Program Description
Event Details
Join the Bay County Library System on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the State Theatre for an unforgettable evening with acclaimed novelist, memoirist, and playwright Monica Wood. This event is completely free and open to the public, generously presented by the Friends of the Bay County Library System.
Monica Wood, the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Sara Josepha Hale Award, is known for her deeply moving and richly crafted works. Her most recent novel, How to Read a Book, is a national bestseller that tells the story of a chance encounter in a bookstore, exploring themes of redemption, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories. Her acclaimed novel The One-in-a-Million Boy has been published in 22 languages across 30 countries and has received numerous awards, including the Nautilus Award (Gold) and the New England Society Book Award. Monica is also the author of the memoir When We Were the Kennedys, a New England bestseller and winner of the May Sarton Memoir Award, as well as Any Bitter Thing, an American Booksellers Association bestseller.
Her body of work includes novels, memoirs, short stories, and plays, with her widely anthologized short stories earning a Pushcart Prize and being featured on public radio. Her first play, Papermaker, became the bestselling production in Portland Stage’s history, and her second play, The Half-Light, premiered to critical acclaim. Monica’s nonfiction has appeared in publications such as Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and Parade.
The evening will feature a captivating author talk where Monica will share insights on her life, career, and creative process. Following the talk, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session and have their favorite Monica Wood books signed. Copies of her books will also be available for purchase at the event.