Meet a meister of allusions

The Manzanita Writers' Series presents a reading by New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister at the Hoffman Center for the Arts this Friday, July 14.

One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister’s “No Two Persons” is “a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives.”

Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective and presents new pathways forward for their lives. Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways—and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.

“With its beautiful parts that add up to a brilliant whole, ‘No Two Persons’ made my reader’s heart sing,” wrote Nina de Gramont, New York Times bestselling author of “The Christie Affair.”

Bauermeisterhas also authored the novels “The Scent Keeper” and “The School of Ingredients,” as well as the memoir “House Lessons: Renovating a Life.” Her books have been chosen as Reese’s Book Club and Indie Next Picks, and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. She has a PhD in literature and is also the co-author of two readers’ guides: “500 Great Books by Women” and” Let’s Hear It for the Girls.” She currently lives in Port Townsend, Washington with 238 wild deer.

The talk begins at 4 pm at the Hoffman Gallery, located at 594 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita. For more information go to hoffmanarts.org or call 503-368-3846.