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Author Events at Graves Library

AUTHOR JUDITH STILES

Join us in welcoming author Judith Stiles to the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library on Friday, May 15, at 2 PM. She will be here to read from her new book, “Hush Little Fire”. Secrets implode, and generations of lies boil over into deadly consequences when a suspicious fire breaks out on Cape Cod. This enthralling and darkly humorous debut novel of long-buried truths will captivate readers. Ms. Stiles writes essays, fiction, and news articles for the Italian publication Ytali Global, covering all things American. Her short stories and literary essays can be found in Europa Quotidiano, Hemingway Shorts, Kenyon Review (honorable mention), Room (first place, creative nonfiction competition 2024), The Ex-Puritan, and The New York Times. She lives with her partner in crime, who helps clean up the house when their 3 kids, Julia, Jane, and Johnny, come to visit.

 

The Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is located at 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport. For further information, please call 207-967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

MAINE AUTHOR GERRY BOYLE

As part of the Patsy Bray Mahoney Lecture Series, we are pleased to welcome crime novelist Gerry Boyle to the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library on Saturday, November 1, at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Boyle will read from his books, “Hard Line” and “Robbed Blind” and discuss the writing process. “Hard Line” is an award winner for the 2025 National Independent Publisher Book Awards. His character Jack McMorrow has been in his books for over thirty years. Gerry Boyle is a prolific author known for over a dozen acclaimed crime novels, including the Jack McMorrow mystery series, which has been translated into six languages. Other McMorrow novels, including “Random Act” and “Straw Man”, were awarded the Maine Literary Award for crime fiction. With a background as a newspaper reporter and columnist, Boyle draws inspiration from his crime reporting for his writing. He resides in a small village in central Maine. Refreshments will be provided by the Graves Library Snack Team. Copies of the book will be for sale and signed after the program. Additional parking is available at the Fire Department Parking Lot (North Street).

 

The Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is located at 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport. For further information, please call 207-967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

NEW ENGLAND AUTHOR – MEGHAN PERRY – AUGUST 15, 2 PM

We are pleased to welcome New England author Meghan Perry to the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library on Friday, August 15, at 2:00 p.m. Ms. Perry will read from her debut novel, Water Finds a Way and talk about her writing process.

Meghan Perry is a New England author whose debut novel, Water Finds a Way, was published by Delphinium Books & Random House Audio. The novel has received numerous accolades, including a starred Kirkus Review, and an IPPY Awards silver medal. It was also featured in Newsday and Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top reads for fall. Learn more at meghanperry.com

Recently released from prison, reclusive Blake Alvares returns to the only place she ever felt safe, the now derelict Maine fishing town in which she harbored as a teen. Determined to conceal her secrets and losses, she soon finds herself dragged into others’ lives when she rents a room from an ailing widow and takes a job on a boat owned by a notorious young lobsterman named Leland.

Leland Savard is nearly broke, trying to support himself and 9-year-old Quinnie as he wrestles with a dangerous family legacy. Despite all odds, he and Blake forge a successful working partnership, and as she establishes a timid friendship with widowed Nora, Blake glimpses what it might mean to truly belong. But when Leland’s rash actions place her and Quinnie in peril, Blake feels forced to run again. On her quest for home, she must confront a daunting question: can she ever again trust in human connection?

Winner: 2025 IPPY Silver Medal, Honorable Mention: Eric Hoffer Book Award, Finalist: Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award, Finalist: Next Generation Indie Book Award, Finalist: National Indie Excellence Award

Copies of the book will be for sale and signed after the program. Graves Library is located at 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport, Maine. Please call the library at 207-967-2778 with any questions. Additional parking is available at the Fire Department Parking Lot (North Street).

We hope you will join us and welcome Ms. Perry to Kennebunkport.

MAINE AUTHOR VALERIE REID – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 @ 2:00 PM

We hope you will join us for our first Author Talk of 2025.  Local favorite, Valerie Reid, will be here at Graves Library on Saturday, February 1 @ 2:00 pm to read from her memoir, One Stop West of Hinsdale: Love Derailed in a Sixties Suburb.  This debut memoir covers the years 1960 to 1974, Valerie’s ages seven through twenty, in her hometown of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, bringing the era and her own family mystery to vibrant life. 

Valerie Kuhn Reid arrived in the Kennebunks back in 1976 when—fresh from the University of Minnesota—she came looking for a teaching job and a home by the sea. She began her teaching career as the librarian at Park Street School, then taught second grade at Consolidated, and when her own three children reached school-age, she returned to teaching, this time at Kennebunk High School where she spent twenty years as the KHS Theater teacher  and play director with 41 productions to her credit.  Writing has been Valerie’s life-long passion, and at the age of 63 she earned a masters in Writing and the Teaching of Writing  through UMaine, Orono and the Maine Writing Project. While her short story “Moving On” appeared in Woman’s World Magazine, and two others received honorable mentions in Writer’s Digest Annual Competitions, One Stop West of Hinsdale is Valerie’s first published book. 
Light refreshments will be provided by the Graves Library Snack Team.  Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.
The Graves Library is located at 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport.  Parking is available on Maine Street, Consolidated School (Route 9) and the Village Fire Station (North Street)  Doors open at 1:30 pm