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<p><strong>From staff reports</strong></p>
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<p>Beaufort High School students and Pat Conroy Literary Center interns Holland Perryman, Alisha Arora and Millie Bennett will interview bestselling Young Adult novelist Kalynn Bayron about her new novel, This Poison Heart, at 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 18. The free virtual event will be offered as part of the 6th annual Bluffton Book Festival. Registration is open at <a href="https://aneveningwithkalynnbayron.eventbrite.com">https://aneveningwithkalynnbayron.eventbrite.com</a>.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Kalynn-Bayron.webp.webp"><img src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Kalynn-Bayron.webp.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-53353"/></a><figcaption>Kalynn Bayron</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Perryman, Arora, and Bennett will be joined by their mentor Jonathan Haupt, Executive Director of the nonprofit Conroy Center. Their discussion is presented in collaboration with Beaufort High School’s DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization, a student service club founded by Perryman, inspired by her experiences with social justice and inclusivity-themed programs of the Conroy Center’s annual March Forth, including a conversation earlier this year with Bayron about her debut novel, Cinderella Is Dead.</p>
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<p>The Bluffton Book Festival runs from Nov. 18 to 22. Learn more about it at www.blufftonbookfestival.com.</p>
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<p><strong>About This Poison Heart</strong></p>
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<p><strong>— Booklist: </strong>“This Poison Heart masterfully weaves a unique story grounded in the depths of Greek mythology and Black girlhood, ideal for lovers of folklore or those who enjoy the thrill of a well-paced and unanticipated adventure.”</p>
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<p><strong>— Publishers Weekly: </strong>“Bayron weaves science and Greek mythology into a captivating lore that lends weight to this fantastical contemporary story. She conjures entertaining and realistic dialogue and attentive characterization, while incisive descriptions and sumptuous prose evoke a wonderfully gothic atmosphere.”</p>
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