Author Lin Stepp

Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of nearly 30 books – 17 novels set around the Smoky Mountains near her home, six set in the Lowcountry around Edisto – that include many Beaufort and Charleston scenes – a novella in one of Kensington Publishing’s Christmas anthologies, four regional guidebooks co-authored with her husband J.L., plus a 365-day devotional guide.

“I write southern fiction with a little romance, a dash of suspense to keep you guessing, and a little inspiration,” she says.

Lin will be at Beaufort Bookstore on April 17th, signing books.

“My first three South Carolina novels, the Edisto Trilogy, were set at Edisto,” she says. The first, CLAIRE AT EDISTO, won the Best Book of the Year award in fiction romance in American Book Fest’s huge contest with over 2000 entries – the same year Jonathan Haupt’s book, honoring Pat Conroy, won first place in its category. Two books in this trilogy followed, RETURN TO EDISTO and EDISTO SONG, following the lives of Claire’s daughters when they grew up … and within these books are many scenes in Beaufort. I use real places in all my books and set my fictitious scenes mixed into these … so readers feel like they have visited in the towns and communities I feature, learning about real shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions they can visit with then come to those areas.”

“The popularity of the Edisto Trilogy led to a second coastal series set on the north end of Edisto across from Seabrook, where

J.L. and Lin Stepp

I created a Lighthouse station – with a lovely old bed-and-breakfast made from the old keeper’s home and a tall red-and-white lighthouse I called the Deveaux Lighthouse after the actual Deveaux Bank, a bird sanctuary off the coast beside the island. The Lighthouse Sisters books are being loved by readers as well … and I’ve had fun creating these stories about four sisters who grew up on this lighthouse island. The first LIGHT THE WAY introduced Burke, the oldest daughter, who stayed to help run the inn and lighthouse, but the other sisters are soon introduced before the story ends, along with a great ongoing mystery. The second book, Gwen’s story, is set at the island and in Beaufort and Port Royal, where Gwen moves to take a job. The third, Celeste’s story, which has just released, takes readers to downtown Charleston in many of its scenes.”

Lin and her husband also write regional guidebooks, including VISITING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS.

“We love the Lowcountry … and we have been coming to Edisto for vacations since the 1980s,” says Lin. “It’s been a joy to bring my readers to the places we’re loved around Edisto, Charleston, Beaufort and Port Royal in my books. I know Bruce will have all our SC titles at our Beaufort Bookstore signing event. We look forward to our visit to Beaufort that day and hope to get by to see Jonathan and the new Conroy Center, which we haven’t visited yet.”

Lin and L.J. Stepp will be at the Beaufort Bookstore, 2027 Boundary St, on Wednesday, April 17th from 4-6 pm. (843) 525-1066