MOUNT VERNON, OHIO—Author Erin McGraw’s novel The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard begins, “I couldn’t cook but I could sew. It would have been better the other way around.” The book follows the life of Nell Plat, who, at age seventeen, finds herself unhappily married and the mother of two baby girls. Nell soon puts her sewing skills to use, escaping Kansas for the glamor of Hollywood, until her past threatens to catch up with her. On Tuesday, May 16th at 6:30 pm, the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County launches its 2023 Ohio Writers Series with visiting author Erin McGraw. McGraw will read from her Ohioana-Award winning novel, The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, then join in conversation with David Lynn (Editor Emeritus, The Kenyon Review). Doors open at 6:30 pm at Knox Memorial, Veterans Hall 112 E. High Street in Mount Vernon. Mocktails and light refreshments will be served.
McGraw writes short fiction and novels; in 2019, her microfiction collection Joy was lauded by Kirkus Reviews, and The Lives of the Saints was a New York Times notable book. Her short stories have been published widely in many acclaimed literary magazines, including The Kenyon Review, Georgia Review and Tin House. Born and raised in Redondo Beach, California, McGraw moved to Indiana in 1982 and earned her MFA from Indiana University. She taught at DePauw University, University of Cincinnati, and the Ohio State University. McGraw lived in the Midwest for thirty years before retiring with her husband, the poet Andrew Hudgins, to Sewanee, Tennessee.
Copies of The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard are available for checkout at all Library locations thanks to a generous grant from the State Library of Ohio, “Celebrating Ohioana Book Awards and Authors.” Reservations are not required for the Library’s May 16th event, but the first ten people to register for the event will receive a free copy of The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard. Patrons may register online at https://tinyurl.com/mr476dyw, in person at the Main Library circulation desk, or by emailing knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
As with all Library programs, this event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.knox.net, email knoxwrites1@gmail.com, or call (740) 392-BOOK ext. 259.
For more information on Children’s Floor activities and resources, visit www.knox.net, call (740) 392-BOOK, or stop by the Main Library at 201 N. Mulberry Street, Mount Vernon during library hours.
