Trio of Scholar-Podcasters Present New Book on History of Spiritualism at WNY's Lily Dale at Author's Note in Medina

Press Release, Author's Note Medina

Award-winning hosts of “Dig: A History Podcast”, Sarah Handley-Cousins, Elizabeth Garner Masarik, and Marissa C. Rhodes, will visit Woodward Memorial Library in LeRoy, NY on July 6th at 6 p.m. and Author’s Note, Medina’s independent bookstore, on Wednesday, July 8th at 6:30 p.m. They will join in conversation to discuss and sign their most recent title, Spiritualism’s Place: Reformers, Seekers, and Seances in Lily Dale, which showcases their research on the world's oldest and largest center for Spiritualism. 

Coming together from three separate states, the three will delve into the intimate history of Lily Dale, located in Western New York and the birthplace of Spiritualism, a New Age religion. It was also a hub in the development of the women's suffrage and temperance movements. Lily Dale is still the world's largest community devoted to Spiritualism, the belief that existence continues after death, and that interaction with these spirits is possible. The authors use those sites and themes to approach Lily Dale, not as debunkers, but as inquisitive researchers and storytellers. At the same time, they also reflect on their own relationships, contending that it's never quite possible to separate grief, hope, faith, and friendship from understandings of the past.

The book is co-authored by Handley-Cousins, Masarik, Rhodes, and another scholar and fellow podcaster, Averill Earls, who could not be at the event. The three who will be present will discuss their work, answer questions, and sign books. Both events, at Author’s Note and at Woodward Memorial Library, are free and open to the public.

Averill Earls is associate professor of history at St. Olaf College. She is the author of Love in the Lav, and Executive Producer of “Dig: A History Podcast”. 

Sarah Handley-Cousins is associate teaching professor of history at the University at Buffalo. She is the author of Bodies in Blue, Executive Editor of Nursing Clio, and Producer of “Dig: A History Podcast”.

Elizabeth Garner Masarik is associate professor of history at SUNY Brockport. She is the author of The Sentimental State, and Producer of “Dig: A History Podcast”.

Marissa C. Rhodes is assistant professor of history at Saint Leo University. She is former Managing Director of A Journal of the Plague Year, and Producer of “Dig: A History Podcast”.

Author’s Note anticipates a strong turnout for these events and strongly suggests preordering copies of the authors' works at Author’s Note, 519 Main Street, Medina or online at authorsnote.com/events. For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered for pickup or free shipping, and also free delivery to the Woodward Library event, at authorsnote.com. Contact Author’s Note for more information at (585) 798-3642 or Woodward Library at (585)768-8300.