The Holiday Shop at The Westport Library is officially open for business, now through the end of the year.
The holiday items have arrived at The Westport Library Store, located in the Hub on the Library’s main level. And with so many items to display, the Library Store has been expanded for the season, by making the Writing Center a Holiday Shop.
You can find something for everyone on your list from the Holiday Shop’s curated collection of fun and unique items: There are scarves, hats, and gloves, many of which are handmade. Humorous socks and unique dish towels. Large selection of notebooks, journals, and planners. Handmade desert bells and many other unique decorative items, like paper lanterns, felt baskets, planters, and birdhouses, as well as sparkling snow globes. Captivating jewelry and festive candles. Fun games, puzzles, toys, art supplies, and novelty items for kids.
This season, make The Westport Library Store your first stop for gift shopping.
Library Store purchases are always tax-free, and all proceeds support Library services and programs.
Reading is a fundamental part of the learning experience and a favorite pastime for many, especially in the library world. But for some learners, the joy of reading can be mixed with frustration, with triumphs and challenges along the way.
Jennifer Bernheim — advocate, entrepreneur, and mom to a dyslexic learner — takes on these topics and more in her new Verso Studios at The Westport Library community partnership podcast, Right to Read, named after the organization she founded to offer advocacy services, IEP coaching, and informational workshops, as well as a corporate HR benefit that provides educational resources and advocacy coaching. Additionally, Right to Read Advocacy offers membership for advocates and related professionals.
“The Right to Read podcast supports today’s dyslexic thinkers by bringing listeners relevant information on community resources, best practices for dyslexic learners, legislation that supports the Right to Read, and personal and professional success stories,” said Bernheim. “Through our actionable insights, you will learn something that will empower a dyslexic thinker today.”
The podcast debuts Tuesday, October 29 — in conjunction with Dyslexia Awareness Month — with three episodes, each about 20 minutes long. Additional episodes will come out every other week (Episode #4 will arrive November 12). The show will be available on the Verso Studios community partnership podcast page and through regular podcast distributors such as Apple and Spotify.
Bernheim founded Right to Read Advocacy to help parents demystify what can be an overwhelming process and to empower them to support their child's needs. She has completed the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates’ (COPAA) Special Education and Advocacy Training (SEAT) 1.0 and 2.0 courses. Her education also includes the Orton-Gillingham Academy Subscriber Course and WrightsLaw Special Ed Law & Advocacy Training.
Prior to founding Right to Read Advocacy, Bernheim, who holds a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Rhode Island, spent 20 years as a public relations practitioner, providing strategic communications support for purpose-driven companies.
“Jennifer has such a passion for helping others, and that comes through in each episode,” said Verso Studios Producer Travis Bell, who recorded each episode with Bernheim. “Having served as both an advocate and a parent, she is remarkably well-versed in the subject matter and aware, in an incredibly kind and empathetic way, of the challenges that parents of dyslexic learners face. What I really love about this podcast, though, is that it celebrates the joys as well as the challenges, and listeners come away from each episode with actionable steps to help themselves and their children along the journey.”
Verso Studios is the media arm of The Westport Library. The Library created the Verso Studios Community Producer Partnership initiative in keeping with the studio’s mission to produce content with the community.
To learn more about Verso Studios’ mission and offerings, visit the Verso Studios page on the Library website.
Former Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Ken Feinberg will be The Westport Library’s guest for its latest Common Ground Initiative conversation, sharing his experience and expertise in bringing people together to analyze, understand, and resolve complex disputes.
Feinberg will be in discussion with moderator Steve Parrish.
The event will be held Tuesday, October 15, at 7 pm in the Library’s Trefz Forum. Registration is free and strongly encouraged.
The Common Ground Initiative is The Westport Library’s forum for public discourse on topical issues of importance to the community. The aim of the initiative is to host a positive, productive conversation on how we work together to move forward as a civil society; encourage respectful, constructive dialogue; and build capacity to tackle challenging and/or controversial issues. The program planning for the initiative is led by The Westport Library in conjunction with community leaders representing a wide array of constituents and ideological standpoints.
