Buxton Books and Wild Dunes Resort are proud to present 21st Annual Wild Dunes Author Event and Weekend with Mary Alice Monroe

21st Annual Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend

January 16 - 18, 2026

Isle of Palms, SC

Join us for the 21st Annual Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend with Mary Alice Monroe happening January 16 - 18! Tickets available now! 

Each year, more than 500 readers gather to attend this literary event that brings three days of author events and programming to the beautiful Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

For more than 20 years, this beachside literary series has connected book lovers to a host of beloved, bestselling, and award-winning authors, including the series founder, Mary Alice Monroe. 

We are thrilled to announce the exciting lineup of 2026 headlining authors: 

MARIE BENEDICT is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. All have been translated into multiple languages, and many have been selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family. Her upcoming novel, Daughter of Egypt, will be published on March 24, 2026. 

VIRGINIA EVANS is the New York Times bestselling author of The Correspondent which novelist Ann Patchett called “a cause for celebration.” Virginia is from the east coast of the United States. She attended James Madison University for her bachelor’s in English literature, as well as Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, for her master’s of philosophy in creative writing. Now she lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and her Red Labrador, Brigid. The Correspondent is her debut novel.

PAULA MCLAIN is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin, as well as two collections of poetry and a memoir. Her work has been published in over thirty-five countries, and featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Town & Country, Real Simple, and elsewhere.

VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY is a New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including her most recent release Harlem Rhapsody. With Marie Benedict, she coauthored The Personal Librarian, a Good Morning America book club pick, and The First Ladies, Target’s 2023 Book of the Year. She is an NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work for her novel Stand Your Ground, which was also a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

MARY ALICE MONROE will act as the moderator for what will certainly be a lively and memorable conversation.

POLLY BUXTON, owner of Buxton Books, will give welcoming remarks. BUXTON BOOKS is the sponsoring bookseller of the Wild Dunes Author Series Weekend.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE WILD DUNES LITERARY EVENT

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19TH

The weekend’s literary festivities culminate on Sunday with the headline event! Guests will enjoy a 75-minute in-depth and lively author conversation moderated by Polly Buxton, diving into each author’s novels, writing life, and inspiration. We’ll hear from our powerhouse of a panel that includes New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict, Virginia Evans, Paula McLain, and Victora Christopher Murray. Audience questions conclude the discussion. Afterwards, visit each author at their signing table to get your books personalized and say hi. 

Sunday’s experience will include a coffee/tea bar, curated silent auction, Buxton Books pop-up book shop and more. 

Program begins at 2pm. 

The Wild Dunes Author Event with Mary Alice Monroe proudly supports literacy, and proceeds from the event and 100% of auction will go to Reading Partners SC, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides weekly one-on-one tutoring for local elementary school students. We’re grateful to the authors for donating their time and to our sponsors for their generous support.

Guests who reserve their tickets to the Wild Dunes Author Event with Mary Alice Monroe unlock access to an array of additional Saturday offerings!  

General Admission Ticket: $52.00 The general admission ticket includes general seating in the Osprey Ballroom at Sweetgrass Inn, the complimentary coffee/tea bar, plus one (1) autographed hardcover of a featured title of your choice. Please note, if a preorder title is selected it will be shipped to you on the book's publication date at no additional cost. This ticket is a key to participate in all of the additional ticketed weekend events.

VIP Ticket: $145.00 The VIP ticket includes 4 books: Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (PRE-ORDER, out 03/24/2025), The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Skylark by Paula McLain, and Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray. MORE! VIP tickets include a Buxton Books tote bag and premiere seating in the front rows of the Osprey Ballroom at Sweetgrass Inn. Ticket also includes the complimentary coffee/tea bar. This ticket is a key to participate in all of the additional ticketed weekend events. There are a limited number of VIP tickets available.

VIP All-Access Ticket: $275 In addition to everything included with the VIP ticket, the VIP All-Access includes access to all of Saturday's events (11 am Books & Brunch with Kardea Brown, 2 pm Writing Workshop with Paula McLain, and 5 pm Cocktails and Conversations with Paula McLain and Victoria Christopher Murray). 

Please note: Tickets to this event are non-refundable. If you are no longer able to make the event, we are happy to hold your signed copy of the book(s) included with your ticket for pick up at the store or shipping (at an additional cost).

