Margaret Hutton in conversation with Alison Law – If You Leave
Sunday, Oct 26, 2025 4:30 PM
Location:
A Cappella Books
208 Haralson Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
“'If You Leave' is an engrossing, moving portrait of friendship and motherhood. Margaret Hutton is a gifted writer who knows how to convey human vulnerabilities and life’s fragile connections to haunting effect.” –Jill McCorkle, author of “Old Crimes” and “Hieroglyphics”
A Cappella Books is proud to welcome debut novelist Margaret Hutton for a special afternoon discussion of her powerful new book, “If You Leave.” Hutton will appear in conversation with Atlanta literary advocate Alison Law.
This event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
About the Book
In the final year of World War II, Audrey is holding tightly to her dream of becoming a painter, while falling hard for a naval doctor. Not long after they marry he’s sent overseas, leaving her alone in Washington, DC. Audrey rents a room to Lucille, launching an unlikely friendship that’s a comfort to them both. But not everything is quite what it seems. Although Lucille’s past has been a mystery to Audrey, nothing prepares her for the shock when Lucille abandons their makeshift family—including her child—and retreats to her orchard home in North Carolina. When the women meet again in 1973, Lucille is intent on mending the past. But Audrey is focused on leaving her unhappy marriage, and Lake, the daughter Lucille left behind, is trapped in an abusive relationship. “If You Leave” is an intimate, immersive story exploring motherhood, love, and art, as three women carve a wayward path toward reconciliation.
About the Author
Margaret Hutton’s fiction has appeared in The Sun, The South Carolina Review, The Chattahoochee Review, The Antioch Review, and Abundant Grace. She graduated with honors in creative writing from UNC-Chapel Hill and holds an MFA from George Mason University. A native North Carolinian and former environmental reporter, she now divides her time between the Washington, DC, area and her art studio in Chester County, Pennsylvania. “If You Leave” is her debut novel.
About the Conversation Partner
Alison Law is a multi-passionate communicator based in Atlanta, Georgia. A self-proclaimed book evangelist and unapologetic author ally, Alison loves working with writers and publishing people. She is the “Bookmarked” contributor on WABE’s “City Lights Collective.” She has successfully planned and implemented marketing and public relations campaigns for bestselling authors, historians, and journalists. She’s also programmed and promoted literary events, such as the Decatur Book Festival, Lost Southern Voices Festival, and Alice Walker 75.
