Peacham Library presents an author talk with nonagenarian Stuart O’Brien at Peacham Congregational Church on Sunday, August 9 at 4pm. Stuart will discuss his first novel, Wildwood, which was published this spring. While Wildwood was written by Stuart, it was truly a family affair—his wife of 67 years, Susan, typed, on an electric typewriter, the manuscript ten times before it was published.

The story began to form for Stuart when he was working on a memorial statement, to be presented at his 60th high school reunion, about one of his high school friends who died in World War II. His friend, Kenneth Brown, had been so angry after Pearl Harbor that he left high school to enlist in the Marines. What Stuart didn’t know was that his friend exchanged letters with a girl, Claire Smith, back home – 39 in all – until he was killed during the invasion of Saipan. The letters were initially signed “fondly” and later “all my love.” His girl kept them and read them regularly until her death in 2011. She had fallen in love with Stuart’s friend, but never married.

When Stuart saw Brown’s headstone was being disturbed by a large tree, he talked to the cemetery manager. That talk led to Claire, the only other person paying attention to the headstone. From there the story took off for Stuart.

Authorship is a new role for Stuart. Previously he was in the furniture business. At age 68 he completed a three year course in violin making at Boston’s North Bennett Street School. Today Stuart and Susan split their time between Peacham and Vero Beach, Florida.

Wildwood will be available to purchase at the event and at Peacham Library, with all proceeds being donated by the author to the library. Contact the library at 592-3216 or peachamlib@fairpoint.net for further information.