Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
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- All blood donors will receive a Dugout mug and two free tickets to a future Tourists game. All donors will also receive a hot dog lunch and drink.
The Blood Connection, the non-profit community blood center, and the Asheville Tourists are proud to renew their partnership to support the local blood supply in the Western Carolinas while bringing baseball fun to blood donors across the region. The Asheville Tourists are a longstanding member of the Lifesaver League – a group of minor league sports teams committed to serving their community through hosting blood drives and encouraging blood donation.
“The Blood Connection are wonderful partners and we look forward to doing our part to help the Western North Carolina communities. Providing a convenient location as well as a great ballpark hotdog to the donors is a small contribution for all the great work The Blood Connection provides our area,” said Tourists General Manager Larry Hawkins.
The Tourists have called Asheville home for decades and have been a consistent partner of The Blood Connection. TBC is the community blood center serving the Carolinas, and is the sole blood supplier for Mission Health, Advent Health, and Pardee Health, among a dozen others across the mountains. After a year of historically low blood donor turnout, TBC is even more reliant on partners like the Tourists to host successful blood drives this season.
“Our Lifesaver League partnerships are a longstanding tradition within The Blood Connection, and we are excited for another season hosting drives with the Asheville Tourists,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. “We’re looking forward to reaching more potential blood donors across Western North Carolina by bringing our blood donation opportunities to Tourists fans and McCormick Field. Local hospitals certainly need their donations desperately.”
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

The second speaker in our 2022 Grandfather Presents series is Ginger Zee. Ginger is the chief meteorologist and managing editor of the climate unit at ABC News. You can see her covering the nation’s weather headlines on Good Morning America and across all ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. She also hosts an ABC News original digital series, Food Forecast, focused on climate and its impact on agriculture. Ginger has covered almost every major weather event and dozens of historic storms during the past 15 years—from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Sandy and Michael; from the Australian wildfires to the climate’s impact on Victoria Falls, Africa; and the aftermath of tornadoes all over the United States, most notably those in Moore and El Reno, Oklahoma. She has covered blizzards in Boston and record-breaking heat in Death Valley. She not only shares her passion for meteorology, but more importantly, she presents the compassion and human side of these storms.
Having storm-chased since college, Ginger has a genuine love for the atmosphere and a dedication to getting young people interested in science. She has written a STEM trilogy called Chasing Helicity for middle grades, which follows a storm chasing a young woman named Helicity across the U.S. while learning about science and life.
Ginger is the author of Natural Disaster: I Cover Them. I Am One and A Little Closer to Home: How I Found the Calm After the Storm, which debuted in January 2022. Both books focus on Ginger’s own depression and journey of discovery around mental health issues.
Ginger, who is an Emmy and Murrow Award-winning meteorologist, attended Valparaiso University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology. She served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater from 2008 to 2011. Ginger also holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. In March 2020, Ginger was inducted into the Weather Hall of Fame in Oklahoma. She lives with her husband and two sons in New York.
Ginger agreed to be the face and voice of Grandfather’s new Weather and Climate exhibit in the Wilson Center. Guests can see her narrating a video on the differences between weather and climate and how they affect the mountain in the Paul & Susie O’Connell Exhibit Hall.
More About Grandfather Presents
Our 2022 speaker series at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery includes three big Thursday night events with internationally and nationally known presenters. Presented by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the series also includes three Saturday afternoon presentations focused on nature, adventure or conservation-related topics on a local or regional scale. Read more.
Schedule
5 – 6 p.m.: Entrance Gate opens for event. Proceed about one mile to Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
5:15 – 5:45 p.m.: VIP event in the sunroom (holders of Pro Series Pass) to meet Ginger Zee.
5:30 – 6 p.m.: Reception for all ticket holders inside Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
6 – 7 p.m.: Presentation in Classroom in the Clouds event space
7 – 8 p.m.: Book Signing & Exhibits Open
Tickets
$50 per person (purchase below starting June 24)
Grandfather Presents Series Pass available for Bridge Club Members. Read more.
Refunds/Cancelations
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend the event that you registered for please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-2013 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Join us for a virtual evening with Mary McMyne! McMyne will sign copies of The Book of Gothel purchased at Malaprop’s. Please order below and indicate that you want a signed copy in the “comments” section during checkout.
This is a free event, but registration is required. Click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.
If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!
Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda–a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of–a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known… Told from her own perspective, The Book of Gothel is a lush, historical retelling filled with dark magic, crumbling towers, mysterious woods, and evil princes. This is the truth they never wanted you to know, as only a witch might tell it.
Mary McMyne has widely published stories and poems in venues like Redivider, Gulf Coast, Strange Horizons, and Apex Magazine, and her debut fairytale poetry chapbook, Wolf Skin (Dancing Girl Press, 2014), won the Elgin Chapbook Award. She is a graduate of the New York University MFA Program.

