The Lesher Family Foundation, in partnership with the Authors Guild Foundation and Maine Media Workshops + College, announces the fifth season of the Pascal Hall Authors Series – "an inspiring summer tradition that brings acclaimed writers to Rockport for four intimate evenings of conversation at Pascal Hall," said Authors Guild Foundation, in a news release. 

The series gathers award-winning authors and distinguished interviewers for engaging discussions that explore literature, ideas, and the issues shaping our world today. 

The season opens on June 11 with economic policy expert Heather McGhee in conversation with Cate Blackford, Director of Public Policy at the Maine People’s Alliance.

On July 9, Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Susan Choi (Flashlight) joins acclaimed author Roxana Robinson for an evening of literary conversation.

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Hernan Diaz (Trust), appears on August 20 with New York Times bestselling author Isaac Fitzgerald.  

The series concludes on August 27 with renowned literary historian Stephen Greenblatt in conversation with Caroline Bicks, the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine. 

“We are thrilled to welcome such an extraordinary group of writers to Pascal Hall this summer,” said Linda Lesher, owner of Pascal Hall and Barnswallow Books. “It has been incredibly rewarding to see this series grow into a vibrant gathering place for readers and writers alike, and we’re grateful to our partners for helping make it possible.” 

“This series reflects what we care deeply about at the Authors Guild Foundation—bringing writers and readers together in meaningful conversation,” said Deborah Wilson, Executive Director of the Authors Guild Foundation. “We’re honored to partner with the Lesher Family Foundation to create something truly special for this community.”

All events are free and open to the public; advance registration is required due to limited seating. Register at authorsguild.org/pascal-hall-authors-series. 

For more information, contact Benjamin Cohn at bcohn@authorsguildfoundation.org.  

About the Lesher Family Foundation

Based in Rockport Maine, the Lesher Family Foundation works to build dynamic, resilient communities nurturing a connection to place, purpose, and potential. The Foundation is committed to hosting intellectually stimulating and inclusive cultural events at their properties, Pascal Hall and Barnswallow Books, in Rockport. Once a church, then an art gallery, the historic Pascal Hall has been gathering community for decades. 

About Maine Media Workshops + College

Founded in 1973 as a summer school for photographers, Maine Media Workshops + College is today fully accredited by the New England Commission for Higher Education, and offers certificate programs, workshops, and master classes in the fields of photography, film, media art, printmaking, book arts, and creative writing. Maine Media Workshops + College serves national and international students from its 20-acre campus in Rockport, Maine. Within Maine Media is The Writers Harbor, an innovative program designed to inspire and teach writers who are motivated to advance the art and craft of writing. The Writers Harbor fosters a community dedicated to developing their practice in the genres of poetry, nonfiction, fiction and screenwriting.  

About the Authors Guild Foundation 

The Authors Guild Foundation is the charitable arm of the Authors Guild, the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for published writers. Since 1972, the Foundation has expanded the Guild’s impact by supporting advocacy, legal protections, and educational programs for all writers, safeguarding their rights and empowering them at all stages of their careers.