WRITE THIS WAY!
Meet top-notch authors at local events
Anew season brings a fresh crop of titles hitting the shelves — which means book tours, which means author readings and signings, all yielding good news for Boston-area book fans. We've found some top-notch talent who'll be discussing their work this weekend, and early October.
Jodi Picoult, author of “A Spark of Light: A Novel,” in conversation with Celeste Ng
Saturday, 7 p.m.
First Parish Church
1446 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
$31, includes pre-signed book Best-selling author Picoult's latest, “A Spark of Light,” captures ordinary lives intersecting after a gunman opens fire at a women's reproductive health center. The evening is part of the Harvard Bookstore event series. (harvard. com/event/jodi_picoult/)
Donna Marie Seim and illustrator Susan Spellman, “Cheeky and Charlemagne”
Sunday, 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center
1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport
Free
Who said author events are just for grown-ups? Cheeky's a river otter and Charlemagne's a pine marten, and the daring duo have to get an antidote to the furry animals in North Country, facing enormous dangers (including trappers with poison darts and traps). The adventure by award winners Seim and Spellman is for ages 8-12, and Joppa Flats has a big day planned around it: free family activities, including readings and illustration demonstrations by the author and illustrator, guided marsh walks by Joppa Flats staff, games, movies, handouts, snacks, autographed book and more. The event is free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Otter-shaped cookies and other refreshments will be served.
Kerri Mahr, “The Kennedy Debutante”
Oct. 4, 7 p.m. Wellesley Books
82 Central St., Wellesley Kerri Mahr takes a novel approach, literally, to a member of the Kennedy dynasty, one whom hasn't nearly as much ink as her famous relatives. “The Kennedy Debutante” follows Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, sister of Joe and Jack (among others), and Mahr catches her in 1938 London, as her father, Joe Sr., is ambassador to the Court of St. James. It means entree to rarified circles, and “Kick” soon falls in love with Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire. And you thought this stuff only happened in the movies.
Mahr is at Wellesley Books for a reading, Q&A and book signing. Buy your $26 copy from Wellesley Books in order to meet the author and have her sign your book at the event. (store.wellesleybooks.com/event/kerri-maher)
Eric Idle, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography”
Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
The Wilbur Theater
246 Tremont St.
Expect to laugh, a lot, during this evening of conversation with Eric Idle, founding member of Monty Python and creator of “Spamalot,” in celebration of his new memoir. It's part of the Brookline Booksmith event series; $40 ticket purchase includes a pre-signed copy of the book.