Lovers of literature shared ice-cold glasses of sweet tea and "Tales of Hoofman" on a warm summer evening Thursday at the Aiken County Historical Museum.
Lorraine Ray is the author of the short story, which is included in "Nights of Horseplay: Equine fantasies from South Carolina's Thoroughbred Country." She and other members of the Aiken Scribblers, who contributed to the anthology, discussed their works at the first Sweet Tea Book Lecture Series sponsored by the museum.
The theme of the book is the secret lives of the horse statues that decorate many of the public spaces around Aiken.
Ray said she had good reasons for choosing the popular Dustin Hoofman statue as the main character of her story. She knew little about horses, but had a strong connection to theater.
For many years, Dustin Hoofman, dressed in a tuxedo and top hat, greeted visitors at the entrance to the URS Center for the Performing Arts on Newberry Street and now is in the center's courtyard.
In her story, Ray added elements of truth, including stories she read about Hoofman being upended by a wind storm, and the actor Dustin Hoffman, who appeared in an HBO series called "Luck" that was about race horses. She also included fantasy, bringing Rod Serling, narrator of the classic television series "The Twilight Zone" to Aiken.
"The most fun part for me was bringing those elements of truth into my story and making them fit my storyline to create the fantasy," Ray said.
The story centers on how all those characters come together to help a little boy who is very ill.
"Through these relationships, the little boy found new meaning to his life," Ray said. "He started to thrive and was able to come up with his last wish for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
"That's all I want to say. Anything else would be a spoiler."
The next speaker in the series is no secret, however.
Author Don Bozeman will discuss his book, "Blackberries in the Summer," about the life of Eulalie Salley, an early 20th century Aiken business woman and women's rights advocate, from 4 to 6 p.m. July 25.
The book focuses on Salley's drive for women's rights and her role in the development of Aiken's Winter Colony. Her career in real estate placed her in contact with the rich and famous people who came to Aiken to build winter cottages and participate in the community's equestrian lifestyle.
Don Rhodes, author and longtime columnist for the Augusta Chronicle, will speak in August. Rhodes, who writes the "Ramblin' Rhodes" column, will talk about the many people in the entertainment industry who were born in or called the Aiken-Augusta area home.
Sweet tea will be served, of course, along with other light refreshments. The series is free.
A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He joined the Aiken Standard in September 2014.