Previous Common Ground guests include former Missouri Senator Roy Blount and Pfizer Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Sally Susman.
Tuesday night’s event is designed to provide insight into conflict resolution that attendees can apply to their professional or personal lives and to serve as an opportunity to learn from an expert in the field who has successfully mediated some of the most challenging disputes in modern American history. It will focus on techniques for fostering civil discourse and conflict resolution.
During more than 40 years of public service, Feinberg has established himself as the nation’s leading expert in bringing conflicting parties together to reach acceptable resolution of their complex disagreements. That work includes his appointment with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, where he served for 33 months. Feinberg wrote about the experience in his best-selling book What is Life Worth?, which was the basis for the 2005 movie Worth, starring Michael Keaton.
Feinberg currently serves as the court-appointed mediator in the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and was formerly the court-appointed mediator in the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. In addition to his work with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, Feinberg has served in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 25 years, was appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and was the mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe.
Parrish is the founder of Steve Parrish Consulting Group, LLC, which specializes in crisis management, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, and communications for senior executives of corporations, law firms, and nonprofit organizations. Previously, Parrish was senior vice president, corporate affairs, of Altria Group, Inc., and served as secretary of the Public Affairs and Social Responsibility Committee of the board of directors of Altria Group, Inc.
Parrish is a member of the board of directors of Orchestra Lumos. He also is a board member emeritus and past board chair of Safe Horizon, an internationally recognized leader in the field of victim assistance, as well as a board member emeritus of Carleton College.
How much do we know about the world around us, about our environment and how we interact with it. This is the theme of Verso Studios at The Westport Library’s newest podcast, Real World, a collaboration with expert real estate negotiator and acclaimed problem solver Marisa Manley.
“The goal of the Real World is to explore, celebrate, and help listeners understand and possibly improve the built and created environment which surrounds us,” Manley said. “We examine what the world is made of, how it came to be this way, and how it functions — in sometimes surprising ways.”
The podcast will debut October 9 with three episodes, each about 15 minutes long, with an additional episode coming out every other week (Episode #4 coming out October 23). The show will be available on the Verso Studios community partnership podcast page and through regular podcast distributors such as Apple and Spotify.
Individual episodes focus on everything from high-rise buildings to street signs, and from leggings to rocking chairs, exploring how they were designed, how they can be improved, and how they benefit and can better benefit you. The first season will run 12 episodes in all.
“We invite listeners to understand that the built and created environment is designed and can be re-designed and modified,” Manley said. “When you know a bit more about the real world, you can understand it, use it, possibly challenge it, and maybe even enjoy it a bit more.”
Manley has a bachelor's degree in architecture from Cornell and a law degree from Harvard. She is the president and founder of Health Care Real Estate Advisors and Commercial Tenant Real Estate Representation, working with fast-growing companies that seek to maximize the value they receive for the real estate dollars they spend.
In her estimable career, Manley has spoken nationwide before the American Corporate Counsel Association, the New York State Bar Association, and other legal and professional organizations; written extensively on how corporate space users can structure and negotiate more cost-effective real estate transactions, with articles appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Barrons, Inc. Magazine, and other publications; and has been quoted on industry trends in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Crain’s New York Business, CFO, Bloomberg, and other media.
“Marisa has a remarkable ability to take an everyday object or routine process and explain its utility in a really interesting, innovative way,” said Verso Studios Producer Travis Bell, who recorded each episode with Manley. “You come away from each episode feeling like you learned so much, and the information is delivered in a comprehensive but digestible snapshot that really engages the listener. It’s hard to find that sweet spot, and Marisa has nailed it.”
Verso Studios is the media arm of The Westport Library. The Library created the Verso Studios Community Producer Partnership initiative in keeping with the studio’s mission to produce content with the community.
To learn more about Verso Studios’ mission and offerings, visit the Verso Studios page on the Library website.
The Westport Library has officially launched its 2024-25 annual appeal, with the goal of raising $325,000 to secure full funding for the Library’s operations and allow us to continue to provide the vast majority of our programming for free or at low cost.
