Journalist's book celebrates life in the South

Charleston journalist Ken Burger has closed the book on his 27-year career with the Charleston Post & Courier, and is commemorating the occasion by collecting some of his favorite columns into book form.

"Baptized in Sweet Tea: A Collection of Ken Burger's Columns Celebrating the South" is due to hit bookstore shelves Friday. The book is illustrated with photographs by David Gentry, a professor at the School of Business at the College of Charleston, a longtime amateur photographer and family friend of Burger's.

It collects some 35 of Burger's sports and metro columns from his years at the Post & Courier, on subjects such as screen porches, dirt roads and growing up in South Carolina, he said.

"The genre of the book is basically talking about South Carolina and growing up in the South, and I looked for columns that fit that genre," Burger said. "It's about all the things about growing up in small towns. I grew up in Allendale, not far from Aiken, on the other side of the bomb plant. The book is kind of a celebration, not only of my career as a writer, but also our state and our small town life in South Carolina."

Burger is the author of two novels, "Swallow Savannah" and "Sister Santee," and is working on a third novel, "Salkehatchie Soup," to be published next year.

"We're having the book release party for 'Baptized in Sweet Tea' on Saturday here in Charleston, and I'll be doing signings all around the Lowcountry up to Christmas and then move outward from there," he said. "Everybody I've talked to about the book loved the title and thought it would make a great Christmas gift. I've had the luxury of writing in this market for 25 years, so I'm known by name and reputation, and that's really a leg up on selling a book. I've had people calling me all last week looking for it; as soon as we get the book in our hands I'll get it out to people who really want it for gifts. I can't wait to get it in my hands myself."

The book has a cover price of $21.95 and is available online at www.EveningPostBooks.com, amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Locally, the Aiken County Historical Museum gift shop, Booklovers Bookstore and Aiken Office Supply all plan to stock copies of "Baptized in Sweet Tea."

"This is the kind of book every South Carolina household should have in its library. It really is a taproot kind of book for people who grew up in South Carolina and identify with it," said Burger.

Suzanne Stone is a general assignment reporter at the Aiken Standard. Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com, or follow on Twitter at #SuzanneRStone and on Facebook at Suzanne Stone | Aiken Standard.