Comedian, writer, military veteran, and co-owner of Wit's End Comedy Club and Lounge, Joshua Bates, will release his debut book Granite and Smoke on May 7, 2026.
Written as a memoir in verse, Granite and Smoke is a deeply personal collection of poetry and reflections exploring childhood, fatherhood, military service, trauma, PTSD, loss, humor, and the quiet moments that shape who we become. Through honest storytelling and unflinching self-reflection, Bates examines the weight we carry, the people we become, and the pieces of ourselves we leave behind for others to understand.
Known throughout the Charleston comedy scene for his sharp stand-up, candid storytelling, and years of work building one of the region’s most active comedy communities, Bates brings that same voice to the page: raw, direct, funny when it needs to be, and unafraid to sit in uncomfortable truth.
“As a comic or even just as a 'funny person,' you learn how to make pain useful,” Bates said. “This book is a little less about making it funny and a little more about making it honest.”
Bates is a retired military veteran and longtime performer with more than three decades of experience in theatre, comedy, and storytelling. In addition to performing nationally as a stand-up comic, he helped build Wit's End Comedy Club and Lounge into one of the Lowcountry’s most recognized independent comedy venues.
A public reading and book signing for Granite and Smoke will be held in June at Wit's End Comedy Club and Lounge as part of the club’s two-year anniversary celebration. Signed copies will be available for purchase, along with special fundraising efforts supporting Harbor of Hope and Project Green Room, initiatives focused on helping creatives and comedians access mental health resources and support services in the Charleston community.
Harbor of Hope and Project Green Room reflect a mission close to Bates’ work both on and off stage: creating space for honesty, healing, and connection, especially in industries where people are often expected to laugh first and deal with the damage later.
Granite and Smoke will be available on Amazon beginning May 7 in paperback and Kindle editions.