News & Events

Asheville Writers to Read, Honor, 88-Year-Old Memoirist

September 10, 2012

Seven well-known Asheville authors will perform a reading of the work of 88-year-old Virginia Redfield, whose first book, the memoir "Night Bloom," was published in April with the help of Asheville's literary community.

This event, free and open to the public and sponsored by UNC Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program, begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Laurel Forum, in UNC Asheville's Karpen Hall.

The memoir covers decades of history, and recounts Redfield's struggles with her tyrannical mother. "Mama always gave God the credit for saving my life during the '26 hurricane, but it was a long time before she admitted it was my life," wrote Redfield, who will also participate in the reading.

The event will be a gathering of many in greater Asheville's literary community. Janet Shaw, Catherine Reid, Sebastian Matthews, Elizabeth Kostova, Elizabeth Holden, Tommy Hays and Holly Iglesias will each read from and reflect upon "Night Bloom."

For more information, visit virginiaredfield.com or contact Kevin McIlvoy at 828.318.4456.