Aging In Montclair Event: Author Talk On ‘Fiction Set In NJ’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Aging In Montclair. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Aging In Montclair invites the community to hear guest speaker and local author Ann McKinstry Micou speak about her book “A Guide To Fiction Set in New Jersey,” a tribute to the state’s literary history and tradition.

Join AIM for their September Social on Saturday, September 28 from 2 to 4 pm in the AIM Senior Hub at The Salvation Army Building, located at 13 Trinity Place in the " Coffee Booth” located on the middle level.

Dr. Micou, a Montclair resident, earned her doctoral degree just four years ago and will talk about her book which is an annotated collection of fiction set in New Jersey -it’s historical contexts, it’s social interactions, it’s varied landscapes -from the end of the 18th century to the early 21st century.

The Garden State has served as the backdrop for some of fictions’ finest works, from well-known novels to literary hidden gems. Dr. Micou has written 300 brief, evocative descriptions of fiction set in New Jersey and her underlying theme is the importance of place to the characters in New Jersey fiction. Ann’s talk will have many surprises as she provides fascinating information about the culture of the 1800’s, including social class, commuting to the suburbs, race relations, satire, wartime and more. Find out about books and times of Montclair and other local areas in New Jersey by author, publication date, and genres from history to humor. Some of the authors, such as Walt Whitman, were born or lived in New Jersey. Did you know Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge Of Courage, also wrote mystery tales about the Jersey Shore? Or, that James Fenimore Cooper set “The Water Witch” in Sandy Hook? Fast forward to F. Scott Fitzergerald setting “This Side of Paradise” in Princeton and John Updike’s “The Terrorist” takes place in Paterson.

Join old friends and new AIM friends, share conversations and enjoy free refreshments. Park in the underground garage and enter the building only through the garage elevator to the middle level. Admission is free. Call 973-707-5088 with questions or if you need a ride.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com