Author Anna North will join the East Asheville Library’s book club via Zoom for a discussion of her book Outlawed. Join us in person or click “sign up” on this event to receive the Zoom link for this hybrid event!
Programming disclaimer: The contents of this presentation are for informational purposes only. Nothing herein constitutes medical, legal, or financial advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice on any issue. You should not rely on the information received in this presentation for any important decisions, including medical, legal, or financial decisions. Always consult with an appropriate professional for specific advice related to your situation. The views and opinions expressed in this presentation do not necessarily reflect those of Buncombe County or its Public Library System.

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!

As a small nonprofit, we rely on donations, memberships, and program fees to continue to preserve and promote the history of our unique region. Still, we want to make sure that anyone, regardless of income, can attend our programs.
In 2020, we began offering our “Community Funded Ticket” program. This program allows anyone to register for our in-person or virtual events at no cost and with no additional barriers. We’ve been delighted by the response to this program with many participants donating extra with their ticket purchases to ensure that our Community Fund account stays active.
As we start as new fiscal year, we hope that you will consider making a donation to our Community Fund to help continue this program through the remainder of 2022 and well into 2023.
A $10 donation provides a ticket to one of our virtual events.
A $25 donation provides a ticket to one of our in-person events.
A $50 donation provides a family membership to a family who could not otherwise afford to be a member of WNCHA. As you know, members receive free and discounted tickets to our events for the entire year of membership.
Your support is vital! We appreciate you!

DONATE BLOOD TO VOTE!
Right now, The Blood Connection has a critical need for blood donations and we need community members like YOU to help us out!
Community members have chosen to help TBC ramp up blood donations in August, and your donation can help crown them MR. OR MS. AUGUST!
These contestants have stepped up to be community lifesavers…WILL YOU?
Twenty contestants from across the Carolinas and Georgia have signed on to share TBC’s mission and
encourage others to roll up their sleeves this August. They include:
– Dr. Annie Andrews – Politician and Pediatrician from Charleston, SC
– Michelle Brandt – Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Politician from
Charleston, SC
– Wool E. Bull – Mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team
– Jan Correll – Blogger/influencer behind Silver is the New Blonde® in Charlotte, NC
– Jordan Coppinger – Radio Host, 98.1 The River in Asheville, NC
– Max Diekneite – News Anchor from Savannah, GA
– Jane Dough – Radio Host, Kiss 101.9 in New Bern, NC
– Anastasia Garcia – Social Media Influencer from Greensboro, NC
– Brevin Galloway – Basketball Player for Clemson University
– Dr. Carlos Grant – Principal of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC
– Nikki Kuniej – Account Manager for Charleston Radio Group in Charleston, SC
– Dr. Zion Ko Lamm – Internal Medicine Specialist in Greenville, SC
– Andrew Lord – Head Coach of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Greenville, SC
– Miguel Lucero – Paramedic and EMT Teacher from Berkely County, SC
– Walker Merritt – Football Player at The Citadel
– Ed Piotrowski – Chief Meteorologist, WPDE from Myrtle Beach, SC
– Jane Robelot – Anchor, WYFF News 4 from Greenville, SC
– Ian Robinson – Leukemia Survivor from Greenville, SC
– Sarah Margaret Sandlin – Social Media Influencer from Charlotte, NC
– Rhys Shaw – 12-year-old Lymphoma Survivor from Charleston, SC
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…
Western Carolina Rescue Ministries and iDaph Events present the 4th Annual Light Up the Night 5k! This event is a fundraising, nighttime walk/run event that welcomes all people regardless of ability, race, color, ethnicity, gender, or faith. All the proceeds from this event will directly benefit the continuous work of recovery, rescue, and restoration to individuals throughout WNC.
The first 200 people to register will also receive a FREE glow-in-the-dark commemorative finisher medal!
Each 5k registration will include a FREE t-shirt until July 10th at midnight. After that date, shirts will be available for purchase, in limited quantities and sizes, for $10. Glow sticks, necklaces and bracelets will be available for our in-person participants!
The event will take place at Carrier Park in Asheville, NC on Friday, August 5th. This is your time to shine! Runners will have a rolling start between 7:30 PM to 7:45 PM and take to the greenway to run or walk this fun and unique event.
In addition to the in-person event, there is also a virtual offering for participants who aren’t comfortable coming to an in-person event. The Virtual 5k event experience gives participants an opportunity to participate in this fundraising event ANYWHERE! Walk/Run/Hike 5k and submit your results online!
Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) exists to serve the homeless, poor and addicted populations of Western North Carolina. They meet people in crisis, focus on helping them at the point of their need, invest in their future, and help them until they can move forward.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!