The theme for this year’s appeal is “Invest in Lifelong Learning,” a nod to the Library’s mission of empowering the individual and strengthening the community through dynamic interaction and the lively exchange of ideas, and also our ongoing commitment to Verso University and the many programs we run regularly to promote personal growth and educational exploration.
The Town of Westport funds 77% of the Library’s operating budget. The remaining 23% is raised through special events and private donations like those provided during the annual appeal.
“This campaign is foundational to everything we do as a Library,” said Bill Harmer, Westport Library executive director. “It raises the funds we need to continue to provide exceptional programming and services. The contributions from our incredible patrons empower us to be the heart of our community, ensuring we can offer the majority of our events and lifelong learning initiatives free of charge or at a significantly reduced cost.”
Click here to donate today to support the annual appeal.
“Our annual appeal is a time-honored tradition that unites us in a common purpose: to ensure the vibrancy and vitality of the Library,” said Westport Library Development Director Robin Powell. “We hope this year the whole Westport community will join us in this tradition of giving. Please know that your contribution, no matter the size, makes a world of difference.”
The Library welcomes 350,000 visitors each year, making it one of the most highly trafficked destinations in Westport.
In the past year alone, the Library hosted an unforgettable Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration featuring Rev. Clarence B. Jones, the esteemed advisor to Dr. King who co-wrote the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech; a discussion with Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin; our Summer Learning program that engaged 1,000 children from grades 1-8 in STEAM activities, workshops, and lessons; multiple joint initiatives with StartUp Westport to empower local entrepreneurs; a series of career coaching programs to help individuals achieve gainful and meaningful employment; regularly scheduled Anyone Can Use classes covering topics from social media marketing to how best to utilize Library resources and services; and an array of Verso University courses across diverse fields of study, including media, technology, literature, art, health, wellness, music, film, history, business, and lifestyle.
All told, hundreds of community members attended these courses, illustrating the Library’s commitment to providing accessible educational opportunities for all. The Library has also embraced Westport students, welcoming preschoolers through high schoolers and providing a safe study space and educational support.
“Our dedication to lifelong learning transcends age and geographical boundaries, encompassing the entire community and acknowledging that education is an enduring pursuit,” Harmer said. “We have evolved into a dynamic learning hub that offers an extensive array of programs, services, and resources to meet the diverse needs of our community members, from the very youngest to the most senior.”
In addition to its unparalleled reference librarians, remarkable children’s librarians, extraordinary patron services team, IT professionals, and more, the Library hosts more than 1,000 programs each year — programs that run the gamut from book groups and language groups to chess clubs and children’s reading programs. The Library also features Verso Studios, our in-house media and production hub, complete with a postproduction suite, plus a dazzling Library store, a fully stocked café, three separate art galleries that exhibit quarterly, a robust digital library that is available 24/7, a seed library, a Library of Things, 3D printing, a vinyl collection, DVD collection, audiobooks, board games, videogames, and more.
There are also regular evening offerings covering a wide variety of topics. Formats include lectures and author talks as well as performances and focused programming on particular topics of interest, not to mention StoryFest, VersoFest, BOOKED for the evening, WestportREADS, the spring and fall book sales, and the Library’s other tentpole programs, a great many of which are organized and executed alongside partner organizations from throughout the town.
All of which foster lifelong learning and enrich the Westport community, and all of which are supported by your gift to the 2024-25 annual appeal.
The annual appeal will run through January 2025. We will promote the appeal through a robust fundraising drive aimed both to raise money and to thank the community for its longtime support, with a social media campaign headlined by video testimonials from patrons of all ages, banners in and around the Library and downtown, inclusion in our 2023-24 annual report, select email marketing, and letters from the Library with handwritten notes of appreciation from members of both the Library staff and our board of trustees.
For three wondrous days, the authors who create them brought The Westport Library’s books to life, with more than 50 writers from a vast array of genres gracing the Library’s varied spaces to celebrate stories, books, writers, and readers at StoryFest 2024, the Library’s seventh annual literary festival.
As visiting author Genna Rose Nethercott so aptly said during her Saturday evening storytelling session, “This is such a fun weekend of literary marvels.”
