Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author known for her ability to bring the hidden narratives of power, love, and sisterhoods of Black women and women of color to life on the page. Her novel Fire, Sword, and Sea continues her exploration of resilience, identity, and survival. Riley’s work has been praised for its meticulous research and emotional depth. In addition to penning over twenty-five novels, Riley holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and STEM degrees from Penn State, adding a research-oriented approach to her writing while emphasizing inclusive storytelling about the Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency eras. In this engaging session with author Dawn Tripp, Riley will discuss the inspirations behind her seafaring adventure, the complexities of historical storytelling, and the ways in which untold histories can reshape our understanding of the past.
Browse books written by authors from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod when they gather in the Great Hall on Saturday. Don't miss this chance to support our local writing community!
Pulitzer Prize winning author Mitchell Jackson, author of Fly, The Residue Years and Survival Math, and Booker Prize Winner Marlon James, author of Black Leopard, Red Wolf, and A Brief History of Seven Killings join bestselling author of More or Less Maddy, Remember and Still Alice, neuroscientist Lisa Genova for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, identity, and the power of language to illuminate the human experience.
Ann Patchett is the author of over a dozen books and the owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. The beloved writer will be in conversation with Nantucket Book Foundation President and creator of Tim Talks Books, Tim Ehrenberg, to discuss Ann's newest novel, Whistler, a luminous story that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time. Ann and Tim will talk about the book's themes of memory and family as well as owning a bookstore, writing both fiction and nonfiction, Ann's reading life, and her other treasured novels, memoirs, and essays.
Celebrated award-winning journalist, Senior Correspondent for CBS News and Contributing Correspondent for CBS 60 Minutes, Norah O’Donnell has used this year’s celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary to turn her lens to the pivotal women whose lives changed American history. A New York Times bestseller, “We the Women” are the stories not told; women who embodied the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and fought for freedom and equality. Norah will be joined in conversation with Linda Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners.
Internationally acclaimed New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, has used the prism of historical fiction to create stories that bring unknown histories to life. From Between Shades of Gray to Salt to the Sea to The Fountains of Silence, her work is deeply researched with tightly drawn characters who live the realities that governments and institutions have left submerged. Into this light is Sepetys’ first novel for adult readers, A “Fortune of Sand”, continuing her rich tradition of using shards of history to illuminate truth. Ruta will be joined in conversation with writer and producer, Mary Haft, a Co-Founder of the Nantucket Book Festival and author of “Nantucket: Portrait of an American Town.
Adriana Trigiani is a beloved storyteller and New York Times bestselling author whose novels celebrate family, heritage, and the ties that bind us. In The View from Lake Como, she transports readers from where our protagonist begins, freshly divorced and living in her loving-but-oblivious parents’ basement in suburban New Jersey to the beauty of Italy, while exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and reinvention. She will be in conversation with author and festival co-chair Sara DiVello, discussing the inspiration behind her latest novel, her connection to Italian culture, and poignant, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt nature of her work.
Patrick Ryan is the author of one of the most talked about books of 2025, Buckeye, a Read with Jenna selection and New York Times best-seller. Patrick will be joined by fellow author Ann Patchett for an intimate conversation between dear friends on reading and writing. They will discuss the writing process of Buckeye, its memorable storyline and characters, and how the book came to be, as Ann describes, "this glorious sweep of a novel."
Tayari Jones is the author of An American Marriage and Kin, a New York Times best-seller and a recent Oprah's Book Club selection from February 2026. Tayari will be in conversation with Tim Ehrenberg, President of the Nantucket Book Foundation and creator of Tim Talks Books, for a moving talk on mothers and daughters, lifelong friendship, and the American south. The two will also discuss Tayari's writing process, her years of teaching creative writing, and the books and authors who inspired her on this literary path.
