50 Authors from 50 States: Sherri Fulmer Moore Shares South Carolina

The first question I usually get when I tell people that I’m from South Carolina is “I’ll bet you go to Charleston all the time!” While I have made many ventures to the low country, I have to admit that I visit it about as frequently as I visit the State House grounds in Columbia. That is bad, especially considering that I worked on the State House grounds at my “day job” for six years, and only visited the State House twice for work meetings!

You’ve already heard a lot about the history of this state and the popular vacation spots that make South Carolina a lovely place to visit. Today, I want to give you a slightly different take on the Palmetto State. Particularly, I want you to know how it spawned a mystery and science fiction writer, and continues to inspire my work.

To be fair, our past feeds our future. Our deep history means we don’t lack for stories in every area of the state. One of my favorites is the Grey Man of Pawley’s Island, which is just south of Myrtle Beach. Legend has it that this ghost appears before hurricanes, and he hasn’t hung up his hat due to Doppler radar. His latest appearance was in September 2018, prior to Hurricane Florence.

The origins of the legend vary, but the fact remains that even our ghosts can be friendly in SC! What amazes me even more is that he has ‘survived’ from quicksand in the 1800’s to Twitter mentions in the 21^st century! This legend has particularly inspired me as a writer, because The Grey Man is a spirit with an entirely altruistic purpose.

Perhaps that benevolent spirit is why we have managed to grow and evolve, despite being a mostly rural state. Our top five industries are aerospace and aviation, automotive manufacturing, biotechnology and life sciences, transportation, and recycling. Tourism is also big business with popular vacation spots along the coast and beyond. The presence of BMW (Greer, SC), Michelin North America (Greenville, SC), Southeastern Freight Lines (Columbia, SC), Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation (West Columbia, SC), Boeing Company (Charleston, SC), and Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (Charleston, SC), amongst many others, open countless opportunities for research, work, and play in our state, which contributes to overall well-being. We keep growing through the research and development not only in these industries, but through our colleges and universities as well. South Carolina is a state growing into its future, which inspires the sci-fi writer in me to see evolution in progress all around me!

I can’t close without mentioning our amazing landscape. We have everything, from the mountains to the beaches, and countless activities in all places and all seasons. The subtropical location of South Carolina contributes to a mild climate that creates opportunities for outdoor activities. You can find a festival to attend many weekend in the spring, summer, or fall in South Carolina. Some popular events include: The Poultry Festival in Batesburg-Leesville in May; the Lexington County Peach Festival on the 4^th of July; the South Carolina Tobacco Festival in Lake City; the Chapin Labor Day Festival; the Columbia Greek Festival and Irmo Okra Strut in mid to late September; the SC State Fair in early to mid-October, the Craftsman’s Classic Art & Craft Festival (in Columbia in March and November, and Myrtle Beach in August); the SC Oyster Festival in November; and various cultural festivals throughout the year. The Soda City Market is open on Main Street in Downtown Columbia every weekend, and there are various Farmers Markets offering seasonal treats in the summer months. Riverbanks Zoo and the Greenville Zoo are open year round to offer many recreational and educational opportunities. Many are in the central part of the state, but the Lowcountry is known for various seafood festivals, and the upstate boasts good art and cultural events. There are 47 state parks with more than 80,000 acres of protected land from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean that offer a variety of natural, cultural, and recreational opportunities in forests, beaches, lakes, and the mountains. Make reservations well in advance if you wish to stay in a State Park, as they book up quickly year round!

There are no major league sports, but there are many colleges in the state who have been successful in competitive endeavors. Clemson University won the national football championship in 2016. The University of South Carolina won the national baseball championship in 2010, and the ladies

basketball team won the NCAA tournament in 2017. The College of Charleston also won the national baseball championship in 2006 and 2014. The residents of this state are enthusiastic about their alumni schools and teams of choice. Stadiums are filled on weekends in the fall and spring.

If none of that impresses you, you can always play golf. We are home to some of the best golf courses – and weather to play it in – year round.

South Carolina is a small state with a big presence. Come here, and you can find the perfect balance of work and play to contribute to a full and imaginative life! No wonder it spawned a cross genre sci-fi and mystery writer. South Carolina has plenty of variety for all lifestyles!

By day, Sherri Fulmer Moorer is a program assistant in professional licensing. By night, she’s a sci-fi and mystery/suspense author. She’s a book reviewer, social media rambler, and borderline introvert/extrovert whose kindred spirit, according to online quizzes, is somewhere between a Sith Inquisitor from Star Wars to Scooter from The Muppets.

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