Andrews to join Buxton Books for a glimpse into her latest book

Just in time for beach-read season, author Mary Kay Andrews will bring her latest book to Charleston during Piccolo Spoleto.

Hosted by indie bookstore Buxton Books, Andrews – often called the “Queen of the Summer Read” – will introduce her new novel Road Trip with a talk and signing on June 4 at Circular Congregational Church’s Lance Hall. A copy of the novel, out June 2, is included with every ticket.

Andrews will be joined by her friend and fellow novelist Patti Callahan Henry whose recent novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lee, was also a New York Times bestseller. Henry, who considers Andrews a mentor and inspiration, discussed Road Trip with her from its earliest concept to the final page.

Andrews has visited Buxton Books several times before, according to the store’s marketing coordinator, Marissa Luckie. But the June 4 conversation between the two authors will make the event especially compelling.

“I think that there are certain questions that only a writer knows to ask another writer about how a book is made,” Luckie said. “They really know how to get in a little bit deeper and ask the questions that really get into the process of writing a book.”

Andrews, who lives in Atlanta, was a journalist before she became a novelist. She has written more than 30 books.

Exploring Irish ties

The granddaughter of Irish immigrants, Andrews channeled her own family roots to tell the story of Road Trip.

The novel follows two estranged sisters who reconnect after their mother’s death. Maeve and Therese Dunigan inherit a mysterious painting that might be worth millions if the sisters can prove its authenticity. To do so, they must travel to Ireland and dig into their family’s mysterious past.

“When I started writing this book, I’d only been to Ireland one time before. Writing the book gave me the excuse to go to Ireland.” Andrews said. “You can never underestimate the value of going and putting your feet in the places that your characters walk.”

Andrews said she was inspired by a tour she took in an Irish art gallery where she learned about the 1974 Beit art collection heist, when members of the IRA stole priceless paintings in an attempt to trade them for imprisoned compatriots.

The story, along with a portrait from a wealthy Irish family she saw at an auction, helped to inspire Road Trip.

“My husband and I —we’re both the first in our families to graduate from college —so there are no family portraits in our family,” she said. “I’ve always had a fascination with little portraits. I buy them when I see them and I make up fantastic stories about who they are.”

Two of Henry’s novels, When Light Breaks and The Perfect Love Song, also share Irish settings. Their common heritage inspired their art and helped strengthen a friendship that spans more than two decades, Henry said.

“It’s always very interesting to hear two writers discuss their process, their lives and how the creative work informs their life,” Henry said. “We will be talking about how (Irish heritage) informs not only her characters, but probably the kind of writers we are today.”

Andrews’ role as the middle child of three sisters also gave her plenty of family conflict to draw upon, too. She applied her own memories of growing up with her sisters to Road Trip.

“I tried to dwell on sisters I’ve known, the dynamic we share, and I took it from there,” Andrews said.

IF YOU WANT TO GO:

This event will be hosted June 4 at 6 p.m. at Circular Congregational Church’s Lance Hall.

Tickets can be purchased at City Paper Tickets and include a signed, hardcover copy of “Road Trip.”

Madelyn Taylor is a magazine, news and digital journalism graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.