Bestselling novelist Mary Alice Monroe on her new book, her next project, and her upcoming fundraiser for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust and Nemours Wildlife Foundation.

By Margaret Evans, Editor

Mary Alice Monroe is what they call 'a force of nature.'

            She’s a powerful force for nature, too, having just finished the fourth and final novel in her “Lowcountry Summer” series, a family saga set on Sullivan’s Island that addresses the plight of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. It’s just the latest in a long and prolific career writing what Monroe calls “purpose-driven” environmental fiction.

The painting on our cover is "Color Burst" by Dennis Lake. It took First Place in the Oil Category at the Society of Bluffton Artists' Annual Judged Show on April 8th. For more information about SOBA and to see the other winners, visit www.sobagallery.com

A Taste of Italy – Part One

Photography by Paul Nurnberg

Have you ever dreamed of exploring Italy, visiting the cities and countryside, and eating as the Italians do? Join me on a culinary tour. For the next two issues, we'll be dining on Italian foods. Just choose a recipe and start cooking. By cooking and sharing regional dishes, we can experience some of the colors, flavors and traditions of Italy.

Congratulations to our Everyday Gourmet, Debbi Covington, who was recently featured in The Aglaia, the national publication of Phi Mu sorority.