Now Then: Morgan Radford in conversation with Stacey Abrams

In this sweeping debut novel by NBC News Anchor Morgan Radford, Now Then follows a Harvard student navigating her own path to self-discovery while uncovering her mother’s secret past fleeing the Cuban Revolution.

A Cappella Books and Georgia Center for the Book welcome Morgan Radford in honor of her new book, Now Then. Radford will appear in conversation with two-time Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee and New York Times bestselling author Stacey Abrams.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the venue. This event is free and open to the public,  but registration is strongly encouraged.

This event will be in the Auditorium of Decatur Library, on the Ground Floor. Due to new security protocols, guests must enter the building through the upper level, rear doors, and then take the elevator to "G." Elevators open at 6:30. Please arrive early to ensure extra time for security.

About the Book
Now — 1991 Cambridge, MA. Liliana Soto Walker is an 18-year-old freshman who arrives at Harvard from the humble Appalachian home of her Cuban immigrant mother and Black American father. Lily feels out of place in this new world of privilege, but her roommate Hana and a budding romance with Vikram – a charming Indian-British postdoctoral student – stirs a new sense of belonging. As Lily navigates the complexities of college life, her mother, Marisol, finally begins to reveal her past through heartfelt letters, sparking Lily's journey to uncover hidden histories and discover what it means to endure – and find happiness again. Meanwhile, Lily and Vikram form a deep bond that sweeps across decades and continents, one marked by amazing-turned-devastating missed connections.

Then — 1957 Havana, Cuba. Marisol, Lily’s mother, is a bright young woman with dreams of becoming a journalist. But as the calls for a government coup reach a deadly crescendo, one deadly night ahead of the Cuban Revolution forces Marisol to flee her homeland, leaving her scarred in ways she has never revealed. Until now. Through their letters, the secrets Marisol has kept hidden for years finally begin to surface, challenging Lily’s understanding of who her mother really is — and by extension, herself.

Heartfelt and romantic, suspenseful and surprising, Now Then is a powerful tale that explores the weight of secrets, the hope that comes with second chances, and the choices we live with – and love through – forever.

About the Author
Morgan Radford is an anchor for NBC News based in New York City. Raised in Greensboro, NC, she received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a master’s degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and a Fulbright Fellowship where she taught in Durban, South Africa. She previously worked for ABC News and was an anchor/correspondent for Al Jazeera America. Since joining NBC in 2015, Morgan has covered some of the country’s biggest stories including the 2024 presidential election, the overturning of Roe v Wade, and the death of Fidel Castro. She has won several awards for her reporting. Morgan lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. Now Then is her debut novel.

About the Conversation Partner
Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and political leader. She served as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, and she was the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in United States history. Abrams has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to democracy protection, voting rights, and effective public policy. She has also co-founded successful companies including a financial services firm, an energy and infrastructure consulting firm, and the media company, Sage Works Productions, Inc.