Leslea Newman will read from her newly-published novel, The Reluctant Daughter. Absorbing, poignant, but often funny, it's the  story of an accomplished lesbian scholar and her fraught relationship with her mother.  Lydia's efforts to be truly seen and acknowledged by her mother, and her feelings at the prospect of losing her, will resonate with daughters everywhere.

Leslea Newman is Northampton's Poet Laureate and author of numerous novels and short story collections and volumes of poetry.  Her most recent book is a poetry collection called Nobody's Mother.