Tag: indie books

tidepool bookshop in worcester hosts ‘louie’ talk

The lovely indie store TidePool Bookshop in Worcester kindly provided me the opportunity to chat about Louie on the Rocks with longtime journalist and former opinion editor of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Tony Simollardes.

Tony also reflected on his Clark University writing students’ reactions to various Louie threads as I’d spoken with his class earlier in the semester. One poignant question one of his students asked asked made me realize something. Beyond the obvious connection between the deceased mother, Helen, in the novel, and my own mom who passed away in 2014. I realized that, perhaps, I was trying to imagine having conversations with my mother about the events of the day through the Helen character. (My mom would’ve been epically peeved by everything that’s been happening, just like Helen.)

week of ‘louie’: events in boston & western mass.

Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m.: At Porter Square Books, 50 Liberty Drive, Boston, MA

In conversation with author Melanie Brooks

RSVP: https://www.portersquarebooks.com/rsvp-attend-our-event-meredith-obrien

Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m.: At Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College Street, South Hadley, MA

In conversation with author Suzanne Strempek Shea

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meredith-obrien-in-person-tickets-1254916221199?aff=oddtdtcreator

upcoming ‘louie’ events

Lots of book events coming up to promote Louie on the Rocks.

Incredible writers — with connections to western Massachusetts, to UMass Amherst, and to Bay Path University’s MFA program in creative nonfiction — have graciously agreed to appear with me. I’m very appreciative of their time.

Saturday, Feb. 15, 4 p.m. Tatnuck Bookseller on Lyman Street in Westborough: Book launch with Worcester writer Kevin Koczwara

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m. via Zoom at Bay Path University’s Hatch Library (go to https://www.baypath.edu/…/jumping-genres…/2025-02-19/ for the Zoom link, email jobaker@baypath.edu, or see QR code on flyer below): Book discussion led by writer Kate Whouley, with writer Anna Mantzaris and me.

Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. at Porter Square Books, 50 Liberty Drive, Boston: Book discussion & signing with writer Melanie Brooks.

Thursday, March 6, 7 p.m. at Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College Street, South Hadley, Mass.: Book discussion & signing with writer Suzanne Strempek Shea.

Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.: Book reading at the Southborough Library, 25 Main Street, Southborough, Mass.

ms. career girl recommends ‘louie’ for liberal adult children with conservative parents

The web site Ms. Career Girl has pulled together a list of recommended reads for 2025 — “a book for every type of reader” — and Louie on the Rocks made their list.

Ms. Career Girl recommended the novel — out Feb. 4 from SparkPress — for liberal adult children “living in their parents’ conservative world.”

new: buy copies of meredith’s books via tatnuck online

The Westborough, Mass. independent bookstore where I’ve held book events and which sells signed copies of my books, has now created a local authors page.

What does this mean?

You can purchase copies of Meredith’s books online AND support an independent bookstore to boot.

When you buy Mr. Clark’s Big Band for your teacher or music friend, when you grab a copy of a medical memoir — Uncomfortably Numb — about what happens when one’s life is involuntarily upended by illness, or you are seeking a darkly humorous novel — Mortified — about a thirtysomething mommy blogger who reveals TMI about her family and lands into hot water, you can feel good about supporting an independent publisher (Wyatt-MacKenzie), and an indie bookshop.

Meredith outside of Tatnuck

got readers on your holiday list? give ’em signed books from an indie bookstore

Tatnuck Booksellers in Westborough, MA has signed copies of three of my books (a memoir, a novel and a work of nonfiction) for sale, just in time for the readers on your holiday lists. Given that COVID has severely affected small businesses like independent bookstores, I’m sure they’d appreciate your support.

Signed books include:

Uncomfortably Numb: a memoir about the life-altering diagnosis of multiple sclerosis Kindle Edition

Uncomfortably Numb: a memoir. My medical memoir about the life-altering impact of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. It chronicles the two years it took to get an MS diagnosis and confirmation that the symptoms I was experiencing weren’t simply in my imagination (as one physician suggested), as well as the uneasy piece I reached an uneasy peace with my post-MS life.

Mr. Clark's Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears, and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room Kindle Edition

Mr. Clark’s Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room. A book about the 2012-2013 school year I shadowed the Southborough, MA middle school jazz band as they were recovering from mourning the sudden death of one of their own, a 12-year-old trumpet player named Eric Green. This award-winning book would be great for any educators on your list.

Mortified: a book about oversharing by [Meredith O'Brien]

Mortified: a novel about oversharing. Set in 2004 at the height of mommy blogging, this darkly humorous work of contemporary fiction follows a thirtysomething mom of two who started venting about her frustration with modern parenting through her blog. When her family discovers the unkind things she’s been writing about them online, well, all hell breaks loose.

‘big band’ book wins publishing award

Screenshot 2018-04-12 19.36.22

Mr. Clark’s Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room has won a 2018 Independent Publisher Book Award.

The group–which received over 4,500 entries for this year’s contest–honored Mr. Clark’s Big Band with a bronze medal in its Education: Commentary/Theory category.

“This year’s winners represent books from 41 U.S. states, Guam, and DC; 6 Canadian provinces; and 12 countries overseas,” the Independent Publisher group said in a press release.

Ironically, the silver award winner in my category is Joseph E. Aoun, author of Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and president of the university where I teach. Two Northeastern University educators in one category. Not too shabby!

Screenshot 2018-04-18 11.48.15

Mr. Clark’s Big Band is also a finalist for the Foreword INDIES Award, in the Education category.

foreword finalist

Image credits: Independent Publisher Book Awards and Foreword INDIES.

2017 indies book of the year finalist: ‘mr. clark’s big band’

Screenshot 2018-03-21 10.38.26

Mr. Clark’s Big Band is among the finalists in the Adult Nonfiction-Education category in Foreword Reviews’ 2017 Indies Book of the Year Awards.

“More than 2,000 entries spread across 68 genres were submitted for consideration,” Foreword Reviews’ press release said. “The list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners are now being decided by a panel of judges across the country, reflecting Foreword’s readership of booksellers and librarians.”

Winners will be announced in June.

Image credit: Foreword Reviews.