The festival, a celebration of the story in all its forms and of storytellers from across all media, kicked off Friday night with the unveiling of Jesse Freidin’s remarkable art exhibit, Are You OK? The Disappearing Faces of America’s Trans Youth, and the StoryFest keynote conversation between acclaimed author, editor, and essayist Roxane Gay and Oliver Radclyffe, whose highly anticipated new memoir, Frighten the Horses, about coming of age in the fourth decade of one’s life, came out this fall on Gay’s imprint.
The evening drew more than 250 to the Library’s Trefz Forum for a celebration of diversity and becoming your truest self — and of writing, reading, editing, and books, themes that carried into Saturday’s jam-packed day of panels, podcasts, author conversations, and book readings.
Saturday was a true celebration of storytellers and storytelling, with more than 1,200 fans packing the Library starting with the first panel discussions at 10 am and staying until the day wrapped up 11 hours later.
Photos by KT Kaminski, Westport Library
There was truly something for every reader and book lover:
Nine panels in all — five in the Trefz Forum, three in Brooks Place, and a cartooning panel held in the Sheffer Gallery, currently hosting the exhibit, Cartoon County: The Golden Age of Cartooning in Connecticut. After each panel, the authors congregated in the StoryFest Book Store to sign books and chat with admirers.
A series of children’s book readings held in the Children’s Library, featuring Diana Sussman, Isi Hendrix, Karen L. Swanson, Hal Johnson, and Lisa Korsten Price.
Two live podcast recordings — Fearmongers (one of the Library’s community partnership podcasts) with host Clay McLeod Chapman and guests Rachel Harrison and P. Djèlí Clark, and Minorities in Publishing with host Jennifer Baker and guests Shannon C.F. Rogers and Don P. Hooper.
A moving tribute to the late Westport literary icon Sybil Steinberg, with books from her personal collection on sale in the StoryFest Book Store.
The awarding of the 2024 Westport Prize for Literature to Alejandro Puyana for Freedom is a Feast, his dazzling debut novel, a multigenerational saga of love and revolution set in the author’s native Venezuela.
And the evening closed, fittingly, with the Lundberg Masters storytelling event: The Power of Story, featuring a puppet show and tale from Nethercott, short stories from Chapman and Gabino Iglesias, a preview of her new project by May Cobb, a poem from Cynthia Pelayo, a recounting by Freidin of the most impactful stories from his book project, and a recollection from Northeast Storytelling President ChaChanna Simpson, all moderated by Kerstin Rao.
StoryFest officially wrapped Sunday, with a PitchFest workshop delivered by Bloom Writers’ Studio, a day for potential future StoryFest writers to get experience pitching their projects to publishers and learning what it takes to get their stories told to wider audience.
The Westport Library will hold a special dedication ceremony on Thursday, September 26, to honor Julie and Rob Haroun for their charitable investment in improving and maintaining the landscaping around the Library.
The ceremony will be held from 4 to 5:30 pm on the Library’s Riverwalk Level. A plaque recognizing the Harouns has been placed at the front of the building, near the police parking lot.
Among the many improvements are a new irrigation system and new plantings along Jesup Green, the Riverwalk path to Library, and the hill below the café deck, with plans to maintain these areas moving forward.
“Julie and Rob have always been great friends of the Library, and throughout my tenure, I’ve appreciated their advice, counsel, and enduring support,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “This gift is truly special. It ensures that the grounds around the Library are representative of the world-class, five-star Library we endeavor to be every day. We couldn’t be more appreciative of their donation and how it will benefit our shared community for years to come.”
Julie and Rob Haroun
The Harouns worked diligently to see the project through to completion, coordinating with town officials and the Library to ensure all regulations were in full compliance.
Outdoor Design and Living was commissioned to execute the makeover, completing the work at a discount as a generous donation to the Library.
“Having worked as a real estate developer for over 30 years, primarily focusing on properties in Westport, I was intent on ensuring that the exterior of the building was properly landscaped to reflect the first-class facility that we all enjoy in this town,” said Rob Haroun, who served as a member of the Library Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2023.
“We are confident that these funds will cover the maintenance for the next five to 10 years. We have lived in town since 1992, raised three children, and have built a business in town. It is our way of giving back to an institution that is near and dear to our hearts.”
