Local Author Denise Smith Cline Discusses New Novel with Michel Stone

The two will discuss Cline's debut novel "The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik" at an upcoming event.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:00pm

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Denise Smith Cline, an author and lawyer from Upstate South Carolina, will be in conversation with fellow author Michel Stone to discuss Cline's new novel "The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik" at an event hosted by the Hub City Bookshop. The event will include a Q&A session and book signing.

Why it matters

The event provides an opportunity for local readers to engage with two acclaimed Southern authors and learn more about Cline's debut novel, which is set during the Great Depression and explores themes of grief, destitution, and human connection.

The details

Cline's novel "The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik" tells the story of two strangers, Vesta Blonik and Gordon Crenshaw, who are brought together through misleading letters written by Crenshaw's family members. The event will feature a discussion between Cline and Stone about the book, followed by a Q&A session and book signing.

  • The event will take place on March 19, 2026.
  • Denise Smith Cline will be signing books directly after the event.

The players

Denise Smith Cline

An author and lawyer born and raised in Upstate South Carolina. Her short stories and essays have won recognition and prizes, including a Pushcart Prize nomination. The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik is her first published full-length novel.

Michel Stone

A former board chair and fan of the Hub City Writers Project. She is the author of the novels Border Child, The Iguana Tree, and the forthcoming Fig Days. She is the winner of the Mary Frances Hobson Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Letters, the Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature, and the South Carolina Fiction Award.

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What they’re saying

“The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik is the story of two strong-hearted strangers, bent but not destroyed by grief and financial destitution.”

— Denise Smith Cline, Author

What’s next

Readers can purchase a 10% discounted copy of The Resettlement of Vesta Blonik by RSVP'ing on Eventbrite and presenting the RSVP at the bookshop register.

The takeaway

This event provides an opportunity for local readers to engage with two acclaimed Southern authors and learn more about Denise Smith Cline's debut novel, which explores themes of resilience and human connection during the Great Depression.