As a small nonprofit, we rely on donations, memberships, and program fees to continue to preserve and promote the history of our unique region. Still, we want to make sure that anyone, regardless of income, can attend our programs.
In 2020, we began offering our “Community Funded Ticket” program. This program allows anyone to register for our in-person or virtual events at no cost and with no additional barriers. We’ve been delighted by the response to this program with many participants donating extra with their ticket purchases to ensure that our Community Fund account stays active.
As we start as new fiscal year, we hope that you will consider making a donation to our Community Fund to help continue this program through the remainder of 2022 and well into 2023.
A $10 donation provides a ticket to one of our virtual events.
A $25 donation provides a ticket to one of our in-person events.
A $50 donation provides a family membership to a family who could not otherwise afford to be a member of WNCHA. As you know, members receive free and discounted tickets to our events for the entire year of membership.
Your support is vital! We appreciate you!

DONATE BLOOD TO VOTE!
Right now, The Blood Connection has a critical need for blood donations and we need community members like YOU to help us out!
Community members have chosen to help TBC ramp up blood donations in August, and your donation can help crown them MR. OR MS. AUGUST!
These contestants have stepped up to be community lifesavers…WILL YOU?
Twenty contestants from across the Carolinas and Georgia have signed on to share TBC’s mission and
encourage others to roll up their sleeves this August. They include:
– Dr. Annie Andrews – Politician and Pediatrician from Charleston, SC
– Michelle Brandt – Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Politician from
Charleston, SC
– Wool E. Bull – Mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team
– Jan Correll – Blogger/influencer behind Silver is the New Blonde® in Charlotte, NC
– Jordan Coppinger – Radio Host, 98.1 The River in Asheville, NC
– Max Diekneite – News Anchor from Savannah, GA
– Jane Dough – Radio Host, Kiss 101.9 in New Bern, NC
– Anastasia Garcia – Social Media Influencer from Greensboro, NC
– Brevin Galloway – Basketball Player for Clemson University
– Dr. Carlos Grant – Principal of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC
– Nikki Kuniej – Account Manager for Charleston Radio Group in Charleston, SC
– Dr. Zion Ko Lamm – Internal Medicine Specialist in Greenville, SC
– Andrew Lord – Head Coach of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Greenville, SC
– Miguel Lucero – Paramedic and EMT Teacher from Berkely County, SC
– Walker Merritt – Football Player at The Citadel
– Ed Piotrowski – Chief Meteorologist, WPDE from Myrtle Beach, SC
– Jane Robelot – Anchor, WYFF News 4 from Greenville, SC
– Ian Robinson – Leukemia Survivor from Greenville, SC
– Sarah Margaret Sandlin – Social Media Influencer from Charlotte, NC
– Rhys Shaw – 12-year-old Lymphoma Survivor from Charleston, SC
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Join us for a virtual evening with Mohsin Hamid presenting The Last White Man: A Novel on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 7 PM ET.
This event is hosted by Books & Books/Miami Book Fair + indie bookstore partners.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
There are TWO ticket options for this event. One is the price of the book and includes the book. The other is free.
1. Click to purchase EVENT & BOOK for $26.00 (plus applicable tax and shipping):
♦ includes a hardcover copy of The Last White Man
♦ includes the link to access the live event on Zoom
2. Click to register for EVENT ONLY:
♦ includes a link to access the live event on Zoom
Please make sure you submit the correct email address with your ticket purchase or registration and that your email filters will allow messages from addresses @malaprops.com. The link required to attend will be emailed to you prior to the event.
NOTE: Books bundled with event tickets may be shipped ONLY to United States addresses. Books will not be shipped before publication date, August 2, 2022. Postal delivery times vary.
The Last White Man: A Novel
