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The Hudson Library & Historical Society welcomes author, scholar, and former Christian music artist Julianna Glasse for an exclusive author talk and book signing on Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. Glasse will discuss her powerful new memoir, This Is What Happens When Women Read, a deeply moving chronicle of her journey from a highly controlled religious life to self-actualization through the power of literature. This program is sponsored by the Hudson Library’s Libby Walker Women’s Studies Lecture Series.

Once an influential Evangelical pop star who performed at President Trump’s first National Prayer Breakfast, Glasse lived what many in her community considered an exemplary life. However, a secret curiosity led her to open Plato’s Republic—a choice that sparked a profound internal shift. Glasse began secretly building a collection of forbidden writers, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson, Rumi, and Simone de Beauvoir, hiding them in linen closets and under her bed. When her secret collection was discovered and she was chastised for it, she found herself liberated. Glasse walked away from her marriage, career, and the church to reclaim her autonomy. Her journey took her from the depths of depression and isolation to the halls of Oxford University, where she earned an advanced degree.

Julianna Glasse is the Founder and CEO of This Is What Happens When Women Read, a global foundation advancing women’s intellectual autonomy through education, curriculum, and community. Under her leadership, the organization has reached more than 4 million people across nearly 67 countries, building a global audience through education, scholarship, programming, and community-based activities. Today, Julianna’s work is focused on scaling a global scholarship program in partnership with the University of Oxford and Saïd Business School, co-authoring an original curriculum designed for individuals leaving high-control religions and cultures, and building community infrastructure to support women worldwide. Earlier in her career, Julianna built a large public platform as a recording artist and author within faith-based communities, an experience that later informed her critique of ideology, authority, and believe systems. That evolution continues to shape her work today, grounding her leadership in lived experience and rigorous intellectual inquiry.

Copies of This is What Happens When Women Read will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of The Learned Owl Book Shop. Registration for this event is required. To register, please visit hudsonlibrary.org

If you have any questions, please email askus@hudson.lib.oh.us