It was an evening fit for a King.
On Thursday, September 12, The Westport Library celebrated the 25th anniversary of its signature fundraising event, BOOKED for the evening, with the legendary tennis star and social justice pioneer Billie Jean King.
In the most successful BOOKED to date, more than 600 Westport Library patrons, donors, readers, writers, tennis fans, and community members packed the Library’s Trefz Forum to celebrate an icon in the fight for equality — and to support the Library’s mission to empower the individual and strengthen the community through dynamic interaction and the lively exchange of ideas.
The money raised during BOOKED for the evening goes to support the vast multitude of free and low-cost events the Library hosts throughout the year.
King was a most apt honoree for the 25th anniversary celebration, a believer in the power of knowledge and community to make a difference in the lives of so many.
After a special video introduction hailing her legendary achievements — featuring video tributes from, among others, John McEnroe, Pam Shriver, James Blake, and Christiane Amanpour — King took to the stage with the moderator for the evening, ESPN tennis host and Westporter Chris McKendry.
They were later joined by 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert, who attended the event to honor King and her remarkable legacy, as well as King’s wife and longtime partner, Ilana Kloss.
“This woman is the eighth wonder of the world, in my eyes,” Evert said of her friend and former on-court rival.
In a wide-ranging conversation, King and McKendry, complemented by Evert and Kloss, discussed the arc of the legend’s unparalleled life and career, from her achievements on the court to her work as an agent for change off it — and of course, her famed Battle of the Sexes victory over Bobby Riggs — mixing poignancy with humor and wit to delight the capacity crowd.
“I think I’m the first sports athlete you’ve ever had here, if you look at 25 years,” King said proudly, while discussing the recent successes of women’s sports leagues and the increased support for women in athletics. “Sports, and particularly women’s sports, maybe not intentionally, but women’s sports are always left out. But tonight, you included us, so I thank you. I don’t think you know what that means to me. … Tonight, for me personally, is a huge moment.”
In presenting the BOOKED for the evening award at the end of the ceremony, Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer summed up the power of King’s message and her achievements by saying, “You show us what’s possible when you stand up, speak out, and strive to make the world a better place.”
Before and after the event, attendees were treated to drinks and appetizers, arriving an hour prior to the start of the program and staying long after King had the last word on the evening, offering her thanks to the Westport community and a salute to the power of libraries.
“I cannot tell you how important libraries are to me, and have been my whole life, and to my family,” King said. “This is such a great community here. Without library books, I never would have had my dreams. So, I want to thank each and every one of you for your sponsorship and your love of learning. This has been the greatest night. I can’t think of a better night of celebration.”
Photos by Pam Einarsen.
Clockwise from top left: Clay McLeod Chapman, May Cobb, Gabino Iglesias, ChaChanna Simpson, Jesse Freidin, GennaRose Nethercott, and Cynthia Pelayo
StoryFest Saturday will feature more than 50 authors, each coming to The Westport Library to discuss their work and experiences and to connect with fans, readers, and fellow writers. The common thread among this group is a gift for storytelling.
This central element to the crafting of books of all genres and for all ages will be on display Saturday evening when StoryFest’s signature day comes to close with The Lance Lundberg Masters Series Presents: The Power of Story, a unique storytelling event.
Featured authors include Clay McLeod Chapman, May Cobb, Gabino Iglesias, and Cynthia Pelayo. The evening also includes a performance from author and puppeteer GennaRose Nethercott, a story told by acclaimed photographer Jesse Freidin, and an appearance from Northeast Storytelling President ChaChanna Simpson, who oversees the Storytelling Sundays series held monthly at the Library.
The Power of Story kicks off at 7 pm in the Library’s Trefz Forum. Please register for this free event here. Light refreshments will be served.
StoryFest is The Westport Library’s annual literary festival. It is the largest annual literary festival in Connecticut and one of the biggest in the Northeast, with this year’s event running Friday, September 20, through Sunday, September 22. Friday will feature a special keynote conversation between acclaimed author, essayist, and editor Roxane Gay and memoirist and novelist Oliver Radclyffe. Saturday’s day session features a series of panel discussions, book readings, and live podcast recordings. And Sunday is a PitchFest workshop delivered by Bloom Writers’ Studio.
