Westfield on Weekends (WOW) in association with Straw Dog Writers Guild and WhipCity Wordsmiths, will present novelist Don Lesser as part of the free “Writers Out Loud Guest Author Series.”
Lesser will discuss and read from his debut novel, Crystal Springs, a work described as a moving portrait of belonging, betrayal, and the complicated ties that bind friends and chosen family. Early praise has been strong. Acclaimed novelist Suzanne Strempek Shea has noted that the book is
“warm and alive… an incisive novel of aging, compromise, and Pioneer Valley life.”
Don Lesser is a longtime Western Massachusetts writer, editor, and food columnist whose work has appeared in regional publications and literary outlets for more than three decades. Known for his sharp observational voice and deep affection for the Pioneer Valley, he blends humor, insight, and emotional nuance in both his essays and fiction. He has taught writing workshops, contributed to community arts initiatives, and built a devoted readership through his food writing and storytelling. Crystal Springs is his first novel.
The evening will feature a wide‑ranging conversation with the author about his writing and creative process, along with selected readings from Crystal Springs. A Q&A session and book-signing will follow the presentation. Copies of the novel will be available for purchase.
The Writers Out Loud series also hosts monthly Open Mike nights on the second Thursday of each month, offering writers of all levels a welcoming space to share their work. The next Open Mike is slated for July 9.
This program is funded in part by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Westfield Cultural Council, supporting accessible literary and cultural programming for the Greater Westfield community.
Westfield on Weekends, a non‑profit organization that helps to define the cultural and creative vitality of the Greater Westfield community through accessible programming that celebrates its many neighbors; Straw Dog Writers Guild is a non‑profit volunteer organization dedicated to the craft and transformative power of writing and serving writers in Hampden and Hampshire Counties; and WhipCity Wordsmiths is a Westfield‑based writers’ social and support group committed to fostering connection and creativity among local authors.
