We had the good fortune of connecting with PATRICE SMITH and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi PATRICE, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand would be my trust in God, my family, and very special friends. They all keep me in line and focus. They also motivate me to continue to go on. God gives me the strength to get up on those bad days and rejoice in those good days.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Well I am the Director of Book Reviews at Aspiring Authors Magazine LLC. Currently employed by Charleston County Public Library as a Librarian Specialist. She has been reviewing books under the name SCBookGal843 for the past decade. I enjoys urban fiction and books focusing on diversity, especially by African-American authors. Wahida Clark’s Thugs and the Women Who Love Them sparked her love of reading. My love for reading and my training for the public library system has given me the professional insight for my career. I read books that take me out of my normal life. I prefer books that have a main character of color. For me, it is easier to relate to. A book where the main character has a skin tone similar to ours is such a breath of fresh air to read to my daughter..

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to where I live, Charleston, SC, we would go to Bear E Patch in the West Ashley Area. They have the best breakfast when you are looking for seafood. Then we will head to the International African American Museum. It is the only one of it kind in the nation. By this time we will be hungry again, so because we are in Charleston, soul food will be on the menu. We will take a journey over to Hannibal’s where you can get some of the best crab rice around.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout the DaCrewPodcast, my son and daughter (Aniya and James), and my library family at the Cynthia Graham Hurd/ St. Andrews Library.

Website: http://www.scbookgalandfriends.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbookgal843/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-grimball-2b5169260/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCBookGal843

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrice.grimball

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCllbC2Ag3oEsb1cEs-Iz-tQ

Other: https://www.youtube.com/@DaCrewPodcast2023

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSouthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.