From the New York Times-bestselling author of Exit West, a story of love, loss, and rediscovery in a time of unsettling change.
One morning, a man wakes up to find himself transformed. Overnight, Anders’s skin has turned dark, and the reflection in the mirror seems a stranger to him. At first he shares his secret only with Oona, an old friend turned new lover. Soon, reports of similar events begin to surface. Across the land, people are awakening in new incarnations, uncertain how their neighbors, friends, and family will greet them. Some see the transformations as the long-dreaded overturning of the established order that must be resisted to a bitter end. In many, like Anders’s father and Oona’s mother, a sense of profound loss and unease wars with profound love. As the bond between Anders and Oona deepens, change takes on a different shading: a chance at a kind of rebirth–an opportunity to see ourselves, face to face, anew.
Mohsin Hamid is the author of five novels, including the Booker Prize finalists and New York Times bestsellers Exit West and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. His essays, some collected as Discontent and Its Civilizations, have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and elsewhere.

Join us for a virtual evening with Mohsin Hamid discussing The Last White Man: A Novel with Danzy Senna, on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 7 PM ET.
This event is hosted by Books & Books/Miami Book Fair + indie bookstore partners.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
There are TWO ticket options for this event. One is the price of the book and includes the book. The other is FREE.
1. Click to purchase EVENT & BOOK for $26.00 (plus applicable tax and shipping). Ticket includes:
♦ a hardcover copy of The Last White Man
♦ a bookplate signed by Mohsin Hamid
♦ the link to access the live event on Zoom
2. Click to register for EVENT ONLY for FREE:
♦ includes a link to access the live event on Zoom
Please make sure you submit the correct email address with your ticket purchase or registration and that your email filters will allow messages from addresses @malaprops.com. The link required to attend will be emailed to you prior to the event.
NOTE: Books bundled with event tickets may be shipped ONLY to United States addresses. Books will be available after we recieve the signed bookplates and will not be shipped before publication date, August 2, 2022. Postal delivery times vary.
The Last White Man: A Novel
From the New York Times-bestselling author of Exit West, a story of love, loss, and rediscovery in a time of unsettling change.
One morning, a man wakes up to find himself transformed. Overnight, Anders’s skin has turned dark, and the reflection in the mirror seems a stranger to him. At first he shares his secret only with Oona, an old friend turned new lover. Soon, reports of similar events begin to surface. Across the land, people are awakening in new incarnations, uncertain how their neighbors, friends, and family will greet them. Some see the transformations as the long-dreaded overturning of the established order that must be resisted to a bitter end. In many, like Anders’s father and Oona’s mother, a sense of profound loss and unease wars with profound love. As the bond between Anders and Oona deepens, change takes on a different shading: a chance at a kind of rebirth–an opportunity to see ourselves, face to face, anew.
Mohsin Hamid is the author of five novels, including the Booker Prize finalists and New York Times bestsellers Exit West and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. His essays, some collected as Discontent and Its Civilizations, have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and elsewhere.
Danzy Senna’s first novel, the bestselling Caucasia, won the Stephen Crane Award for Best New Fiction and the American Library Association’s Alex Award, was a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and has been translated into nearly a dozen languages. A recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, Senna is also the author of the memoir Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, the story collection You Are Free, and the novels Symptomatic and New People. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the novelist Percival Everett, and their sons.

