Julia Glass to Chat THREE JUNES at Music Hall's Writers in the Loft Series

The Music Hall's Writers in the Loft series welcomes the National Book Award-winning author of Three Junes, Julia Glass, on Wednesday, June 21. The beloved writer visits with her latest work, A HOUSE AMONG THE TREES, a richly plotted novel about friendship, art, and the power of a legacy.

The 7pm event includes an author presentation and moderated Q+A, plus book signing and meet-and-greet. It will be held at the Music Hall Loft at 131 Congress Street, in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

"Julia Glass has gifted us another compelling novel, brought to life by diverse and authentic characters," said Dawn Heffron, the organizer of The Music Hall Book Club, and the evening's moderator. "I was fascinating by the book's look at the role of the artist in today's world, and I am delighted to be able to join Julia onstage to talk about her inspirations and insights."

ABOUT THE BOOK

When the celebrated children's author Mort Lear suddenly dies at the Connecticut home he shares with Tomasina, his trusted assistant, she is stunned to be left the house and all its contents, as well as the role of literary executor. Not quite his daughter, not quite his wife, but nearly everything to the reclusive author, Tommy met Lear when she was twelve and he was working on sketches for the book that was destined to become a great classic. Now 55 years-old, Tommy is overwhelmed by the complex legacy of Morty's art and the people she must deal with as she tries to honor his last wishes, including Dani Daulair, her estranged brother; Meredith Galarza, the lonely, outraged museum curator whom Lear once promised his artistic estate; and Nicholas Greene, the beguiling British actor cast to play Mort Lear in a movie and soon to arrive at the house.

When the actor arrives for the visit he had previously arranged with the man he is to portray, he and Tommy are compelled to look more closely at Morty's past and the consequences of the choices they now face, both separately and together. Morty, as it turns out, made a confession to Greene that undermines much of what Tommy believed she knew about her boss-and about herself. As Tommy tries to navigate life without Morty, the author orchestrates a richly plotted novel of friendship and love, artistic ambition, the perils of celebrity, and the power of an unexpected legacy. Don't miss this chance to hear more about Julia Glass's engrossing new novel, A HOUSE AMONG THE TREES.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Glass is the author of five previous books of fiction, including the bestselling Three Junes, winner of the National Book Award, and I See You Everywhere, winner of the Binghamton University John Gardner Fiction Book Award. Other published works include the Kindle Single Chairs in the Rafters and essays in several anthologies. A recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Glass is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emerson College. She lives with her family in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The ticket package for Writers in the Loft: Julia Glass on Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm is $42 ($40, members). In addition to a reserved seat, the package includes a copy of A HOUSE AMONG THE TREES ($27.95, hardcover), a bar beverage, and book signing meet-and-greet. Packages can be purchased online at TheMusicHall.org, over the phone at 603.436.2400 or in person at the B2W Box Office at the Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut Street. Specially-priced $37 ticket packages are available for members of the The Music Hall Book Club and Music Hall members at the Contributor Level ($150) and up.

Akin to The Music Hall's anchor literary series, Writers on a New England Stage, Writers in the Loft features bestselling authors in a smaller, more intimate space. The series brings audiences today's top authors, the best of fiction and nonfiction, and award-winners across categories. The evening package includes a reserved seat and bar beverage, author presentation and Q+A, a copy of the book, and a meet-and-greet book signing with the featured writer

The Music Hall Book Club is a benefit for members at our Contributor level and above. This club meets the second Monday of the month in the lounge at Portwalk Place in downtown Portsmouth from 6-7:30pm. Our discussions begin with socializing followed by a moderated discussion. Our fantastic moderator comes prepared but encourages the conversation to go in any direction the group prefers. RSVPs are requested but not required and there is no requirement to participate in the discussion, so if you'd rather just come by to mingle and listen you are always welcome!

Moderator Dawn Heffron is a downtown Portsmouth resident and strong supporter of The Music Hall. Her background is in Special Education and teaching the hearing impaired. When asked about her favorite book, Dawn cited A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by BetTy Smith as one of her all-time favorite novels, explaining "I love the main character, Francie; her resilience in the face of adversity, her honesty, and of course, her love of reading and books!" As for being the moderator of The Music Hall Book Club, "I couldn't have chosen a more insightful, erudite group of people!" she says. "They enjoy reading as much as I do and they are forthright in sharing their contributions about the book selections, which makes for interesting and thought provoking discussions."

The Music Hall is a performing arts center featuring curated entertainment from around the world in two theaters in its downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire campus - one, a landmark 1878 Victorian theater, designated an American Treasure for the Arts by the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures Program, the other the intimate Music Hall Loft around the corner, recently named "best performing arts venue" by Yankee agazine and the recipient of the NH AIA award for design excellence.

Visit www.TheMusicHall.org or follow on Twitter: @MusicHall, Facebook: /musichall and YouTube: /musichallnh for more.