Great Author Talk with Lisa Genova on 3/25

Neuroscientist and author Lisa Genova enthralled a full house on Wed 3/25 with why she writes, her extensive research process which includes shadowing people, taking classes, interviewing individuals with personal experience, and scientists who study relevant conditions.  Her novels have highlighted people on the autism spectrum, with bipolar disease, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, and ALS with the hope of helping readers see inside what it is like to live with these conditions. 

If you missed it, you could watch the recording from Zoom at

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-wTBBu0x7Khdrn8CZe8Mns8MobuS4ppjY4fRR0bj9Od-m1xbdf98uyql0Q9jvmGp.AvZexTJAkg5Lns6k

Passcode: u3&tbauJ

Our third and final author talk is with Linda Stasi, an award-winning journalist whose novel The Descendant, is a story based on actual events, of how an immigrant family began in the United States and became known as the Mountain Mafia. This were a scrappy, tough, family of smart folks who refused to let all the power in the world keep them down. 

Join us on 4/22 at 6:30pm at The Union Church at West Newton and Columbus.

At our first Author Talk of the Spring Season, we heard great stories from Bruce Robert Coffin

Despite the weather and the challenges with sidewalks, a warm and friendly crowd enjoyed Sara DeVello’s interview of Bruce Robert Coffin about his background as a Detective Sergeant in the Portland Police Department and his more recent career as a prolific author of detective mysteries.  His great stories about what he learned as a detective entertained us and form the basis of his present-day writing. 

 Our next talk on 3/25 will feature Lisa Genova, neuroscientist and NYT best-selling author of Still Alice, sharing about her most recent book, More or Less Maddy.  Don’t miss it!

For future programs check this page as the series progresses.

South End Library Building Project Update

 Our last Community Meeting about the SEL new building was on May 28, 2025.  Since then, the architects have been working to finalize the design and get drawings ready for the bidding/contracting process which was planned for Fall/Winter. 

In October we learned that neighborhood associations adjacent to the library had raised concerns about the ability of plows and garbage trucks to negotiate the alleys between and perpendicular to the new library building footprint.  In the months since this issue was raised, relevant city departments have been determining specific requirements for ensuring these vehicles can service the residents who use these alleys. 

In a recent conversation with David Leonard, Boston Public Library President, we learned additional information.  He shared, “We hope we are now in the very last stages of a design adjustment caused by these clarified requirements for a turning circle coming in and out of the alley. This should be completed in a matter of a few weeks.”

Also impacting the progress of this project is more-than-normal uncertainty about funding and rising costs.  Even though the City’s Capital Budget was approved for FY 27 in late 2025 during the city’s budget process, there is an Office of Budget Management release that must take place before the funds are available for planned capital projects. That release has not yet occurred. He is hopeful that the library will be given an update on this prior to the release deadline of April 8th.

We will continue to keep the South End community informed of both design progress and funding status.

Announcing our 2026 Spring Author Series

Our Spring 2026 Author Talks are scheduled!

FOSEL has evolved the South End Library Author Series to reach beyond the South End and Boston to entice our friends and neighbors to experience acclaimed authors, their books, and the conversations they generate. 

This season enjoy a stimulating evening connecting with admired authors whose work will range across multiple genres and geographies! It’s a great time to connect with friends and neighbors! After the talk and Q&A discussion, take advantage of the opportunity to purchase the showcased book(s), enjoy the signing, and appreciate appetizers, wine or soft drinks with other readers from the South End. 

Parkside Books, our new neighborhood bookstore at 260 Shawmut Ave, will be on site to sell the books and it will be a good moment to connect with them as well.  https://www.parksidebookshop.com/

Our Spring 2026 series of three sessions will be held at the United Church at 485 Columbus Ave, at 6:30pm in the Connection Room. They will be available by Zoom for those who are unable to come in person and enjoy the camaraderie, refreshments, and book signings of these events. 

FOSEL wishes ALL a peaceful and safe Holiday Season

Friends of the South End Library are so very grateful for all the support from the South End community – our donors, our engaged neighbors, our city workers, and our elected officials.  We wish ALL a peaceful and safe holiday season and a happy new year that we hope will include the start of a new library building.

A large crowd was energized and delighted to hear from Ilyon Woo in our final author talk of the Fall 2025 series

In spite of a little rain, the crowd for our final author talk of the Fall 2025 series was energized and delighted to hear from Ilyon Woo about her Pulitzer prize winning book, Master Slave Husband Wife.  Thanks to all who came out and to the folks who attended virtually.

Through Sara DiVello’s masterful interviewing we learned so much about Woo’s impetus for writing the book, her research, and her feelings about the characters in this amazing and harrowing true story of escape from slavery.  We also learned she is writing a children’s version of this courageous couple from scratch to teach and engage that age group about an important part of our history.

To all who missed it, the video recording is available on our FOSEL Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheSouthEndLibrary

Or via Zoom link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Ff-mHtW-ykH0i1XHhXuhsagYagvwYUNj_l8dNsgi0RPoiz21hS8pvQpWNq3pqB_w.BWV6Z3nbRAFwAT_H

Passcode: Z1^tgmEB

For future programs check this page as winter progresses and we make plans.

Union Church welcomed us for the spellbinding author interview with Alma Katsu & FOSEL’s Sara DiVello

Alma Katsu, author of Fiend and interviewer Sara DiVello kept us on the edge of our seats as they explored Alma’s career journey from CIA Analyst to novelist of multiple books in the spy and horror genres.  We learned that Alma’s drive to write ultimately required she leave the CIA to pursue her current passion.

Born in Alaska but raised here in Concord, MA, Alma began writing before her intelligence career, and returned to it, publishing her first novel, The Taker, in 2011.  Her novels often blend genres, such as historical fiction with the supernatural, evidenced in The Hunger, a story of the Donner Party, which received an NPR award for horror.

 Alma shared that The Fiend, a story about a wildly financially successful family with a terrifying evil demon was inspired in part by the acclaimed TV series Succession and has many parallels with some of today’s real situations like the Sacklers, the Murdochs, and others.

 Our next author talk will be on December 10th with local author, Ilyon Woo, sharing her experience writing Pulitzer Prize winning, Master Slave Husband Wife.  Join us at 6:30pm at Union Church, 485 Columbus Ave, Boston.