Maine Author Monica Wood' to Launch New Novel After Refusing to Cross Harper Collins Picket Line

The Portland Stage will be hosting a free event to celebrate Maine author Monica Wood's new novel, How to Read a Book, on Tuesday, May 7 at  25 Forest Ave in Portland. Wood's latest novel is described as  "an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives."

Early reviews call it “a deeply humane and touching novel, highly recommended“ (Booklist), and “a finely wrought story, gorgeously told, with deeply memorable characters” (Kirkus, starred review).

In an inspiring show of solidarity, Wood put the release of her new book in jeopardy last year when she  refused to sign off on the cover in support of striking workers at the New York City-based publishing company.

Wood grew up in a union household. Both her father and grandfather worked for the Oxford Paper Company in Rumford. Her brother Barry Wood, who passed away last year, was briefly President of USW 900 when Boise Cascade owned the mill in the 1980s.

Wood spoke to the Maine AFL-CIO Maine Labor News last year about the strike  and her memories of worker struggles in the paper industry during the 1980s, especially in Rumford and Jay. From a young age, she was taught to never ever cross a picket line.

The book launch starts at 6:30 with snacks and drinks (and book signing) in the upstairs lobby at Portland Stage, and continues inside the theater at 7pm with theatrical readings from the book by actors Grace Bauer, Moira Driscoll, Tom Bloom, Erica Murphy, Casey Turner, and Jenny Woodward, followed by a brief discussion with Monica. After that, more drinks, snacks, signing, and general literary liveliness!

This is a ticketed event, though tickets are free. To reserve yours, call the Portland Stage box office at 207-774-0465 or follow this link to reserve online.