Free - RSVP required - suggested $10 donation to GrubStreet

The James Library & Center for the Arts welcomes local author Janet Rich Edwards for a special afternoon of reading and conversation centered on her latest novel, Canticle, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall.

The event will feature Edwards in conversation with Tracey Palmer, exploring the themes, inspiration, and creative process behind Canticle. Audience members will also enjoy live readings from the book followed by a book signing. Copies of Canticle will be available for purchase through Buttonwood Books.

Canticle was longlisted for the Carol Shields Prize, a New York Times Editors’ Pick, and described by People Magazine as “atmospheric and unforgettable.” From the Washington Post, “Canticle is a daring historical novel steeped in religious ecstasy. Janet Rich Edwards’s debut circles a medieval teenager destined to become a martyr.”

While admission is free, attendees are invited to make a suggested $10 ticket donation will support GrubStreet, the nationally recognized independent creative writing center dedicated to nurturing writers and storytellers.

The event offers readers and community members an opportunity to engage directly with a local author in an intimate and welcoming setting while supporting literary arts programming.

Donate to Grubstreet: https://grubstreet.org/support/give