Book reading and signing with John Michael Cummings

On Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. Four Seasons Books will host Harpers Ferry native John Michael Cumming for a discussion of his newest novel, “Ugly to Start With.” Cummings was born and raised in lower Harpers Ferry, as were earlier generations of his family. Harpers Ferry figures prominently in his work. His short stories have appeared in numerous literary journals and he has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His first novel, “The Night I Freed John Brown,”was the winner of the Patterson Prize for Books for Young People.

In a series of thirteen interrelated stories set in Harpers Ferry, “Ugly to Start With” tells the story of Jason Stevens and his coming-of-age within a family and a community where he often feels like an outsider. “Ugly to Start With” punctuates the exuberant highs, bewildering midpoints and painful lows of growing up, and affirms that adolescent dreams and desires are often fulfilled in surprising ways. John Michael Cummings will be on hand to sign copies of his book following the discussion.