Acclaimed novelist, poet, and short story writer Ron Rash visited the Central-Clemson library the evening of Monday, August 12, 2024 for a book signing and to discuss his latest novel, The Caretaker.

Rash told The Pickens County Chronicle that he enjoys events such as this. “Writers spend so much time alone that it’s kind of nice to go out occasionally and know that people are reading the book,” he said. “So, I think that’s important, but, also, libraries have been hugely important to me.” When he was growing up, his parents made each visit to their local library “a special event,” he said. They did not have a lot of money at that time, he said, but his parents would take him to the library “and get me reading.” So, he feels a great debt to libraries, he said. “And, if I can do something that might help with the library, and sometimes I do fundraisers, I always like to do that.”

This event was his seventh in seven days, he said. “The others were in North Carolina,” he said. His latest novel, The Caretaker, is now out in paperback. “I’m kind of promoting it, and, plus, people invited me.”

Rash said that The Caretaker might be his last novel, but he will continue to write short stories. “I can change my mind, I know that,” he told The Chronicle. “But this one feels like a good one to end on. I feel it’s my most hopeful novel, and I think I would kind of like to end on a hopeful note.”

The Central-Clemson Library Branch Manager, Jennifer Crenshaw, introduced Rash to the audience, thanked everyone for coming, and thanked Amy Albright, with the Pendleton Bookshop, for being there and offering books for sale. “We are so excited,” Crenshaw said of the event. She had first met Rash when she was a young teenager and a student in an English class taught by his wife, Ann, and he visited the class to read poetry. “I remember it vividly,” she said. “That started something for me and introduced me to his work. As much as I run around here, and try to keep up with so many things that are going on, he is a writer that makes me slow down and take a breath and really appreciate the craft that is a carefully, well written sentence. And I always appreciate a writer who makes me look up words in the dictionary. It doesn’t happen very often, but, every now and then, there is one. I just want to say thanks for being here.”

Rash read passages from The Caretaker as well as from other works, discussed the process of writing, answered questions from the audience, and signed books afterward.

Click below to listen to audio from Rash’s visit to the Central-Clemson library.

Visit his website at www.RonRashWriter.com.