Deborah Lee Luskin

Bay Area Book Festival 2026
2026-05-31 11:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Bay Area Book Festival, 2061 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
I’ll be at the Bay Area Book Festival 2026!
Stop by and say hello at the Bookworm Block Party! I’ll be at the Sibylline Booth, meeting, greeting, and signing books. Read on!

Into the Wilderness with Rhoda Goldman Book Group, San Francisco
2026-06-01 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Rhoda Goldman Plaza, 2180 Post St, San Francisco, CA, United States
“a perfectly gratifying read”
Into the Wilderness, hailed as “a fiercely intelligent love story,” is an award-winning novel about two sixty-somethings at inflection points in their lives.
Rose Mayer has just buried her second husband and wonders what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Reluctantly, she visits her son’s summer place in Vermont, where there are neither sidewalks, Democrats, nor other Jews. She meets Percy Mendell at the Orton Fourth of July book sale and takes an immediate dislike.
Percy’s a born and bred Vermonter who has never married, never voted for a Democrat, and never left the state. After a satisfying career as the county’s agricultural agent, he’s facing retirement and doesn’t know what he’ll do unmoored from work. He meets Rose again at the Marlboro Music Festival, where music becomes their common language. Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s changing politics and seasons, Into the Wilderness is testament to the endurance of the human heart.
This story of silver love is set in small-town Vermont in 1964, where “Luskin weaves together an enchanting tale of solitude, friendship, and romance.” ~The Jewish Advocate

Book Discussion of Into the Wilderness
2026-06-01 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | VT
“a perfectly gratifying read”
I will be facilitating a discussion of Into the Wilderness for a private book group in Petaluma.
Interested in learning about how Vermont shifted from deep red to deep blue? Let’s talk about Into the Wilderness, set in 1964, when Vermont started to tilt left. Lots happened in 1964 that continues to be pertinent today: Who gets to vote? How do we welcome that stranger? Is it ever too late to fall in love? Learn more about this award-winning love story here. And contact me to speak to your book group, historical society, library, or social club.
I’m available to speak about Reviving Artemis to your book group, conservation organization, or women’s group? We can make it happen. Contact me!
Join or sponsor a writing circle. More information here.
Subscribe to Living in Place on Substack, where I post News from the Word Shop about where I’ll be the first Wednesday of the month.

Author Deborah Lee Luskin brings INTO THE WILDERNESS to Norwich Bookstore
2026-06-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | The Norwich Bookstore, 291 Main Street, Norwich, VT, 05055, United States
“a perfectly gratifying read”
Author Deborah Lee Luskin will talk about her award-winning political novel, INTO THE WILDERNESS, at The Norwich Bookstore on June 23 at 7 pm.
In 1964, Rose Mayer buries her second husband and wonders what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Reluctantly, she visits her son’t summer place in Vermont, where there are neither sidewalks, Democrats, nor other Jews. There is, however, the Marlboro Music Festival. It’s there that she meets Percy Mendell, and it’s dislike at first sight. Percy’s a born and bred Vermonter who has never married, never voted for a Democrat, and never left the state. After a satisfying career as the county’s agricultural agent, he’s facing retirement. He’s also struggling with his long-help political beliefs: Barry Goldwater is too extreme for the Vermont GOP. Both Percy and Rose are 64-years old and have given up on love. Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s changing politics and seasons, INTO THE WILDERNESS is a testament to the endurance of the human heart.

Author Deborah Lee Luskin brings INTO THE WILDERNESS to Phoenix Books, Burlington
2026-06-24 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Phoenix Books, Burlington, 89 Church St, Burlington, VT, United States
“a perfectly gratifying read”
Author Deborah Lee Luskin will talk about her award-winning political novel, INTO THE WILDERNESS, at Phoenix Books in Burlington on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 pm.
In 1964, Rose Mayer buries her second husband and wonders what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Reluctantly, she visits her son’t summer place in Vermont, where there are neither sidewalks, Democrats, nor other Jews. There is, however, the Marlboro Music Festival. It’s there that she meets Percy Mendell, and it’s dislike at first sight. Percy’s a born and bred Vermonter who has never married, never voted for a Democrat, and never left the state. After a satisfying career as the county’s agricultural agent, he’s facing retirement. He’s also struggling with his long-help political beliefs: Barry Goldwater is too extreme for the Vermont GOP. Both Percy and Rose are 64-years old and have given up on love. Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s changing politics and seasons, INTO THE WILDERNESS is a testament to the endurance of the human heart.

Author Deborah Lee Luskin brings INTO THE WILDERNESS to Wild Book Co, Newfane
2026-06-28 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Wild Book Company, 47 West St, Newfane, 05345, United States
“a perfectly gratifying read”
Author Deborah Lee Luskin will talk about her award-winning political novel, INTO THE WILDERNESS, at Wild Book Company, June 27 at 5 pm.
In 1964, Rose Mayer buries her second husband and wonders what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Reluctantly, she visits her son’t summer place in Vermont, where there are neither sidewalks, Democrats, nor other Jews. There is, however, the Marlboro Music Festival. It’s there that she meets Percy Mendell, and it’s dislike at first sight. Percy’s a born and bred Vermonter who has never married, never voted for a Democrat, and never left the state. After a satisfying career as the county’s agricultural agent, he’s facing retirement. He’s also struggling with his long-help political beliefs: Barry Goldwater is too extreme for the Vermont GOP. Both Percy and Rose are 64-years old and have given up on love. Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s changing politics and seasons, INTO THE WILDERNESS is a testament to the endurance of the human heart.

Luskin to Lead Book Discussion of Into the Wilderness at MFL
2026-07-06 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Moore Free Library, 23 West Street, Newfane, VT, 05345, United States
“a perfectly gratifying read”
Deborah Lee Luskin will be facilitating a discussion of her award-winning novel, Into the Wilderness, for the Moore Free Library Book Group. Contact Deb Barry for more information.
When a group of people come together to discuss a common text, it’s the contemporary equivalent of a clan gathering around a fire to tell stories or discuss issues. With nearly forty years’ experience facilitating book discussions for the Vermont Humanities Council across the state, Deborah is highly skilled at helping groups have meaningful discussions about shared reading.
Now working as a book author, Deborah is available to facilitate your book group’s discussion of Reviving Artemis: The Making of a Huntress and/or Into the Wilderness, her award-winning political love story set in Vermont in 1964. She can appear in person or via Zoom. Contact her to discuss availability and fees.