What makes a place idyllic?
Start with an emerald river that flows from ancient mountains. Add an abundance of living creatures that co-evolved over millennia. Bring in humans who honor their place in the interconnected web. And rebuild a vital stream that supports us all.
Your support and engagement helps ensure the health of this watershed for the ages! We can’t do it without you.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!

DONATE BLOOD TO VOTE!
Right now, The Blood Connection has a critical need for blood donations and we need community members like YOU to help us out!
Community members have chosen to help TBC ramp up blood donations in August, and your donation can help crown them MR. OR MS. AUGUST!
These contestants have stepped up to be community lifesavers…WILL YOU?
Twenty contestants from across the Carolinas and Georgia have signed on to share TBC’s mission and
encourage others to roll up their sleeves this August. They include:
– Dr. Annie Andrews – Politician and Pediatrician from Charleston, SC
– Michelle Brandt – Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Politician from
Charleston, SC
– Wool E. Bull – Mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team
– Jan Correll – Blogger/influencer behind Silver is the New Blonde® in Charlotte, NC
– Jordan Coppinger – Radio Host, 98.1 The River in Asheville, NC
– Max Diekneite – News Anchor from Savannah, GA
– Jane Dough – Radio Host, Kiss 101.9 in New Bern, NC
– Anastasia Garcia – Social Media Influencer from Greensboro, NC
– Brevin Galloway – Basketball Player for Clemson University
– Dr. Carlos Grant – Principal of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC
– Nikki Kuniej – Account Manager for Charleston Radio Group in Charleston, SC
– Dr. Zion Ko Lamm – Internal Medicine Specialist in Greenville, SC
– Andrew Lord – Head Coach of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Greenville, SC
– Miguel Lucero – Paramedic and EMT Teacher from Berkely County, SC
– Walker Merritt – Football Player at The Citadel
– Ed Piotrowski – Chief Meteorologist, WPDE from Myrtle Beach, SC
– Jane Robelot – Anchor, WYFF News 4 from Greenville, SC
– Ian Robinson – Leukemia Survivor from Greenville, SC
– Sarah Margaret Sandlin – Social Media Influencer from Charlotte, NC
– Rhys Shaw – 12-year-old Lymphoma Survivor from Charleston, SC
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Sponsorships now available for businesses, groups, families & individuals to support TFAC programs.
Contact Marianne at 828-859-8322 or email [email protected] to learn more.

DONATE BLOOD TO VOTE!
Right now, The Blood Connection has a critical need for blood donations and we need community members like YOU to help us out!
Community members have chosen to help TBC ramp up blood donations in August, and your donation can help crown them MR. OR MS. AUGUST!
These contestants have stepped up to be community lifesavers…WILL YOU?
Twenty contestants from across the Carolinas and Georgia have signed on to share TBC’s mission and
encourage others to roll up their sleeves this August. They include:
– Dr. Annie Andrews – Politician and Pediatrician from Charleston, SC
– Michelle Brandt – Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Politician from
Charleston, SC
– Wool E. Bull – Mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team
– Jan Correll – Blogger/influencer behind Silver is the New Blonde® in Charlotte, NC
– Jordan Coppinger – Radio Host, 98.1 The River in Asheville, NC
– Max Diekneite – News Anchor from Savannah, GA
– Jane Dough – Radio Host, Kiss 101.9 in New Bern, NC
– Anastasia Garcia – Social Media Influencer from Greensboro, NC
– Brevin Galloway – Basketball Player for Clemson University
– Dr. Carlos Grant – Principal of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC
– Nikki Kuniej – Account Manager for Charleston Radio Group in Charleston, SC
– Dr. Zion Ko Lamm – Internal Medicine Specialist in Greenville, SC
– Andrew Lord – Head Coach of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Greenville, SC
– Miguel Lucero – Paramedic and EMT Teacher from Berkely County, SC
– Walker Merritt – Football Player at The Citadel
– Ed Piotrowski – Chief Meteorologist, WPDE from Myrtle Beach, SC
– Jane Robelot – Anchor, WYFF News 4 from Greenville, SC
– Ian Robinson – Leukemia Survivor from Greenville, SC
– Sarah Margaret Sandlin – Social Media Influencer from Charlotte, NC
– Rhys Shaw – 12-year-old Lymphoma Survivor from Charleston, SC

