The G.R.I.T.S. book club of Fort Mill will welcome Charlotte author Joseph Cavano to an evening of literature and music for the whole community.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in the sanctuary of Philadelphia United Methodist Church. Cavano's new book, "Half-Past Nowhere," will be the subject of discussion as the author himself provides entertainment by playing jazz piano.

"I want to have a good crowd for him," says Marion Kettles of the gathering. Kettles has been a book club member for one year and is helping organize the event, which is open to the public.

"Half-Past Nowhere" is a collection of short stories that follows a young boy as he comes of age in Upstate New York. Two of the tales are finalists in the prestigious Glimmer Train short story contest for new writers.

"It's an easy read and I really enjoyed the stories," says Kettles. This is Cavano's first published work.

Ordinarily, the G.R.I.T.S. club chooses its books by having each member write two titles and put them into a hat, from which six are picked for the coming months. "I've wound up reading books I never would've chosen that were marvelous," Kettles says.

This time, the author himself contacted the women about his collection. Kettles had registered G.R.I.T.S. with the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and Cavano found the group on the library's Web site.

"This is a first for us," says Kettles of having an author at a book club meeting. Refreshments will be served and casual dress is welcome.

"G.R.I.T.S. is open at anytime to anybody who wants to join," she adds. The women meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. and take turns hosting at their homes.

"Half-Past Nowhere" was published by CPCC and can be found at Park Road Books in Charlotte. For more information, call Caroline McCarthy at 548-4771.