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH

The weekend includes an exciting array of events on Saturday, January 17th. Registration to these literary events is only available to guests who have purchased a ticket to the Sunday Main Event. These events have a very limited capacity, so get your tickets early. 

11:00 am Books & Brunch with Kardea Brown ($75.00)

Enjoy a delicious brunch, mimosas and a coffee bar in the luxe Indigo Room & Rooftop with Charleston’s own Kardea Brown for a special conversation about her new cookbook. In addition to the brunch, your ticket includes a signed hardcover of Make Do with What You Have. This is the ultimate experience for fans of Kardea Brown and Southern cooking!

2:00 pm  Writing Workshop with Paula McLain ($42.00)

Calling all aspiring writers! Join us for this rare opportunity to learn the art of writing from a New York Times bestselling author. Using her latest book, Skylark, for inspiration, Paula McLain will lead one of her writing workshops (usually taught in classrooms abroad) for a small group of Wild Dunes attendees. During this hour-long class, she will share tools, techniques, and encouragement to help you get started on your writing journey or hone your craft. Guests will also receive a Buxton Books notebook and pen. A pop-up bookshop will be on site. Ticket also includes a coffee and cookie station. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to nurture your creativity with a bestselling author and seasoned writing teacher!

5:00 pm Prose & Pinot with Paula McLain and Victoria Christopher Murray ($35.00)

Enjoy an up-close conversation between Paula McLain and Victoria Christopher Murray as they talk about their writing careers, both of which have spanned over a decade, and their process. After, there will be plenty of time to ask questions and get books signed in a smaller group setting. Sip wine and nosh appetizers as you enjoy a glorious sunset view on the rooftop of the Sweetgrass Hotel. Ticket also include a $5 voucher to be used at the Buxton Books pop-up shop on any title of your choice.  

Saturday events are only available to those who are Sunday Main Event ticket holders. 

Please note: Tickets to this event are non-refundable. If you are no longer able to make the event, we are happy to hold your signed copy of the book(s) included with your ticket for pick up at the store or shipping (at an additional cost).

WILD DUNES AUTHOR EVENT & WEEKEND HOTEL RESERVATIONS

The Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend with Mary Alice Monroe includes an opportunity to treat yourself to stay on property at the world-class Wild Dunes Resort. Opportunities to golf, swim, enjoy the spa, and of course walk the beach await you!

This is a special opportunity for friends, couples, and book clubs to gather at a luxury seaside resort to celebrate a shared love of books. Call Wild Dunes Resort at 866-499-7122 to receive an exclusive promo code for your room rate. 

Treat yourself to this literary experience at the beach!

The season of gift giving is approaching! A ticket to the Wild Dunes Author Event is a perfect gift for your book-loving friend, spouse, or family member. And it’s perfect for book clubs! 

For ticketing questions, please contact:
Buxton Books
mam@buxtonbooks.com

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Polly Buxton
polly@buxtonbooks.com

ABOUT WILD DUNES RESORT, A DESTINATION BY HYATT RESORT:
Nestled on the northern tip of Isle of Palms, a lush barrier island off the coast of South Carolina, Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination by Hyatt resort, occupies 1,600 acres of oceanfront paradise with a variety of accommodation options, including the AAA Four-Diamond Rated Boardwalk Inn, the Village at Wild Dunes, private condos, luxury home vacation rentals and its new 153-room Sweetgrass Inn opening in 2021. Wild Dunes Resort, located just 30 minutes from the charm and grace of historic downtown Charleston, will be the largest resort of its kind in the region with the addition of Sweetgrass Inn, offering groups of up to 650 people the chance to enjoy a Lowcountry getaway. With year-round championship golf, nationally ranked tennis, award-winning recreation, spa services and restaurant options, Wild Dunes Resort has been distinguished by many publications and associations as a top destination for families, golfers, tennis lovers and meeting and event planners. Visit Wild Dunes Resort online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

OUR SPONSORS:
We’d like to thank our sponsors for helping make this literary experience and fundraiser possible. They are the Wild Dunes Resort, the Wild Dunes Club, Buxton Books (add more sponsors here).

Proceeds from the Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend will directly support Reading Partners South Carolina, which is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Charleston, SC that provides one-on-one tutoring for elementary students at Title 1 schools in the greater Charleston area to help them improve their literacy skills to reach at great level.