This is a hybrid event, meaning there is an option to attend virtually and a limited number of seats are available to attend the event in-store. The event is free but registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.
Please click here to register for the VIRTUAL event. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.
Please click here to register for the IN-PERSON event. Note the important event details on the RSVP form.
If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!
From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Fela Kuti, explorer Matthew Henson and writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. This lyrical, rhythmic texts encourages boys to imagine everything they can be and the great things they can do, drawing on the strength of people throughout history that paved the way for Black boys.
It tells today’s boys: you have the courage, you are the light. It’s a new day! Be inspired and motivated by drawing on the history of the role models that came before you.
Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so.
Let’s start your story–ready, set, go.
Contributor Bios
ALI BIKO SULAIMAN KAMANDA is an award-winning filmmaker and social entrepreneur from Sierra Leone, West Africa. He runs BIKO Studios, a cross-cultural film production company and is the President of Salone Rising, a not-for-profit organization that provides micro-financing and mentoring resources to small business owners in rural Sierra Leone.
JORGE REDMOND currently works in the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney, and as an adjunct professor in South College’s Legal Department. Ali and Jorge are college friends, and Black Boy, Black Boy is their debut book.
KEN DALEY is an award-winning artist from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. He believes that diverse stories are essential to creating a more just, and equitable world, and is known for his use of bold colors and authentic details to depict Black Life in all its iterations.
Join host Tena Frank for Malaprop’s Mystery Book Club! Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!
The club meets at Malaprop’s on the second Monday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Sponsorships now available for businesses, groups, families & individuals to support TFAC programs.
Contact Marianne at 828-859-8322 or email [email protected] to learn more.

DONATE BLOOD TO VOTE!
Right now, The Blood Connection has a critical need for blood donations and we need community members like YOU to help us out!
Community members have chosen to help TBC ramp up blood donations in August, and your donation can help crown them MR. OR MS. AUGUST!
These contestants have stepped up to be community lifesavers…WILL YOU?
Twenty contestants from across the Carolinas and Georgia have signed on to share TBC’s mission and
encourage others to roll up their sleeves this August. They include:
– Dr. Annie Andrews – Politician and Pediatrician from Charleston, SC
– Michelle Brandt – Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Politician from
Charleston, SC
– Wool E. Bull – Mascot for the Durham Bulls Baseball Team
– Jan Correll – Blogger/influencer behind Silver is the New Blonde® in Charlotte, NC
– Jordan Coppinger – Radio Host, 98.1 The River in Asheville, NC
– Max Diekneite – News Anchor from Savannah, GA
– Jane Dough – Radio Host, Kiss 101.9 in New Bern, NC
– Anastasia Garcia – Social Media Influencer from Greensboro, NC
– Brevin Galloway – Basketball Player for Clemson University
– Dr. Carlos Grant – Principal of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, SC
– Nikki Kuniej – Account Manager for Charleston Radio Group in Charleston, SC
– Dr. Zion Ko Lamm – Internal Medicine Specialist in Greenville, SC
– Andrew Lord – Head Coach of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in Greenville, SC
– Miguel Lucero – Paramedic and EMT Teacher from Berkely County, SC
– Walker Merritt – Football Player at The Citadel
– Ed Piotrowski – Chief Meteorologist, WPDE from Myrtle Beach, SC
– Jane Robelot – Anchor, WYFF News 4 from Greenville, SC
– Ian Robinson – Leukemia Survivor from Greenville, SC
– Sarah Margaret Sandlin – Social Media Influencer from Charlotte, NC
– Rhys Shaw – 12-year-old Lymphoma Survivor from Charleston, SC

