An Evening with Amanda Peters

The evening with Amanda Peters, award-winning author of "The Berry Pickers", was a resounding success, drawing over 175 attendees to Lincoln High School. As this year’s One Book One Lincoln selection, Peters’ debut novel captivated the audience, offering a unique opportunity for readers to engage with the author in a memorable celebration of literature.

Set against the backdrop of Indigenous Peoples Day, the event held special meaning, as “The Berry Pickers” explores the story of a young Mi'kmaq girl who goes missing from Maine’s blueberry fields. Peters shared her inspiration for the novel, touching on its themes of family, loss, and identity. The audience was visibly moved by the thoughtful reflections on the origins of the story and by the author's friendliness and humor.

A lively Q&A session followed the interview, with readers eager to delve deeper into Peters’ writing process and the characters that brought the story to life. Amanda was thrilled to share that this was the largest crowd she has spoken in front of for “The Berry Pickers,” a moment that made the Lincoln audience feel especially proud. We hope it leaves her with a special memory, too.

The evening concluded with a book signing, where attendees had the chance to meet Peters and have their books personally signed, many of which were purchased on-site from Francie & Finch Bookshop.

Attendees shared their excitement on Facebook the next day, with Robin saying, “This was a great event! I felt proud of our Lincoln community when the author said ours was the biggest crowd to which she had spoken.” Another attendee, Karen, added, “After attending this event last evening, I’m ready to re-read this book as the author gave interesting insight into the story. Thank you for inviting her to Lincoln!”

The event was a heartfelt celebration of storytelling, community, and shared experiences, leaving those in attendance inspired by both the author and her powerful novel.