Jessica Brodie with her new novel, The Memory Garden
A Columbia journalist has released a novel set in the Palmetto State, and it’s receiving both acclaim and strong sales.
Jessica Brodie, who has served as editor-in-chief of the Columbia-based Advocate newspaper since 2010, said the book stemmed from her experiences travelling the state to interview people. Titled The Memory Garden, the Christian contemporary novel weaves inclusion and hope alongside authentic characters who struggle with poverty, mental illness, and finding their place in the world. The two main characters are diverse in both race and age.
Brodie said her own experiences as a journalist throughout South Carolina and as a resident of the Midlands shaped the book and helped its authenticity.
“So many aspects of the book were inspired by people and organizations right here in Columbia and around South Carolina, from Killingsworth Home to the countless churches and groups that come together to help our neighbors through backpack programs and feeding ministries,” Brodie said. “A tremendous amount of people are suffering from pain and division, and I think our community can use a little hope right now.”
Set in the fictional town of Dahlia, South Carolina, The Memory Garden shares the inspirational story of a shattered journalist who moves from New York to a small Southern town, where her friendship with a young boy not only helps her heal but also rescues him from burdens he’s been carrying far too long.
Ultimately, the book is about how hope sometimes blooms in the most unexpected places.
The Memory Garden is book one in the Dahlia Series, where grace meets grit in a small Southern town where faith is tested, hearts are mended, and hope refuses to stay buried. Book two, Tangled Roots, releases in the fall, and book three, Hidden Seeds, releases in spring 2026. The Memory Garden reached No. 8 in Christian women’s fiction and No. 10 in Contemporary Christian Fiction on Amazon in its first week.
The book is available as a paperback ($15.99) and ebook ($2.99) on Amazon at www.amazon.com/dp/1966 237073 and from other major retailers.
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