Jodi Picoult Returns to The Music Hall This October

On Wednesday, October 12, the bestselling author Jodi Picoult will come to town with her highly-anticipated new novel, SMALL GREAT THINGS. Ms. Picoult has authored such stirring novels as My Sister's Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, and most recently, Leaving Time. Titled after a quotation by DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., SMALL GREAT THINGS tells an unforgettable tale of racism, birth and death in a rural Connecticut hospital, and a devastating court case.

The 7pm event includes a brief author presentation followed by an onstage interview with Virginia Prescott, host of New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth." It will be held at The Music Hall's Historic Theater at 28 Chestnut Street, in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For each 1-2 tickets acquired, the purchase of a book voucher is required.

"A distant neighbor, living in New Hampshire's Upper Valley, Jodi was with us in March 2010 with House Rules, and it'll be great to welcome her back," said Margaret Talcott, Producer of Writers on a New England Stage. "Her last seven books have each shot to number one on the New York Times bestseller list, and I'm certain SMALL GREAT THINGS will follow suit - her topics are that compelling. The latest novel focuses on a topic that's on everyone's minds - American racism - and it's a page-turner.

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family - especially her teenage son - as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others - and themselves - might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion - and doesn't offer easy answers. SMALL GREAT THINGS is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game

JODI PICOULT is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 23 novels, with 25 million copies in print worldwide published in 35 countries. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three children.

Tickets for Writers on a New England Stage: Jodi Picoult on Wednesday, October 12 at 7:00pm are $13.75 ($11.75 for members). For each 1-2 tickets sold, the purchase of a book voucher ($28.99 hardcover) is required. Vouchers can be redeemed on the event night for signed copies of the book. Tickets can be purchased through The Music Hall Box Office, located at 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, or over the phone at 603.436.2400.

Each literary evening features an author presentation followed by an onstage interview with Virginia Prescott, host of New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth." Live music is performed by the award-winning house band Dreadnaught. Shows are rebroadcast on NH Public Radio.