PCL Reads: Vanessa Lillie Author Talk

Hosted virtually by Joseph Morra at Olneyville Library this month, Vanessa Lillie will discuss her latest novel, For the Best. It’s a thrilling read that “rises beyond genre to include explorations of social justice, racism, trauma, and addiction—explorations that are not digressions from the tale but woven wonderfully into it” (The Providence Journal). Place a hold on the book in our catalog. Get free tickets through Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Lillie is the author of Little Voices and For the Best. Since March she has been writing “Home But Not Alone: A Coronavirus Diary” for The Providence Journal. She has fifteen years of marketing and communications experience and enjoys organizing book events and literary happenings in the Providence area. She calls Rhode Island home with her husband and son. Originally from Oklahoma, Vanessa has a Masters of Public Administration from American University. She likes to tell people about winning a poker tournament in St. Martin to sound interesting, but most of her time is spent writing on her phone at play dates.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Jules Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. After struggling for years to build the perfect family and career, she’s dangerously close to losing everything. Sure of her innocence, Jules is desperate to clear her name. But there’s one big problem: she was blackout drunk when the murder took place and can’t remember what happened. Unsatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, Jules embarks on her own gin-fueled murder investigation. As she uncovers fresh clues, she starts a true-crime vlog that becomes a viral sensation, pushing her into the public eye. It’s not long before the ordeal forces Jules to confront her demons, including her turbulent childhood and excessive drinking. The deeper Jules digs, the more dirt she uncovers about the murder and herself. Unexpected truths pile up until she’s buried so deep even finding the killer might not be enough to set her free.

QUESTIONS about registration or accessing the virtual event? Contact Lee Smith, lsmith@provcomlib.org.