Buxton Books is excited to welcome New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Sarah McCoy to the bookstore to celebrate her new novel, Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely. Sarah will be in conversation with the founder of lifestyle platform Look Linger Love, Chassity Evans. For tickets and more information, please click here.
Please join us in welcoming bestselling author Sarah McCoy to the bookstore to celebrate her new novel, Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely. Told in dual timelines, Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely is the story of a beautiful starlet who suddenly abandons her career to become a nun and, over twenty years later, the student who has finally convinced her to say why. Mystery, history, and romance, all set against the backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood, this is the perfect summer read for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Elizabeth Gilbert's City of Girls.
Sarah will be joined by founder of the lifestyle platform Look Linger Love and Charleston resident, Chassity Evans, for a conversation about the writing of the book, the true story that inspired the novel, and everything in between. After the conversation, we'll open the floor for an audience Q&A. Then, stick around to get your book(s) personalized and say hi to Sarah and Chassity.
Grab a friend, your book club, or just come by yourself, and join us for an evening of book talk fun! For tickets and more information, please click here.
Please note: Tickets to this event are non-refundable. If you are no longer able to make the event, we are happy to hold your signed copy of the book for pick up at the store or shipping (at an additional cost). Please email rsvp@buxtonbooks.com with any questions or concerns.
About Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?:
From New York Times bestselling author Sarah McCoy—a spellbinding novel based on a true story: a beautiful young movie star of Hollywood’s Golden Age gives up her bright career to become a nun.
In 1969, twenty-three-year-old starlet Lori Lovely, the apple of Hollywood’s eye, shocks the world by ditching a promising film career to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Benedictine nun. Gossip columnists and scandal sheets can’t get enough of the story. Why would such a beautiful girl take the veil? Was she hiding from someone? Did it have anything to do with the tragic death of her costar, heartthrob singer Wesley Lucas?
In 1991, Lu Tibbott is under the gun to complete her senior thesis in modern American history. Instead of spending weeks in dusty archives, Lu decides to dig into a true twentieth-century mystery and write about her aunt Lori, now the Mother Abbess at a cloistered convent in rural New England. Biographers, bloggers, and media types have long speculated about her aunt Lori’s sudden departure from Hollywood. Mother Lori, however, has refused all requests for interviews—until Lu arrives at the abbey with a tape recorder in hand. To her delight, Mother Lori announces she’s finally ready to talk...but only if Lu is truly ready to listen.
Lu is shocked to discover that the story of Lori Lovely’s rise in Hollywood was far more tumultuous than she’d ever expected, a fairy tale twisting with ambition, unforeseen alliances, forbidden love, and secrets. What began as a history thesis now threatens to upend all their lives with its unexpected truths, especially as the media gets wind of Lu’s project and begins to ask…
Whatever happened to Lori Lovely?
About Sarah McCoy:
Sarah McCoy is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the novels Whatever Happened To Lori Lovely?, Mustique Island, Marilla of Green Gables, The Mapmaker’s Children, The Baker’s Daughter, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Best Historical Fiction nominee, the novella “The Branch of Hazel” in Grand Central, and The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, Lit Hub, Write or Die Tribe, Real Simple, The Millions, Your Health Monthly, Huffington Post, Read It Forward, Writer Unboxed, and other publications. She hosted the NPR WSNC Radio monthly program “Bookmarked with Sarah McCoy” and is the founder of The McCoy Grant. Sarah previously taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. She lives with her husband Doc B, dog Gilly, and cat Tutu in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Connect with Sarah on Instagram at @SarahMMcCoy, on her Facebook Fan Page, Goodreads, or via her website, www.sarahmccoy.com.
About Chassity Evans:
Chassity Evans is the founder and creative voice behind Look Linger Love, a lifestyle platform she launched in 2010 that has become a trusted destination for discovering the best in fashion, home décor, wellness, and beauty. Known for her discerning eye and warm, approachable style, Chassity has been featured in Real Simple, InStyle, and Coastal Living, among other publications.
A Charleston resident since 2004, Chassity can often be found with her nose in a book, sharing her current reads with her devoted community. A passionate reader and storyteller, she is currently working on her debut romantic comedy novel set on Harbour Island, where she maintains her home, Coral House, that serves as both retreat and creative inspiration.
Chassity brings her love of literature and keen understanding of what resonates with readers to her role as moderator, creating engaging conversations that celebrate the magic of storytelling.