Gemma crosses the divide between readers and writers—from well-loved authors encouraging new readers to writers revealing quiet lives and hidden communities to journalists who open distant worlds for readers at home.

In our first season, you will find a stunning personal story of life among the Gypsies in America. Lola’s Luck introduces a remarkable woman who drew a young anthropologist into her colorful society and changed her life. Lola’s story—“the story of the world!”—tells of luck, kinship, love and an entire world hidden from view.

While the main character of Oliver’s Surprise is a 12 year old boy, his tale and the story of a powerful weather event that still reverberates along the American east coast, is more than appropriate for an adult audience. Written by an Olympic medalist on the 2004 USA sailing team, Oliver’s Surprise comes on the 70th anniversary of the Great Hurricane of 1938 that devastated the seaboard.

From the other side of the world, Richard Downes' passionate view of Iraqi culture, before, during and as a result of invasion, shows a crumbling society, a clash of cultures and a people torn apart. A journalist with the BBC and RTÉ, Downes’ portrait comes from long entrenchment in Iraq and rises above simplistic news reports. In Search of Iraq is a memorial to a disintegrating nation.

Gemma introduces The Open Door series. This innovative program of original works by some of our most beloved modern writers was first designed to enhance adult literacy in Ireland. Yet these marvelous stories are much more, showcasing new writing from authors such as Roddy Doyle, Dermot Bolger, Sheila O’Flanagan and a pantheon of talent. Six charming books published each season are bound to affirm the truth that a story doesn’t have to be big to open the world.

Cast your eyes on Gemma, a bright spot in the sky, and find the brilliance of our shared and diverse human experience.

And look up. The world is much bigger— and much smaller— than we imagine.