JAY —Acclaimed author Monica Wood captivated an audience at the Jay-Niles Memorial Library June 26 as part of the Adult Summer Reading Program. Wood, who is known for her novels, memoirs and plays, discussed her latest book, “How to Read a Book,” which was released on May 7.

During the event, Wood shared insights into her writing process and the inspiration behind her new book, which explores intertwined lives in Maine and the transformative power of books. “I begin by giving a brief summary of the book,” Wood explained. “Then I do a brief reading so people can get a sense of the main characters and how I write. I talk about the research I did for this book, which was so delightful and offbeat. This was done in turbo time, compared to how I usually write.”

Wood, a Portland resident, also reflected on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her writing. “I wrote it mostly during COVID when we all had very little to do,” she said. “Because everything was kind of shut down, I had zero book events for a year and a half and I wasn’t going out or seeing people. I turned to my writing, and for the first time, writing felt like a refuge during COVID.”

In addition to discussing her book, Wood shared her recent experiences, including delivering her first commencement speech at University of Maine at Farmington graduation. Wood was presented with an honorary degree along with serving as commencement speaker for the Class of 2024. “It was one of the most touching events of my professional life,” she said. “There was something so full circle. Addressing graduating seniors who reminded me of myself and seeing the parents of my friends in the audience was very touching.”

Offering advice to aspiring writers, Wood emphasized the importance of minimizing distractions. “Turn off your phone,” she said. “You can listen to your own thoughts and not the thoughts of others. If you have constant interruptions, it’s a barrier to getting to your own insights and thoughts,” she advised. “When I write, I have everything turned off. I have a laptop that is a dinosaur, it has nothing else. I turn off the internet and notifications. Nothing will beep.”

Wood also touched on her inspiration from her hometown of Mexico, Maine. “I had great teachers at Mexico High School and Saint Theresa’s Elementary School who insisted we understand the English language as a tool of communication,” she recalled. “I had marvelous English teachers, including my own sister Ann Wood, who was instrumental in my development as a writer.”

The event included a book signing, facilitated by DDG Booksellers, where attendees could purchase copies of Wood’s books. “It’s always nice to have family in the audience or friends,” she said. “In Maine that happens a lot; we are a small community.”

Wood’s literary accolades include the 2024 Sara Josepha Hale Award for excellence in New England literary arts, the 2019 Maine Humanities Council Carlson Prize, and the 2016 Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance Distinguished Achievement Award. Her body of work includes “The One-in-a-Million Boy,” “When We Were the Kennedys,” “Any Bitter Thing,” and “Ernie’s Ark.”

Reflecting on her career, Wood noted the collaborative nature of playwriting compared to novel writing. “I have had three plays produced, all debuted at Portland Stage. The first one was ‘Paper Maker’ in 2015, followed by ‘Half Light’ in 2018 and ‘Saint Dad’ in 2023,” she shared. “Writing plays involves working with producers, directors and actors, which is a whole team effort to help me realize my vision. Novels don’t allow much collaboration.”

Wood’s visit to the Jay-Niles Memorial Library was part of a broader tour, with upcoming stops at libraries in Carrabassett Valley and Readfield. “Publishers send me on tours virtually, a product of COVID. Publishers realized it’s cheaper to send the author virtually,” she noted.

The evening concluded with enthusiastic applause and a sense of community connection, as attendees left inspired by Wood’s words and her dedication to the literary arts.