From #1 New York Times bestselling author of “By Any Other Name” comes "Hollow Bones"–a riveting novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner.

On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn’t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters.

Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse—a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis—have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew.
Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels, including “By Any Other Name,” “Mad Honey” (co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan), “Wish You Were Here,” “The Book of Two Ways,” “A Spark of Light,” “Small Great Things,” “Leaving Time,” and “My Sister’s Keeper,” and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, “Between the Lines” and “Off the Page.” Her 30th novel, HOLLOW BONES, will publish on September 15, 2026. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

Event Details
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with live music, and the conversation begins at 7:00 p.m. Questions will be gathered ahead of time–if you'd like to ask Jodi a question email marketing@nwstc.org. Every ticket comes with a signed hardcover book. Jodi Picoult is not personalizing books after the show but there will be a photo line. If affordability is an issue, type in the code BookChampion when ordering tickets and you won’t be charged for the book. If you wish to donate your signed book, please email sam@nwstc.org and let her know.

Questions will be gathered ahead of time - if you have a question for Jodi, email it to marketing@nwstc.org.  Please let us know if we can use your name.

Ticket Information
Additional City Opera House transaction fees are applied at checkout. A $3 facility fee is charged per ticket to support the City Opera House. Additional service fees are charged for tickets purchased online. To avoid service fees, buy your ticket at the Box Office, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday or call them at 31-941-8082 ext. 201. 

Tier One: $56
Tier One indicates premium seating options with the best views, available on the main floor closest to the stage along with premium sections of the balcony. Each ticket comes with one signed copy of Jodi Picoult's "Hollow Bones" (retail value $34). You may pick up your book at the author event.

Tier Two: $46
Tier Two indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony. Each ticket comes with one signed copy of Jodi Picoult's "Hollow Bones" (retail value $34). You may pick up your book at the author event.

Student and Teacher Tickets: $12
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student and teacher tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.

Virtual Tickets
Can’t make it to City Opera House? Enjoy the event live or on-demand from home! You can purchase virtual tickets at NationalWritersSeries.org

About Book Sales
One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a signed book.  Each sale benefits our local partner The Folded Leaf in Traverse City, Michigan. The in-person ticket bundle price of National Writers Series books is always 20 percent below retail, so you also get a great deal.

If you already own the featured book, the one you receive with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or you can donate it back to us at the National Writers Series, and we’ll distribute it to libraries and young writers in Northern Michigan. Please email sam@nwstc.org if you’d like to donate your book.

We think a new book is one of the greatest joys of life, and we thank you for helping us make Traverse City one of the premiere destinations for authors through our book sales.

Content Rating
Unless otherwise noted, NWS events are designed for adult audiences and may not be suitable for children.