Local Artist and Author Jo Merrill will Discuss New Book at St. Michaels Library

George Merrill

Preparations are underway at the St. Michaels branch to host local author Jo Merrill, who will be discussing her new book, “Living into Darkness and Finding Light – Spiritual Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter” on Monday, March 13 at noon.

This book is a series of essays by George Merrill which were published in The Talbot Spy after he received a terminal cancer diagnosis. In it, he invites the reader to join him on a spiritual and reflective journey through his last year of ‘living into dying.’

Share the pain, uncertainty, curiosity, fear and love, with George and his wife, Jo, as they navigate this journey together. With them, discover inner resources, and a sense of the divine mystery as they find the light and walk toward what is to come.

George was an Episcopal priest and pastoral counselor. After retiring from his professional life, he moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore and began his writing career.

A life-long searcher, he felt that the essays he wrote in the final year of his life reflected his true calling. An award-winning essayist, his writings were published in regional and national magazines and in The Talbot Spy.

For several years, his essays were featured on Delmarva Public Radio. He was the author of “The Bay of the Mother of God,” a collection of essays about the Chesapeake Bay.

Jo describes herself as a “late-in-life” painter, but as a member of the St. Michaels Art League. she has exhibited in several locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and won several awards for her work.

A few years ago, she began a blog, which is available at [email protected].Join Jo as she reads some passages from the book, shares stories about their end-of-life journey, and how this book came to be published.

Photographs by George Merrill will be hanging on the library wall during the month of March. All TCFL programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call 410 745-5877.

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St., and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, digital devices, free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.