Part of our Fresh Ink: Spotlight on Emerging Authors Series

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

Join us as we welcome playwright, filmmaker, and novelist Mai Sennaar to discuss her new book, They Dream in Gold. Hailed as “extraordinary” by The New York Times and shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, this luminous novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the intergenerational bonds that unite us. Don’t miss this chance to engage with a bold new voice in literature as she shares insights into her writing process and inspirations for this epic yet intimate tale praised by critics and readers alike.

About the Author:

Mai Sennaar is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. The Smithsonian Affiliate Museum of the African Diaspora, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, and the Classical Theatre of Harlem are among the venues that have presented her plays. Her short film Wax Lovers’ Playlist premiered at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and was an Official Selection of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. She is the book writer for Carry On!, a new musical by Broadway composer Diana Wharton-Sennaar and the creative director of the performing arts company MWPLive. They Dream in Gold is her first novel. She lives between Baltimore and Dakar.

About the Moderator:

Vivian Nabeta is a creative professional with a rich background in arts administration, marketing, and event management. She began her career at Hartford Stage and has worked with renowned organizations like the Amistad Center and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Passionate about education, she now serves as Director of Digital Marketing at Connecticut State Community College. Vivian has served on boards like Cinestudio and contributed to Connecticut’s arts agenda as part of the Lamont/Bysiewicz transition team. She holds a B.A. in Theater Studies from UConn and an M.A. in American Studies from Trinity College.

Books are available for purchase, and the author will sign copies following the discussion.

Tickets are $10. REGISTER HERE.

The Fresh Ink Series focuses on emerging authors who mirror Twain’s ability to address the cultural complexities of his time through fiction.