Monica Wood,novelist, memoirist, and playwright will be the first speaker at this year’s “Summer Series” at the Popham Library, 965 Popham Road, Popham Beach. Wood will be talking about her latest best-selling novel, "How to Read a Book,"on Tuesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend this free program.

Wood’s work has been widely recognized and honored. She is the 2024 recipient of the Sara Josepha Hale award for excellence in New England literary arts; the 2019 recipient of the Maine Humanities Council Carlson Prize for contributions to the public humanities; and the 2016 recipient of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Distinguished Achievement Award for contributions to the literary arts. She lives in Portland, Maine, with her husband, Dan Abbott, and their cat, Susie.  An earlier novel, "The One-in-a-Million Boy," has been translated into 20 languages in over 30 countries. She is also the author of  "When We Were the Kennedys," a New England bestseller, Oprah magazine summer-reading pick, and winner of the May Sarton Memoir Award and the Maine Literary Award. Her widely anthologized short stories have won a Pushcart Prize and been featured on public radio. Her nonfiction has appeared in Oprah, New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Parade, and many other publications.  In 2015 her first play, Papermaker, debuted in an extended run at Portland Stage in Portland, Maine, setting the theater’s all-time attendance record and enjoying successful runs at other regional theaters. Her second play, The Half-Light, also debuted at Portland Stageand was its second bestselling show ever. She recently finished a successful debut run of her latest play, Saint Dad, also in Portland. 

The Popham Beach Library welcomes all residents, seasonal residents, and visitors to stop by during regular hours, to borrow new books and DVDs, and have a cup of coffee. Please plan to attend our other “Summer Series” programs offered during July and August and brought to you by PBIA, The Popham Beach Improvement Association, in conjunction with the library.

On Thursday, July 10 the Shortridge Coastal Foundation from Bates College will give an overview of their research and work and on July 17, the program will focus on the parks and forts of Popham. Both programs start at 7 p.m.  

For more information please stop by the library at 965 Popham Road, Phippsburg, ME or contact Barbara Keltonic at bkeltonic@gmail.com