NBC “TODAY” show weatherman Al Roker and ABC News “20/20” correspondent Deborah Roberts will headline the 34th annual Post and Courier Book & Author Luncheon on May 1, 2026, in Charleston. The event is the largest literary luncheon in the Southeast. Tickets are on sale now for the event, which often sells out.
The lineup of bestselling authors includes John Searles, who will also serve as co-host, along with Kristy Woodson Harvey, Paula McLain and Annabelle Gurwitch.
Searles, a longtime Book & Author favorite, will preview his upcoming novel, “Single Girls,” inspired by his years working with Helen Gurley Brown as an editor at Cosmopolitan magazine.
Harvey, the author of more than a dozen bestselling novels, including Beach House Rules and The Peachtree Bluff Series, has multiple works in development for film and television.
McLain, best known for The Paris Wife, will discuss her newest book, Skylark, a recent “Good Morning America” book club selection.
Gurwitch will make her luncheon debut with her memoir The End of My Life Is Killing Me, an instant USA Today bestseller now in its fourth printing one week after publication.
“This is one of the most remarkable lineups we’ve hosted,” said Robie Scott, longtime producer and emcee of the luncheon. “With such a broad range of voices and storytelling styles, there is something for every book lover. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.”
The event will also feature a special introduction by actress Andie MacDowell.
The luncheon is presented by the Journalism Preservation Society, The Post and Courier’s membership-driven community that supports investigative reporting in South Carolina.
The Post and Courier Book & Author Luncheon is one of the Lowcountry’s most popular annual traditions, drawing readers from across the state and beyond. Tickets are available at postandcourier.com/BookandAuthor.

