Nestled in the Grain District of Spartanburg there is an independent bookstore that is doing unusual things that are setting it apart from other bookstores. Hub City Bookshop is using the sale of books to help South Carolina add to its already impressive list of published writers. With authors such as Dorothea Benton Frank, Kwame Dawes and Sue Monk Kidd all having ties to the Palmetto State, it is safe to say that we have a pot that is brimming with talent, and if the people behind this community project have their way, the pot will get bigger each year.

The store is part of the Hub City Writers Project, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide a literary identity for the Spartanburg community. Over the past 16 years the organization has published more than 400 writers though Hub City Press, renovated two historic buildings, and given more than $15,000 in scholarships to emerging writers. In addition to those mighty accomplishments, the group provides creative writing instruction and memorable book launches for the literary-minded to take in with enthusiasm.

The group opened up shop during a time when independent bookstores are fighting a battle for visibility in the modern publishing world. All sales go toward helping “nourish new writers and help launch authors into the literary world” though the continuation of its workshops and advocacy work. An integral part of the bookstore’s success and presence is its programming that brings local talent in to share quality work. An example of this will be taking place Thursday, Aug. 23, when former political reporter Jon Buchan will give a reading from his first novel, Code of the Forest.

One of the most often-uttered phrases in writing classes is “write what you know.” In this case, the Mullins native used his experience as a First Amendment lawyer to craft a story of corruption and moral wrangling surrounding a fictional chemical plant on the South Carolina coast. The book was recently selected as a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Award and is getting rave reviews.

Hub City Bookshop will continue to provide events like this throughout the year, which always make for a wonderful evening out. For more information on the Buchan lecture and other events in the future, be sure to visit the store’s website.