Known for her fluid, label-defying prose, author Julia Elliott found herself in excellent company last month among a literary cadre of distinct, even unconventional voices. As one of five finalists for the 2026 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, she was in Toronto attending its June 2 gala presentation. To her delight, the nominated works could not be tucked into a single genre.

Literacy SC has announced that Chief Executive Officer Lisa Cole will step down effective September 30, 2026, to focus on personal health matters regarding a heart condition. Cole’s departure marks the conclusion of a transformative four-year tenure. Stepping in when the small nonprofit was facing imminent closure, she pulled the organization back from the brink, rebuilding it into a high-capacity, debt-free regional asset serving adults and families across the state.