Homecoming Book Talk

The Stories We Carry: An Evening with Author Rachel McRady ('11)

October 15, 2026
5:30 PM-7:30 PM
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Event Details

Join us for an inspiring evening of conversation with JMU alumna and author Rachel McRady ('11).

Hosted by the JMU Alumni Book Club in partnership with Women for Madison and JMU Libraries, this special Homecoming Author Talk welcomes alumni, students, parents and families, faculty and staff, and members of the community for an engaging conversation exploring Rachel's journey from JMU student to award-winning journalist and novelist, the experiences that shaped her career, and the creative process behind bringing Sun Seekers to life.

You do not need to have read Sun Seekers or participated in the JMU Alumni Book Club to enjoy the evening. Begin the event with light refreshments before settling in for the moderated conversation. Copies of Sun Seekers will be available for purchase, and Rachel will sign books following the program. Join us for an evening of connection centered on storytelling, resilience, and the experiences that shape us.

About the Book & Author: Inspired by Rachel's own family's experience with dementia, Sun Seekers is a moving story about love, loss, family, and hope that has resonated with readers across the country. Rachel is an Emmy Award-winning writer and editor whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, TIME, People, and many other national publications before publishing her debut novel.

About the Alumni Book Club: Want to continue the conversation? You're invited to join the free JMU Alumni Book Club beginning October 9 at www.pbc.guru/jmu, where readers can discuss Sun Seekers, connect with fellow book lovers, and even submit questions that may be included in the conversation with Rachel.

Montpelier Room, East Campus Dining Hall

1681 Carrier Drive
Harrisonburg 22807
USA

Montpelier Room, East Campus Dining Hall

1681 Carrier Drive
Harrisonburg, 22807
USA

Questions?

Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@jmu.edu or 540-568-6234.