PNC Bank presents beloved Charlotte literary event celebrating storytellers and libraries

 

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is thrilled to announce the return of Verse & Vino, the region’s premier literary event, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom. Now in its twelfth year, this one-of-a-kind event is presented once again by generous founding sponsor PNC Bank.

Verse & Vino welcomes an extraordinary lineup of acclaimed New York Times bestselling authors: Nathan Harris, Rachel Hawkins, Diane Kochilas and Jason Mott. Attendees will enjoy exclusive opportunities to meet each author in immersive, themed vignettes inspired by their latest works, alongside an elegant, seated dinner, unlimited wine, pop-up bookstore and literary swag.

Emceed by radio legend Sheri Lynch, public library advocates and book lovers will gather to raise a glass to the joy of reading, the impact of our library system and the power of community. More than 1,300 guests are expected to attend, with a goal of raising $400,000 to support literacy, lifelong learning and access to library resources for all in Mecklenburg County.

“Verse & Vino is more than a celebration of books, it’s a celebration of literacy and the Library’s many contributions to our region,” said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas. “All of us at PNC look forward to welcoming attendees to this meaningful event, which supports the Library’s efforts to lift up every corner of our community.”

Meet the 2025 Verse & Vino Authors:

• Nathan Harris – His debut novel The Sweetness of Water was an instant New York Times bestseller, Oprah Book Club pick, and featured on President Obama’s summer reading list. His new release, Amity, follows two siblings emancipated from slavery but separated by fate as they search for each other and for true freedom.
• Rachel Hawkins (also known as Erin Sterling, her romance nom de plume) – Author of 18 novels including The Wife Upstairs, Hawkins returns with The Heiress, a Southern Gothic mystery set in North Carolina, brimming with family secrets and startling twists.
• Diane Kochilas – An authority on Mediterranean cuisine, Kochilas hosts the PBS show My Greek Table. Her latest book, Athens: Food. Stories. Love., is a rich culinary memoir exploring Greece through its flavors and traditions.
• Jason Mott – Winner of the 2021 National Book Award for Hell of a Book, Mott continues the story of his surreal, unnamed protagonist in People Like Us, a novel that takes you on a global book tour with celebrity encounters and a mysterious black peacock.

In addition to presenting sponsor PNC Bank, the event receives generous sponsorship support from Honeywell, American Airlines, Southminster, Lowe’s, Rodgers Builders, Duke Energy, The Cardea Group and many others. Proceeds from the event fund the work of the Library Foundation.

Tickets and sponsorships are now available at foundation.cmlibrary.org/verse-vino.