Now in its third decade, A Novel Idea continues to harness the power of books to foster empathy and understanding among people throughout Deschutes County. This year, Ritu Mukerji’s debut novel Murder by Degrees and the youth selection, The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash, promise to spark thought-provoking discussions and events, including in-person visits from the authors, that will deepen readers’ experiences.
“Over the years, we’ve explored and discussed dozens of books as part of A Novel Idea, yet one genre has been notably absent from our selections,” says Deschutes Public Library Programs Supervisor Liz Goodrich. “Deschutes County residents love a good mystery. It’s the perfect genre for exploring complex puzzles and following unpredictable character arcs.”
“These thrilling, hard-to-put-down stories keep our minds engaged until the final scene, when everything is revealed in those last, satisfying pages. We encourage you not only to read this year’s selections, but to take part in more than 45 programs that help build community—one book at a time,” says Goodrich.
A Novel Idea brings forward materials that enrich a wide audience—from devoted book lovers to those who may not yet consider books and reading essential to their lives. The concept behind A Novel Idea is simple: pick a great book, engage with community through thought-provoking and relevant programming, and wrap up the project with free and accessible author visits.
In 2002, A Novel Idea began with David James Duncan’s The River Why. From 400 participants that first year, the program has grown exponentially, with more than 10,000 people taking part in 2024. The Novel Idea series continues to attract new readers each year, offering something for all ages and interests.
Programming for A Novel Idea begins on April 2. During the weeks leading up to the main author event, readers can attend dynamic programs that tie into themes found in Murder by Degrees and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. A Novel Idea culminates with a free author event featuring Ritu Mukerji on Saturday, May 3, at Summit High School and a visit from the youth edition author, Sarvenaz Tash, on Saturday, April 26 at the Redmond Library.
All programs, including the authors’ presentations, are free of charge thanks to the support of the Deschutes Public Library Foundation and generous donors. Tickets are free, but required for Mukerji’s author event and are available at dplfoundation.org starting April 5.
About the Programs
This year the library is hosting more than 45 programs in support of A Novel Idea. Visit the A Novel Idea website (dpl.pub/anovelidea) for dates, times, and locations. Programs with an asterisk (*) require registration.
| The Queen of Ocean Parkway Main Event: The Journey of a Book with Sarvenaz Tash
Sarvenaz Tash unravels the mystery of how a book gets made, using her novel, The Queen of Ocean Parkway, as an example. Learn the writing, revision, and publishing processes that shape stories into books.
Murder by Degrees Main Event: A Novel Idea Author Ritu Mukerji at Summit High School* Join the capstone event, when author Ritu Mukerji takes the stage to discuss her book, her writing process, and more. Free tickets are required and are available online (dplfoundation.org) starting April 5.
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Adult Programs
Forensics: It Must Take A “Special” Person | Exhibit Sneak Peek: Read/Create | Live History Shows Presents: A Timeless Gathering | Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy: Oregon’s Doctor to the World | Plays Out Loud: Clue | Mystery Book Talk | Women in Medicine: Post-Civil War America | Unions in Bend: Yesterday and Today | Folded Book Binding Workshop | The Mystery Book Experience | Poetry & Mystery | From Agatha Christie to Ruth Ware: A Mysterious Book Talk | Radical Shifts: Gender, Class, and Belonging Post-Civil War | The People Called ‘Quakers’ | Quaker Foundations: The SPICE-y Testimonies of Friends | Quackery: A History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything | Self-Defense Seminar with Thomas Benge* | A Novel Idea Book Discussions
Youth and Family Programs
Tarot Card-Making Workshop | Children’s Museum of Central Oregon: Physics Exhibits | Science Circus Extravaganza with Rhys Thomas | Youth A Novel Idea Book Discussions | Family Class: Coney Island Hot Dogs | Mystery Writing Workshop with Sarvenaz Tash* | The Journey of a Book with Sarvenaz Tash
About the Donors
A Novel Idea is made possible by The Deschutes Public Library Foundation and its supporters as well as: The Roundhouse Foundation; Worthy Brewing; E.H. and M.E. Bowerman Advised Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation; The Oxford Hotel
About the Book: Murder by Degrees
Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation. Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.
About the Author: Ritu Mukerji
Ritu Mukerji was born in Kolkata, India, and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. From a young age, she has been an avid reader of mysteries, from Golden Age crime fiction to police procedurals and the novels of PD James and Ruth Rendell. She received a BA in history from Columbia University and a medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She completed residency training at the University of California, Davis, and has been a practicing internist for 15 years. She lives in Marin County, California, with her husband and three children.
About the Book: The Queen of Ocean Parkway
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life. But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. “Grandmother” has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
About the Author: Sarvenaz Tash
Sarvenaz Tash was born in Tehran, Iran, grew up on Long Island, and graduated with a BFA in Film and Television from NYU. She is the author of eight novels (and counting) for kids, young adults, and adults including The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love, A Whole Song and Dance, and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. Though her books run the gamut of genres and age groups, they’re tied together by her strong voice and affinity for joyful, diverse, humorous stories with heart. She has dabbled in all sorts of writing including screenwriting, copywriting, and professional tweeting for the likes of Bravo and MTV. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her family.
For more information about A Novel Idea, please contact Liz Goodrich at 541-312-1032 or lizg@deschuteslibrary.org. Visit the A Novel Idea website at www.deschuteslibrary.org/novelidea for event listings as they are scheduled and for author information.