The Lowcountry Weekly staff had the pleasure of spending time with Pat Conroy and his daughter Melissa after her booksigning at Bay Street Trading Co. on Thursday. That's right – I said her booksigning! Melissa, a professional artist, has penned and illustrated an outrageously delightful children's book – "Poppy's Pants" – based on her series of whimsical Wooberry dolls. One of the dolls, "Poppy," looks suspiciously like Melissa's famous father, who has written a lovely afterward to the book.

The Conroys graced us with their company at Emily's following the signing (minus Pat's wife, Cassandra King, who's in the mountains finishing her new novel.) Father and daughter shared some funny stories, and Pat brought us up to speed on his upcoming memoir "My Reading Life," which should be out in October.

Look for the full scoop in our next issue! Mark Shaffer's working on it now...