Monica Wood, writer
I'm finished with speaking engagements for 2025. If you are a library or a Maine-based book club wishing to book for 2025, please e-mail me directly on this site. To arrange an out-of-state event, please contact Authors Unbound at booked@authorsunbound.com .
NEWS: I'm just about finished touring How to Read a Book, my new novel, and so enjoying all my encounters with readers. Thanks, all, for showing up!
Reviews:
"An utter gem." People
"A charming, openhearted novel, deceptively easy to read but layered with sharp observations, hard truths and rich ideas...it is also generously seasoned with unexpected twists and a wonderful wit." NYT
"Gorgeously told, with deeply memorable characters." Kirkus
"A deeply humane and touching novel, highly recommended." Booklist
"How to Read a Book is a wry, hopeful celebration of literature, unlikely friendships, and the power of small gestures of connection." Shelf Awareness
MY PLAYS: My new play, Saint Dad, was a smash! What a ride this was. It's being looked at by several other theaters now, and will open in November in Lincolnville, Maine. To get a script of Saint Dad, The Half-Light, or Papermaker, go to
NEW PLAY EXCHANGE. Or if you can't get in there, email me (monica@monicawood.com) for a copy.
ALSO NEW(ish) is a new edition of Any Bitter Thing, which includes an introduction by writer Cathie Pelletier. You can get it directly from Godine or anywhere else where books are sold! With many thanks to Josh Bodwell and the good folks at Godine.
FANS OF BETTY: Many of my readers ask about my sister Betty, who appeared in my memoir, When We Were the Kennedys. Betty died on June 20, 2018, in the embrace of her heartbroken sisters. She blessed our family for 67 years, and I am grateful. At her service we gave everyone in the packed church a symbolic stone, asked them to perform an act of kindness to honor Betty's life of kindness, and then keep the stone in a visible spot as a reminder of the long reach of seemingly small gestures. We also lost our brother, Barry, in December 2020--another blow for a close family. But we are still grateful for all we have and all we are to each other.
You can follow this (link) to a piece I wrote about Betty for Oprah Magazine. The original title was "Big Sister, Little Sister"; the magazine version (November 2011) title was "What Betty Knows"; and the online version on oprah.com shows up with yet another title. Also, here is a video of Betty's interview with her idol, anchorwoman Kim Block, (link), which aired after I published an essay on their friendship in Yankee Magazine.
VIDEOS: Here is a video I shot at my UK publisher: (link). And here's one from Bates College after they picked When We Were the Kennedys as their "common read": (link). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt produced this YouTube video of me discussing the memoir: (link), and my husband has a play list of other appearances on his YouTube channel (link).
CURRENTLY READING: Beep by Bill Roorbach. Delightful!
FOR PUBLIC EVENTS: I'm now booking into 2025. If you are relatively local to Maine, email me directly on this site. To arrange a speaking engagement out of state, please contact Authors Unbound at . Go to Scheduled Events first to propose a date.
Thanks for visiting the site, and come back soon! You can also find me on Facebook, and I do answer all my email.
