10 Feb Writers and Wisdom Keepers: Illuminating a Path During Dark Times
Hosted by Gail Straub
Join these three exceptional writers, Janus Adams, Beverly Donofrio, Abigail Thomas, hosted by Gail Straub as they discuss how the wisdom that comes with aging influences their craft. As wisdom-keeper wordsmiths, part of their role is to illuminate a path during dark times. Writers who keenly observe the world, how do they steer clear of cynicism and despair, political certainties and smug ideologies? Since writing and storytelling have long been known to ask essential questions about the human condition, what are the questions we need to be asking now? And how does the artist’s imagination help cultivate an abiding humaneness and hope despite all the current challenges the world faces?
Engage with three luminary authors in an exchange that promises to be both thought provoking and soul stirring!
Gail Straub is the author of eight books including the best-selling Empowerment translated into fourteen languages, the critically acclaimed The Rhythm of Compassion, her award-winning nature writing The Ashokan Way, and forthcoming in June 2025 her highly anticipated memoir Home Inside the Globe: Embracing the Human Family. Gail’s books have garnered three Nautilus Silver Medals as well as three Foreword Review Book Awards.
Co–founder of the Empowerment Institute, Gail is a leading authority on women’s empowerment where her work throughout the Global South has impacted several million lives.
Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and historian Dr. Janus Adams originated the position of National Arts correspondent for NPR and opened the New York News Bureau. She is the author of eleven books including Sister Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African American Women’s History and her BackPaxKids Parents’ Choice Award-winning children’s series. Founding, in 1990, the first national book club for African American literature, Harambee — a Swahili word meaning let’s all pull together; she changed the publishing industry to the benefit of authors, booksellers, publishers, and readers.
Abigail Thomas’s new memoir, Still Life at Eighty: The Next Interesting Thing, was published by Golden Notebook Press. Thomas worked as both a book editor and book agent before writing her own first collection of short stories, Getting Over Tom. Her second and third books An Actual Life, and Herb’s Pajamas, were works of fiction. Thomas’ memoir, A Three Dog Life, was named one of the best books of 2006 by The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. She writes a column called “What Comes Next?” on Substack.
Beverly Donofrio is the author of Looking for Mary (or, the Blessed Mother and Me), Astonished: A Story of Evil, Blessings, Grace, and Solace, the New York Times bestseller, Riding in Cars with Boys, and several children’s books. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times; The Washington Post; The Los Angeles Times; O; Spirituality and Health; Slate; Brevity; and Longreads among others. She considers writing memoir to be a spiritual practice and teaches memoir writing around the country.
Get a Full Festival pass and you’ll get to take in the Story Slam on Thursday night. Then sail into the weekend: attending all the wonderful panels, both parties, and both evening events. And share the bounty from our always-stuffed goody bag.