Wednesday, October 16th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wee Burn Country Club

Darien Library is honored to announce that critically acclaimed author Ariel Lawhon will be joining us for our 9th Annual Novel Tea fundraiser.

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About the Author

Ariel Lawhon, author of bestselling historical fiction novels such as The Frozen River, I Was Anastasia, and Code Name Hélène, is well-known for crafting scintillating novels based around real figures drawn from history. A lively and engaging speaker, Lawhon is a favorite with book clubs, women’s groups, and library audiences who want to learn more about the fascinating true-life stories behind her page-turners.

Lawhon loves to explore the lives of little-known figures from significant moments in history as well as the ambiguities behind famous characters whose full stories remain a mystery to her readers. In her debut novel, The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress, she reimagines the scandalous murder mystery of Judge Joseph Crater; in Flight of Dreams, the Hindenburg disaster is retold through the interwoven stories of the people involved; in I Was Anastasia, she unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson’s fifty-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov; and in Code Name Hélène, she follows the life of the socialite spy Nancy Wake.

Her latest work, The Frozen River, is a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard. In her newest novel The Frozen River, Lawhon brings vividly to life Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who would have faded from all memory if not for her diary. This diary (which was rescued from obscurity by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in A Midwife’s Tale) revealed everyday details about life in colonial Maine, and most notably about the lives of women – most of whom were not taught to write or keep records in this fashion. In Lawhon’s hands, the diary also becomes key evidence in the investigation of a shocking murder in Ballard’s small community. It’s a thrilling, suspenseful, and tender story of a brave, compassionate, unsung heroine who stood up to power and fought against injustice.

Lawhon draws readers into her narratives with her enthralling storytelling that incorporates fascinating historical details. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have been part of numerous Library Reads and Book Club picks. An eloquent speaker, she is always enthusiastic about sharing her creative process and the inspiration for her novels with library, educational, and community audiences.

As an avid lifelong reader, Lawhon cofounded the popular online book club, SheReads.org (which ran from 2009 to 2020) to engage with readers everywhere. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and four sons.

About the Novel Tea

All funds raised from the Novel Tea will be dedicated to Darien Library resources, including support for technology, programs and speakers, as well as the purchase of new books.

For more information, please contact the Darien Library Administrative Office at 203-669-5220.