“Storytelling is a fundamental part of the human experience,” said Westport Library Programming Director and StoryFest co-founder Alex Giannini. “From ancient myths and legends to current novels and films, stories have the power to entertain, educate, and inspire. Having these master storytellers on hand for Saturday evening is the perfect capstone to what promises to be a busy and electrifying Saturday at StoryFest.”
In Chapman, Cobb, Freidin, Iglesias, Nethercott, Pelayo, and Simpson, The Power of Story highlights a diverse range of performers practiced in a variety of mediums. The goal of the Lundberg Masters Series is to bridge cultural, social, and generational gaps and to deepen our connection with one another and our shared understanding of the world.
Each storyteller will take the stage for roughly 10 minutes, sharing their personal stories with the assembled crowd.
GennaRose Nethercott
Chapman is the creator of the storytelling session “The Pumpkin Pie Show.” He is the author of novels What Kind of Mother, Ghost Eaters, Whisper Down the Lane, and The Remaking. His new novel, Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, arrives in January 2025. Upcoming projects include the creator-owned comic limited series Seance in the Asylum. Quiet Part Loud, a 12-part horror podcast from Jordan Peele/Monkeypaw Productions, written by Chapman and Mac Rogers, is available on Spotify.
Cobb is the award-winning author of The Hollywood Assistant, A Likeable Woman, My Summer Darlings, and The Hunting Wives, which is being adapted into an eight-episode series for STARZ. She earned her MA in literature from San Francisco State University, and her essays and interviews have appeared in The Washington Post, Texas Highways, Good Housekeeping, and more.
Freidin is a queer-identified photographer, author, and educator. He was America's leading fine art dog photographer for the past 15 years, and now focuses his attention on elevating the experience of the trans/tgnc community through portraiture and interviews. His photography is part of more than 150 private collections, has been exhibited in galleries nationally, and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, NPR, The Huffington Post, Insider, Them, Poz Magazine, Yahoo!, MTV, Live! with Regis and Kelly, Inside Edition, Garden and Gun Magazine, The New York Post and many more.
Iglesias is the author of the Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker Award-winning novel The Devil Takes You Home, as well as author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning novels Zero Saints and Coyote Songs. He is a writer, journalist, professor, and literary critic living in Austin, Texas. He is the horror columnist for the New York Times Book Review.
Nethercott is the author of a novel, Thistlefoot, and a book-length poem, The Lumberjack’s Dove, which was selected by Louise Glück as a winner of the National Poetry Series. A writer and folklorist alike, she helps create the podcast Lore, and she tours nationally and internationally performing strange tales (sometimes with puppets in tow). Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart — her latest book — marks her debut into short fiction.
Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award-winning author. Her novels include Children of Chicago and The Shoemaker’s Magician. In addition to writing genre-blending novels that incorporate elements of fairy tales, mystery, detective, crime, and horror, Pelayo has written numerous short stories and the poetry collection Crime Scene. The recipient of the 2021 International Latino Book Award, she holds an MFA in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The current president of Northeast Storytelling, Simpson is a copyeditor, spiritual life coach, astrologer, puzzle addict, and stellar storyteller who enjoys sharing personal stories on various stages throughout Connecticut and New York. Specializing in mystery, thriller, and suspense, she has written flash fiction, short stories, personal essays, and poems and is currently working on her first fiction novel.
Freedom is a Feast, Alejandro Puyana’s acclaimed debut novel, a multigenerational saga of love and revolution set in the author’s native Venezuela, is the 2024 Westport Prize for Literature award winner.
Puyana and his work will be honored at The Westport Library on Saturday, September 21, between 1 and 2 pm, in conjunction with StoryFest, the Library’s annual literary festival.
Puyana will receive a $10,000 cash prize and appear at StoryFest, whose lineup of authors includes Roxane Gay, Christopher Golden, Claire Messud, Peng Shepherd, and Joyce Carol Oates. (The list of 50+ attending authors is available on the StoryFest website.)
