writing

Inspiring Author Talk on Writing with Wayne Soini at the Sawyer Free Library 

~ Sawyer Free Library

On Saturday, December 14 from 11am to 12 pm the Sawyer Free Library on Main Street will welcome local author and historian Wayne Soini.  He will share invaluable tips and recommend trusted resources to help you refine and publish your own book. Whether you’re dreaming of crafting fiction or nonfiction, this session will provide the guidance and motivation you need to get started this winter!

During his talk, Soini will explore Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s first published work, “The Ghost”—written when she was just a second grader—as a relatable example to inspire your writing journey. A Q&A session will follow, giving you the chance to ask questions and delve deeper into the writing and publishing process.

About Wayne Soini: A passionate historian, Soini holds a Master’s degree in History from UMass Boston. He is the author of two historical novels, Nixon in Love and Germany Surrenders! (2015), and coauthored Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves (1998). His other works include Gloucester’s Sea Serpent (2010) and Porter’s Secret: Fitz John Porter’s Monument Decoded (2011).

No registration is required—just come ready to be inspired to the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in Gloucester. Visit sawyerfreelibrary.org for more information.

11/9 Author Talk with Melissa Ludtke: Locker Room Talk 

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join the Sawyer Free Library on Saturday, November 9 at 2:30 pm for an author talk with Melissa Ludtke, who will be discussing her book, Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside, her gripping account of being at the core of this globally covered case that churned up ugly prejudices about the place of women in sports. Joining her in the conversation will be fellow local author of The Tigerbelles, Aime Card.

The event is being presented with the Bookstore of Gloucester who will be selling copies of Melissa’s book. No registration is required. If you have questions, please call the Library at 978-325-5500.

About Locker Room Talk:

“Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside,” to be published by Rutgers University Press, Melissa Ludtke describes what it was like to be the 26-year old woman swept up by the societal hurricane spinning around her lawsuit against Major League Baseball. Living in the bulls-eye of sexist commentary exacted a high emotional toll on her, as those who wanted to protect the well-fortified bastion of male privilege argued against Ludtke’s legal claim, often by mocking her. To them, she was a terrifying symbol of women’s liberation during a time of revolutionary change in women’s lives. Still, Melissa’s legal case carved pathways which generations of girls followed.

About the Author:

In her award-winning journalism career, Melissa Ludtke reported at Sports Illustrated, was a correspondent at Time, and the editor of Nieman Reports at Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism. Her lifelong engagement with issues revolving around girls and women’s lives led her to write two books, “On Our Own: Unmarried Motherhood in America,” and “Touching Home in China: in search of missing girlhoods.” In “Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside,” her upcoming memoir, Melissa revisits her federal lawsuit, Ludtke v. Kuhn, which in 1978 secured equal access for women sports reporters. This meant women could interview players, coaches and the manager in the locker room, as male reporters had done for decades. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and lives in Cambridge, MA with her college-aged daughter, Maya.

Calling all Creative Arts Entrepreneurs!! This free workshop is for you! Learn ways to Identify Your Ideal Customer and Find Solutions to Reach Them

~ Sawyer Free Library

This is the second of a three-part series “Branding Your Own Creative Arts Business: A Three-Part Marketing and Communications Series”

Learning to market your own creative arts business involves developing a vision of the audience you are looking to reach. How do you determine your target market? Who are you selling to? Simplify your success by learning what questions to ask to identify your market and determine which channels to use to reach them. To find out – join the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street on Tuesday, October 15 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

This is the second of a three-part series entitled “Branding Your Own Creative Arts Business: A Three-Part Marketing and Communications Series” led by Leah Hancock, owner and founder of Placid Marketing with over 15 years of experience in integrated and online marketing communications.

Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited! If you have questions, please contact moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5562.

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Prepare yourselves, honored guests, for an adventure unlike any other, as the late John Hays Hammond Jr. comes to life for a gathering of his dearest friends and respected colleagues. Within the medieval walls of Hammond’s castle home, secrets and curiosities await.

As you travel through the castle’s darkened corridors and rooms, you’ll encounter some of the most peculiar guests ever assembled. Are they members of a secret society, social and Hollywood royalty, or leaders straddling the boundaries of science and the occult? These mysterious figures have converged at Hammond Castle for a reason, and you’re about to find out why.

This unique promenade theater performance will transport you through time and space. You’ll step into different rooms and meet a captivating cast of characters ranging from Hillman, Hammond’s loyal butler to the eccentric Hammond and his glamorous wife, Irene – each with their own extraordinary tale to share. These stories have been expertly adapted by the talented Doug Cowell and are based on Hammond’s original ghost stories. Hammond’s writing style, reminiscent of the 1920s Weird Tale and the 1950s Pulp Fiction offers a unique blend of supernatural intrigue and kitschy charm.

Starring:

  • Anthony Lentz as John Hays Hammond Jr.
  • Shari Chaplin as Mrs. Irene Hammond
  • Lauren Casey as the Reporter
  • Michael Greene as Hillman, the Butler
  • James “Jimmy T.” Tarantino as the Sailor
  • Alison Landoni as the Mason

Beginning on the drawbridge, and leading through multiple rooms within, this walking, theatrical program runs just shy of 60 minutes in total. Performances begin at 6 pm and run every 15 minutes through 9 pm.  **Roaring 1920s and similar attire are encouraged!**

Reserve Your Tickets Here!