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Books

Joyce S. Ahern Speaker Series

The Joyce S. Ahern Speaker Series is a major fundraising event for Literacy Volunteers of Washington County. Over the years we have hosted esteemed speakers including winners of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, as well as New York Times bestselling authors, journalists, and public speakers. If you're curious about upcoming events, please follow this link. These are people we have had the pleasure of hosting for Literacy Volunteers.

2023

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Walter Robinson

Investigative reporter and editor-at-large at The Boston Globe, Robinson led the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that brought attention to the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandals. Michael Keaton portrayed Robinson in the film “Spotlight,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015.

Pamela Constable

Pamela Constable is an award-winning foreign correspondent for The Washington Post’s foreign desk. She has covered Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Asia, Latin America, and most recently, Ukraine. She is the author of three books and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and president of the Afghan Stray Animal League. 

Layng Martine

Award-winning songwriter Layng Martine Jr was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. He wrote Elvis’s last recorded song, “Way Down,” and has worked with artists such as Reba McEntire, Ray Stevens, Barry Manilow, and many others. He is the author of Permission to Fly.

Tucker Martine

A Grammy-nominated record producer, composer, sound engineer, musician, Tucker Martine has worked with artists such as The Decemberists, Neko Case, the National, First Aid Kit, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, and many more.

2022

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Nathaniel Philbrick

New York Times-bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick is a National Book Award winner, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and the founding director of Nantucket’s Egan Maritime Institute. He has so far authored 18 books, including In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, Bunker Hill and, most recently, Travels with George.

Pamela Constable

Pamela Constable is an award-winning foreign correspondent for The Washington Post’s foreign desk. She has covered Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Asia, Latin America, and most recently, Ukraine. She is the author of three books and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and president of the Afghan Stray Animal League. 

Layng Martine

Award-winning songwriter Layng Martine Jr was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. He wrote Elvis’s last recorded song, “Way Down,” and has worked with artists such as Reba McEntire, Ray Stevens, Barry Manilow, and many others. He is the author of Permission to Fly.

Tucker Martine

A Grammy-nominated record producer, composer, sound engineer, musician, Tucker Martine has worked with artists such as The Decemberists, Neko Case, the National, First Aid Kit, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, and many more.

2022

Nathaniel Philbrick

New York Times-bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick is a National Book Award winner, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and the founding director of Nantucket’s Egan Maritime Institute. He has so far authored 18 books, including In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower, Bunker Hill and, most recently, Travels with George.

Luanne Rice (2021)

Luanne Rice is a New York Times bestselling author of over 36 books, many of which have been adapted for television. She was awarded the Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement as a literary artist in 2014.

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