Local author Ned Bachus will join us to discuss his new novel. Set in one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive neighborhoods in the 1980s, Mortal Things examines the transient ties that can bind or break us. Told in alternating perspectives, the novel shines a light on the impact on the families we are given and the ones we choose. Bachus will read from and discuss the book and answer audience questions.

From Susan Conley, author of Landslide: “With an acute sense of place and insightful characterization, Ned Bachus captures the long-lasting ripple effects of chance meetings, unspoken truths, and the losses haunting our lives. Class divides of late 1980s Philadelphia, our much-needed connection in an atomized society, and how our sorrows can drive us to the unexpected are all masterfully explored. An atmospheric and powerful debut novel with deep emotional impact.”

Ned Bachus’s stories have been anthologized and featured in literary magazines. He has won fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and had been awarded two artist residencies at Cill Rialaig Project in Ireland. During his nearly four-decade career at Community College of Philadelphia, Bachus won multiple teaching awards and has spoken at colleges, libraries, and bookstores about the art and science of teaching and learning. As a songwriter and member of Sacred CowBoys, he has recorded and performed widely; his songs have been performed and recorded by various artists in the U.S., and have been featured on radio programs, including A Prairie Home Companion. He is the author of a collection of short stories, City of Brotherly Love (Fleur-de-Lis Press), and Open Admissions: What Teaching at Community College Taught Me About Learning (Wild River Books, 2017). He is also a member of the Rockland Shakespeare Society.

This event will take place in the library’s Community Room; the Rockland Public Library is located at 80 Union Street. FMI, email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov.