Pulitzer Prize-Winner Richard Russo Brings First Essay Collection to Writers In The Loft, Today

On Wednesday, May 9, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo will visit The Music Hall Loft for a Writers in the Loft series event to discuss his first collection of personal essays, THE DESTINY THIEF: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life-in which he provides insight into his life as a writer, teacher, friend, and reader.

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

"Richard Russo is one of New England's most treasured writers," said Ian Aldrich, Deputy Editor at Yankee Magazine, who will be moderating the event. "I'm looking forward to hearing him read from his new book and talking to him more about his writing, and writing in general."

A master of the novel, short story, and memoir, the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author gives us his first collection of personal essays.

Warm, funny, wise, and poignant, the essays traverse Russo's writing life, expanding our understanding of who he is and how his singular, incredibly generous mind works.

From a commencement speech he gave at Colby College to the story of how an oddly placed toilet made him reevaluate the purpose of humor in art and life; and from a comprehensive analysis of Mark Twain's value to his harrowing journey accompanying a dear friend as she pursued gender-reassignment surgery, THE DESTINY THIEF reflects the broad interests and experiences of one of America's most beloved authors.

Richard Russo is the author of eight novels, most recently Everybody's Fool and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories, with Trajectory published in 2017; and the memoir Elsewhere published in 2012. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which like Nobody's Fool was adapted to film, in a multiple-award-winning HBO miniseries; in 2016 he was given the Indie Champion Award by the American Booksellers Association; and in 2017 he received France's Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine. He lives in Portland, Maine.

Ian Aldrich is the Deputy Editor at Yankee Magazine, where he has worked for more than a decade. As the magazine's staff feature writer, he writes stories that delve deep into issues facing small communities throughout New England. He also oversees the magazine's digital endeavors, including the publication of its bi-monthly digital magazine. His work has appeared in numerous other publications and has also been recognized by the Best American Sports Writing anthology. He lives with his family in Dublin, New Hampshire.

The ticket package for Writers in the Loft: Richard Russo on Wednesday, May 9, at 7pm is $40 ($38). In addition to a reserved seat, the package includes a copy of THE DESTINY THIEF ($25.95, hardcover), a bar beverage, author presentation, Q+A, 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.

About Writers in the Loft

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.