LEWISTON — Maine Warden Service chaplain and bestselling author Kate Braestrup will speak at the Lewiston Public Library at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in Callahan Hall.

This free program is cosponsored by the Friends of Lewiston Public Library and is open to the public.

Braestrup will talk about her recent book “Anchor & Flares: A memoir of Motherhood, Hope & Service.” She writes about her life as a mother, through mourning her husband’s passing and the joy of remarriage and a blended family.

When her eldest son decides to join the Marines, Braestrup finds herself at a crossroads: Can she reconcile her desire to protect her children with her family’s legacy of service? Can parents balance the joy of a child’s independence with the fear of letting go? As Braestrup grapples with faith and fear — inspired by the families she meets as a chaplain and by her son’s journey toward purpose and fatherhood — she learns that the threats we can’t predict both rip people apart and knit them together. Through her inimitable voice and generous spirit, Braestrup lovingly touches on the complexities of parenthood and service, and the book reminds readers why her writing is inspirational in the best sense.

Braestrup is the author of the novel “Onion” and several bestselling memoirs. She lives in Maine with her husband and their six children. Copies of her new book will be available for sale at the event and a book signing will follow her talk.

FMI: 207-513-3135, [email protected].