AJ Mayhew Book Reading

Faith & Arts at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church is pleased to be able to host a reading by Anna Jean Mayhew from her second novel, Tomorrow’s Bread, on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., October 13^th.

Anna Jean Mayhew’s second novel Tomorrow’s Bread is set in 1961 Charlotte, NC, when urban renewal threatens to demolish an historic black community. It explores the conflicts of gentrification and is a moving story of loss, love, and resilience.

On her website, A.J. Mayhew describes her career path as taking many turns, from court reporting to opera management to medical writing. All the time she was involved in these day jobs, she was writing fiction at night and on weekends, pieces that began as short stories and became novels. For twenty-five years she taught fiction writing at Duke University Continuing Education, at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, and in her home. With the support and critique of her colleagues, A. J. has written two novels: The Dry Grass of August, published in 2011, and Tomorrow’s Bread (already contracted for an audio book and a large print edition).

Tomorrow’s Bread was selected to be a part of TRIO 2019. Each TRIO starts with a book, which is given to a musician to write a song or piece of music and to a visual artist to produce a work of art inspired by the story. We are delighted that Melissa Summersell, a songwriter from Mobile, Alabama who composed the song “Brooklyn Was Here” for this collaboration, will be present at this reading and will sing her song.  And, the painting by Anna Jensen will also be displayed. TRIO is a testament to the way words, music and art can come together around the power of a single story.

Joining A. J. will be the combined ensembles of the St. Matthew’s Women’s Singing Circle and the Songbuurds, from the Universalist Unitarian Congregation of Hillsborough, of which A. J. is a member, singing the hymns, spirituals, and popular songs that are mentioned in her book.  Pianist Alison Weiner will accompany them and A. J.’s son, Jackson Faw, will be a featured soloist.

The St. Matthew’s Faith and the Arts Series began in 2010 as a result of the church’s desire to be more intentional in their support of the arts and artists; to challenge and deepen faith through exposure to the arts; and to use sacred space as a setting for artistic expression.

A reception and book signing will follow the reading.  This event is co-sponsored by Purple Crow Books (919-732-1711; 109 W. King Street, Hillsborough).

Tickets are $10 and available at the church office during business hours and at Purple Crow Books.