Award-winning author Jennifer Murphy opens the series June 12 when she comes to Montague to talk about her novel Scarlet in Blue, winner of a 2023 Library of Michigan Notable Book Award. The book is a psychological drama that explores the tenuous lives of a mother and daughter on the run from a dangerous past, who make their way to South Haven, Michigan, hoping to end their fugitive lifestyle.

Murphy is an accomplished Michigan-born author with an MFA in painting from the University of Denver and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. Her debut novel, I Love You More (Doubleday, 2014), won the prestigious Nancy Pearl Fiction Award.

Murphy will speak at the Book Nook and Java Shop in downtown Montague, which is hosting all the Friends’ in-person and virtual book talks this summer. The evening begins with a meet-and-greet reception with the author at the Book Nook at 6:15 p.m. Murphy will speak at 7 p.m.

Both the meet-and-greet reception and Murphy’s presentation are free and open to all. Reservations are not necessary.

Copies of Murphy’s novels will be available to purchase.