“I’m so extremely honored,” said Puyana. “Venezuela is going through a rough time right now, with people out on the streets fighting for freedom and democracy. It means so much to have this Venezuelan story highlighted, at a time when we need voices everywhere to stand with us.
“I’m so grateful to the Westport Prize for Literature committee for this great gift, and hopeful that it’ll help put the book in the hands of many more readers.”
Now in its second year, The Westport Prize for Literature is awarded annually to honor an original work of fiction that explores issues in contemporary society. Renowned novelist Zadie Smith was the prize’s inaugural recipient for The Fraud, which was named as one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The Independent, and many more.
The other finalists for this year’s honor were How to Read a Book by Monica Wood and skin & bones by Renée Watson.
“Freedom is a Feast is a brilliant kaleidoscope of a novel, reflecting both the sweep of history and the triumphs and tragedies of individual lives,” said Charlotte Rogan, author of The Lifeboat and one of this year’s jurors. “This gorgeous yet propulsive story explores questions of what we owe each other and how to make a difference in turbulent times.”
Submissions for the 2024 prize were read and vetted by a team of volunteer readers — numbering nearly 50 for this year — with the best-reviewed manuscripts advancing to the Westport Prize for Literature jury, which selected this year’s winner.
In addition to Rogan, the jurors for 2024 include book blogger and aggregator Suzanne Leopold, publishing industry veteran Erica Melnichok, and nonfiction writer and former Book of the Month Club judge Nina Sankovitch.
About Freedom is a Feast
In 1964, Stanislavo, a zealous young man devoted to his ideals, turns his back on his privilege to join the leftist movement in the jungles of Venezuela. There, as he trains, he meets Emiliana, a nurse and fellow revolutionary. Though their intense connection seems to be love at first sight, their romance is upended by a decision with consequences that will echo down through the generations. Almost 40 years later, in a poor barrio of Caracas, María, a single mother, ekes out a precarious existence as a housekeeper, pouring her love into Eloy, her young son. Her devotion will not be enough, however, to keep them from disaster. On the eve of the attempted coup against President Chávez, Eloy is wounded by a stray bullet, fracturing her world. Amid the chaos at the hospital, María encounters Stanislavo, now a newspaper editor. Even as the country itself is convulsed by waves of unrest, this twist of fate forces a belated reckoning for Stanislavo, who may yet earn a chance to atone for old missteps before it’s too late.
With its epic scope, gripping narrative, and unflinching intimacy, Freedom Is a Feast announces a major new talent. Puyana has delivered a wise and moving debut about sticking to one’s beliefs at the expense of pain and chaos, about the way others can suffer for our misdeeds even when we have the best of intentions, and about the possibility for redemption when love persists across time.
“Epic doesn’t begin to describe this extraordinary novel,” said Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Junot Díaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. “Freedom Is a Feast is as vivid and wondrous as your best dream, as unsettling and unforgettable as your worst. They say you can’t fit the entire world into a novel, but Puyana comes close. What a gift he has given readers, what a profound, shattering, inspiring gift.”
Related: New York Times Book Review: Fighting for Love and Survival as a Country Falls Apart
Center: Sybil Steinberg unveiling her Sybil's List in the Library's Trefz Forum; Left and Right: Signed copies of The Joy Luck Club and Timequake, respectively.
During her lifetime as a reader and her storied career as an editor at Publisher’s Weekly, Sybil Steinberg amassed an extraordinary array of books: advance copies of some of the most revered works in American literature, first editions, and volumes signed by the authors and often inscribed to the beloved Westport literary icon.
Steinberg passed away earlier this year, leaving behind this remarkable personal collection. At StoryFest 2024, many of these editions will be available for purchase as part of the festival’s celebration of her memory and impact on the community.
Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit StoryFest, the Library’s annual literary festival which this year is dedicated to Steinberg’s memory. There will be a special dedication ceremony in her honor held Saturday, September 21, at 1 pm.
The available volumes will be part of a table dedicated to Steinberg at the StoryFest book sale, located in the Library’s Komansky Room. Among the items for sale: a signed, first-edition copy, inscribed to Steinberg, of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, and a signed copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s Timequake, plus a collection of hardcover, softcover, and advance review copies featuring authors such as Joyce Carol Oates, Peter DeVries, and Laura Z Hobson.
