The Blue Hill Public Library and Blue Hill Books are cosponsoring an author talk with author Libby Buck in conversation with author Peter Behrens, for her first novel, Port Anna on Tuesday, July 1 at 7PM in the library's Pearson Room.

'North Carolina college writing instructor Gwen Gilmore returns to coastal Port Anna, Maine, after losing her job, her boyfriend, and her confidence. She hasn't been back for 23 years, ever since the death of her sister. Now, with only (literal) ghosts for company, she moves back into her family's Periwinkle Cottage, which is watched over by some benevolent spirits. As Gwen settles back into the small town, she reconnects with old friends, though the dynamics between them feel off as they navigate resentments old and new. Port Anna itself doesn't feel the same, either, with developers building vacation homes and the case of a missing teenager not getting the attention it needs before the short summer ends and the long cold winter begins. Buck skillfully weaves an immersive narrative, along the way introducing several potential romantic partners for Gwen but giving her time and space to rebuild life before jumping into love.' - Publisher's Weekly

Libby Buck earned a Ph.D. in art history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and her husband share three daughters, an English cocker spaniel, and an abiding love for the great state of Maine. Port Anna is Libby’s first novel.

Peter Behren is the author of three novel and two collections of short stories. His stories and essays have appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and many anthologies. A native of Montreal, he held a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing at Stanford University and is currently a fellow at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

This program is free and open to all, and will be held in the library's Pearson Room. Blue Hill Books will be on site with copies of the book available for purchase. For more information, call 374-5515 or email Assistant Director Kayleigh Thomas at kayleigh.thomas[at]bhpl.net