Inspired by the NEA Big Read selection of Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street, and by the invitation of Cisneros and Nikole Hannah-Jones as speakers for UNCW’s Writer’s Week, this year’s Thirsty Tome theme is “Where We Come From: Place, Memory, and Hidden History.” We will be hosting two events, a walking tour on November 11, 2021, and a Zoom panelist discussion on November 12, 2021.

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“Where We Come From” Panelist Discussion, 5:00-6:30 pm, November 12, 2021

Places have power—to shape us, to create identity, to give shelter—but they also carry with them their own histories and stories, often untold. Please join National Book Award longlisted author and UNCW alum Jason Mott, Creative Writing Professor KaToya Fleming, and Public History Professor Kenneth Shefsiek as we touch on themes of what makes a home, what narratives are hidden within seemingly familiar places, and what we carry with us from “where we come from.”

Zoom Link: https://lib.uncw.edu/thirstytome-2021 | Passcode: 080546 | This program will be recorded

YouTube video of event: https://youtu.be/seRM2cRUHuI

Jason Mott

KaToya Fleming

Kenneth Shefsiek

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Randall Library is pleased to partner with local bookstore Ghost Hill Press to make copies of the speakers’ books available for purchase. You can preorder Hell of a Book by Jason Mott for delivery or in store pickup. You can also find Jason’s books in our catalog: Hell of a Book  | The Returned

You can order a print copy of the issue of Oxford American that KaToya’s book excerpt appears in here, as well as find it in the library’s Current Magazines section.

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"Wilmington Beneath the Surface” Walking Tour, 7:00-8:30 pm, November 11, 2021

Kimberly Sherman of Ghost Hill press will be leading a free, custom walking tour of downtown Wilmington, focusing on the people and stories that are often left out of traditional narratives of the city. Registration is limited to the first 15 participants, so please RSVP using this form to secure your spot.

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