come from Pat Conroy ☙ Keyserling: Pat Conroy bonded with other 'orphans' who landed in Beaufort ☙ Real people inspired characters in Conroy's books ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ How Pat Conroy made Beaufort a destination ☙ Pat Conroy on the silver screen ☙ Model for 'Prince of Tides' tiger lived in Columbia ☙ Photos: Pat Conroy and Beaufort ☙ Books written by Pat Conroy ☙ Quotes from Pat Conroy's works
Stories from Conroy's friends and admirers: Conroy's closest friends: Grateful now for last year's celebration of author's life ☙ Close encounters with Pat Conroy ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ Sallie Ann Robinson recalls press tour with Pat Conroy ☙ Great Santini tells principal 'my son (Pat Conroy) will not be a secretary' ☙ Retired book seller: Decades after Daufuskie, Pat Conroy 'knew every (student's) name' ☙ Conroy book buffs: When you read his books, 'you are there'
This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 8:25 AM with the headline "Months after his death, Pat Conroy will again speak to readers."