The Decade of Letting Things Go, author talk and book signing by Cris Mazza

CRIS MAZZA is the author of three previous memoirs, eleven novels and six collections of short fiction. Her most recent publication, The Decade of Letting Things Go, is a book of linked essays containing still-relevant experiences that take place after the age of becoming socially and/or professionally invisible, as the author searches for the elusive serenity of self-acceptance among a growing list of losses. The decade contains many of life’s expected losses: of pets, parents, old mentors, and symbols of enduring natural places; plus the loss of identities: child, student, partner, “successful” author. And there’s the apparent loss of hope: forever finding contentment in the mark one makes in the world or forever forming an identity that brings contentment. Except that these latter two have no expiration date, and the exhausted author, at the end, is ready to keep looking.

Mazza, a native of Southern California, has recently retired from as a professor in the Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and now lives full time in the Upper Peninsula.

Following the presentation and readings there will be a book signing. Books will be available to purchase at the program, with proceeds going to benefit the library.

Also check out other Arts events in Calumet, Literary Art events in Calumet, Nonprofit events in Calumet.