With laughter, literary fandom and plenty of discussion about boy bands, cruises and the enduring power of books, the Friends of the Port Washington Public Library celebrated its 57th annual Book & Author Luncheon by bringing together two acclaimed novelists — and hundreds of devoted readers — for one of the community’s signature cultural events.
Held at The Garden City Hotel on Friday May 1, the luncheon drew a crowd of 285 attendees for a conversation between bestselling author Emma Straub and novelist Meg Wolitzer, moderated in a lively, often humorous format that touched on writing, fandom, motherhood and the changing literary landscape.
The annual luncheon, organized by the Friends of the Port Washington Public Library, serves as the organization’s sole fundraiser and supports programming at the library. This year’s event also coincided with the Friends group’s 60th anniversary.
“This can be a difficult time for libraries,” Friends of the Library President Pam O’Connell said in opening remarks, referencing nationwide concerns over book bans, legislation targeting librarians and the rise of artificial intelligence complicating issues of authorship and misinformation. “All of which signifies the even greater importance of our human-powered libraries.”
The luncheon has become a longstanding tradition on Long Island’s literary calendar. Over 57 years, the event has hosted 111 authors, according to organizers. This year’s audience included library directors from neighboring communities, local elected officials, school district leaders, members of area book clubs and several notable authors, including novelist Susan Isaacs and nonfiction writer Kelly McMasters.
Straub appeared to discuss her newly released novel “American Fantasy,” which became her fifth consecutive book to land on The New York Times bestseller list. The novel centers on Annie, a recently divorced woman who boards a themed cruise for fans of a 1990s boy band and unexpectedly reconnects with parts of herself she thought she had left behind.
Introducing Straub, O’Connell praised not only her literary success but also her role as owner of the independent Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic, calling her “a relentless and influential cheerleader for other authors and for the joys of reading.”
Wolitzer, who has twice previously appeared as a featured author at the luncheon and whose mother, novelist Hilma Wolitzer, also participated decades earlier, guided the conversation with a mix of wit and admiration.
The discussion focused on the unusual inspiration behind “American Fantasy”: a real-life New Kids on the Block fan cruise Straub attended as research for the book.
“I just knew right away that a boy band cruise was a perfect thing for a novel,” Straub told the audience, describing how the idea struck her after seeing information about the cruise online.
Source: LI Press