Also available will be a compilation of past Sybil’s Lists, a collection of her recommended books that she would unveil to a rapt audience during a special event held regularly at the Library.
“We are incredibly thankful to the Steinberg family for donating these books to support StoryFest,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “Sybil was an icon in the public library world and industry, an indelible part of the Westport literary community, and a true friend to the Library. We miss her terribly but look forward to honoring her, her memory, and her legacy at this year’s StoryFest.”
Steinberg graduated in 1954 from Smith College, where she served as editor of the student newspaper. After two decades as a stay-at-home mom, raising her three children in Westport with her husband, Harold, her professional career ascended when she took a job in the 1970s with Publisher’s Weekly.
By 1979, she rose to editor of fiction reviews, and in 1983, she began overseeing Publisher Weekly’s author interview department. As the fiction reviews editor, Steinberg introduced the boxed review concept to highlight promising talent; she selected Tan’s The Joy Luck Club as the first boxed review. As authors interview editor, she held conversations with Annie Proulx, Salman Rushdie, John Updike, and Fay Weldon, among others. In addition, she edited three volumes of Writing for Your Life, a series of books that featured interviews compiled from the magazine.
Her work was nominated for the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Steinberg also served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle and made numerous television appearances on PBS, CBS, C-SPAN, and NBC.
Following her retirement in 2001, Steinberg continued to review books, maintaining her ties to the publishing industry. And she introduced her treasured Sybil’s List, in which she would introduce her favorite books of the year at a special event held at the Library. She would expand Sybil’s List to a biannual tradition, establishing it as the go-to guide for Westport’s community of writers and readers. She unveiled her final Sybil’s List in December 2023, in time for the holiday season.
The Westport Library’s Common Ground Initiative was formed as a forum to discuss topical issues of importance to society. In the 21st century, few issues have dominated the national conversation like COVID-19, its response, and the rollout of the vaccines to combat the virus.
As chief public corporate affairs officer at Pfizer, Sally Susman was charged with rolling out the COVID vaccine to an anxious and polarized public. The learnings from that process informed her new best-selling book, Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World.
On Monday, August 5, at 7 pm, Susman will share her takeaways from her experiences and her writing with Steve Parrish in the latest Common Ground conversation.
The event is free to attend and will be held in The Westport Library’s Trefz Forum. Registration is strongly encouraged.
The aim of the Common Ground Initiative is to host positive, productive conversations about how we work together to move forward as a civil society; encourage respectful, constructive dialogue; and build capacity to tackle challenging and/or controversial issues.
“My passion — and my goal — is to give people the tools they need to disagree agreeably,” Susman told Nantucket Magazine. “To open them up to the idea that maybe the other side is at least partially right. … I admire diplomacy a great deal. It’s in short supply these days, and it’s one of the most important things we’re missing.”
Before joining Pfizer in 2007, Susman held senior roles at The Estée Lauder Companies and American Express. She is currently the co-chair of The International Rescue Committee and serves on the board of UL Solutions. She also is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 2022, Susman was named one of the World’s Most Influential CMOs by Forbes. And in 2019, she was recognized by LinkedIn as a 2019 Top Voice.
Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World draws from her experience at Pfizer. The book provides insights on leadership and connectivity that are essential as we move forward as a society, facing challenges from political dysfunction to rampant inequity.
“If you want to improve at communication, look no further than those who do it for a living,” said Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking. “Sally Susman has devoted her career to bringing clarity to complexity, change, and crisis, and in this book she shares memorable stories and practical insights to help you get heard.”
Parrish is the founder of Steve Parrish Consulting Group, LLC, which specializes in crisis management, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, and communications for senior executives. Previously, Parrish was senior vice president, corporate affairs, of Altria Group, Inc., and served as secretary of the Public Affairs and Social Responsibility Committee of the board of directors of Altria Group, Inc.
Parrish also is a member of the board of directors of Orchestra Lumos and board member emeritus and past board chair of Safe Horizon, an internationally recognized leader in the field of victim assistance.
