Author Events

First Literacy wants all adults to be able to enjoy the power and pleasure of reading. Authors help us do that. They give generously of their time and talents to help us raise awareness about the importance of literacy.

Our most recent author event took place in November of 2011. First Literacy co-hosted an Evening with Anita Hill as part of the Concord Festival of Authors. Prior to the event, Ms. Hill joined friends of First Literacy (including donors, board and council members, staff, and former scholars) for a reception. The reading was open to the public, and it was standing room only. Ms. Hill read from and discussed her new book, Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, and Finding Home.  After the reading, those in attendance were able to purchase a copy of Reimagining Equality and have it signed by Ms. Hill.  

Previous guest authors and poets have included:

Martin Espanda
Andre Dubus III
Henry Louis Gates
Arthur Golden
Ellen Goodman
Gail Mazur
David McCullough
Ifeany Mekiti
Mary Oliver
Robert Pinksy
Isabel Wilkerson
Kevin Young

More Support from the Literary Community

Local Book Stores

First Literacy appreciates the support of local book sellers. Our common cause is to widen the circle of book buyers. From sponsoring our events to donating books for First Literacy Scholars, these bookstores have truly supported our efforts. Please visit their websites to discover their rich offerings.

Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446, 617.566.6660
Porter Square Books, 25 White Street, 
Cambridge, MA 02140, 617.491.2220

NEIBSA

The New England Independent Book Sellers Association holds its annual conference in Boston every other year. First Literacy is honored to be the recipient of the fees booksellers pay for books signed by authors. The two-day event, staffed by our volunteers, is a heartening opportunity to meet people who share our affinity for making literacy part of everyone’s life. To learn more about these remarkable individuals who devote their lives to ensuring that individual, independent bookstores flourish, please check out their website at newenglandbooks.org.

Publishers

Local publishers, Beacon Press, Hachette Book Group, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, participate in First Literacy’s Corporate Spelling Bee, help us contact their authors, provide us with signed books, judge the spelling at the Bee and even help us with our mailings.

Author Advisory Council

Jay Atkinson
Douglas Bauer
Anne Bernays
Chris Castellani
Eric Jay Dolin
Andre Dubus III
Hallie Ephron
Joseph Finder
Arthur Golden
Patricia Gozemba
Alice Hoffman
Gish Jen
Justin Kaplan
Margot Livesey
Gail Mazur
Kim McLarin
Mameve Medwed
Sue Miller
John Hanson Mitchell
Katherine Hall Page
Robert Pinsky
Tim Riley
Larry Tye
Susan Wilson
Mitchell Zuckoff