GERSHWIN'S BESS
Lisa Winkler
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 2 – 3 pm
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
If you are a fan of historical fiction, the opera, and great writing, you will want to attend this special interview with author Lisa Winkler.
Her journey as a writer began with a curiosity about Anne Wiggins Brown and she realized no one had ever told her story of how she became the leading lady in George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess.
The road to getting her book published was fraught with obstacles and challenges which we will explore in this session
Lisa K. Winkler
Lisa K. Winkler began attending operas in her late twenties, sitting in the least expensive seats in the highest tiers. She learned about Anne Brown while researching a play for the 365 Women’s Playwriting Project and envisioned the story of this little- known woman who influenced George Gershwin and the creation of the opera Porgy and Bess.
She wrote On the Trail of the Ancestors: A Black Cowboy’s Ride Across America and has also written plays, poetry, children’s books, and many newspaper and magazine articles. She practices yoga, knits, bikes and hikes.
Carol McManus
Carol McManus is an award-winning author, professional speaker, and radio host. She is the Senior Editor for the Mark Victor Hansen Library and oversees a team of ghostwriters and illustrators. She is passionate about the written word and helping others discover their voice through poetry and prose.
