Roster of writers comes to Wilton Library in May

Bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark leads a parade of authors who will be visiting Wilton Library this May. From memoirs to mysteries, from memorable moments to military might, the six visiting authors provide a little something for everyone, including one for children.  Ms. Clark’s new release, Daddy’s Gone A Hunting, has already taken over the No. 1 New York Times best seller spot and she will be at Wilton Library on Friday, May 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to the delight of her fans.  In her new release, a fire exploding in the night sets the stage for a perplexing mystery, exposing a dark secret from a family’s past that threatens the lives of two sisters Kate and Hannah Connelly.  Ms. Clark’s books have been international best sellers with more than 100 million copies of her books in print in the US alone. 

James Beard Award-winning writer Elissa Altman discusses her newest work, Poor Man’s Feast, on Thursday, May 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The book, a touching and humorous memoir that includes recipes, is “a universal tale of finding sustenance and peace in a world of excess and inauthenticity, and shows us how all our stories are inextricably bound up with what, and how, we feed ourselves and those we love.”

Alexandra Aldrich, a direct descendant of the famous Astor dynasty, visits the library on Thursday, May 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for a talk about her memoir, The Astor Orphan.  She shares her story of growing up in the 43-room Hudson Valley mansion of her ancestors, in the servants’ quarters, and how her childhood was one of bohemian neglect. 

Elizabeth Benedict brings an inspiring book of mother/daughter relationships when she discusses her collection, What My Mother Gave Me - Thirty-One Women on the Gifts That Mattered Most, on Friday, May 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Just in time for Mother’s Day, this assortment of writers from Pulitzer Prize winners, perennial bestselling novelists, well-known NPR commentators and more, write about the memories and touching moments between mothers and daughters. Elizabeth Benedict is a graduate of Barnard College and the author of five novels, including the National Book Award finalist Slow Dancing.

Books will be available for purchase and signing for the authors mentioned above, including Ms. Clark, courtesy of Elm Street Books of New Canaan.

Cathryn J. Prince returns to the library for her latest entry, Death in the Baltic: The Sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, on Monday, May 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. for an Area Author Affair.  In Death in the Baltic, Ms. Prince reconstructs the story of unimaginable horror by drawing on original interviews with remaining survivors of the cruise liner and newly declassified records from the 1945 torpedoing of the escaping ship. Ms. Prince has also written Burn the Town and Sack the Banks: Confederates Attack Vermont!, Shot from the Sky: American POWs in Switzerland and A Professor, a President, and a Meteor. She lives in Weston, CT. The Area Author Affair celebrates local authors and their new releases.  

Children in grades 3 and up can look forward to a visit from Tommy Greenwald, author of Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to NOT Reading, on Wednesday, May 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Mr. Greenwald has also written Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit, and the soon-to-be-released Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Summer Vacation. The children will have a chance to win a signed copy of the new release.

Author and book details may be found by visiting Wilton Library’s website at www.wiltonlibrary.org.  Registration for each of the author events may take place online or by calling the library’s circulation desk at 203-762-3950, ext. 213.  Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center.