Sandy Hook Author Will Offer Discussion,

Book Signings, Feb. 26

Sandy Hook author and teacher Rachel Basch will discuss her newest book, The Passion of Reverend Nash, during a lecture and book signing hosted by The Homesteads at Newtown on Thursday, February 26, at 7 pm.

The Passion of Reverend Nash is a powerful tale that explores faith, doubt, redemption and the bonds of sisterhood. It is a novel about the role of faith reflected in today’s society in a tiny New England town. Ms Basch’s story is of a spiritually wounded minister who struggles to find meaning in the face of her own grief, yet must do so if she is to continue in her role as spiritual leader to her congregation.

Ms Basch, who grew up in the Jewish faith, did significant research before writing the book.

“I went to church every Sunday for a couple of years, read theology, the psalms, New Testament and biblical history,” she says. “Four years ago I joined a bible study group and I’m still attending. What I’ve learned from this extraordinary group ... has been transformative.”

The Passion of Reverend Nash was named one of the five best novels of 2003 by The Christian Science Monitor.

Ms Basch, a resident of Sandy Hook, is also the author of Degrees of Love, a novel published in 1998. The book was translated into Dutch and German and was a selection of The Hartford Courant’s Book Club. She has been teaching fiction writing for 15 years, currently at Trinity College in Hartford and for the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Wesleyan University.

The Homesteads, a senior living, rental community, is at 166 Mount Pleasant Road (Route 6) in Newtown. Call 426-8118 for additional information.