BETHEL — On Sunday, March 23, Byrd’s Books of Bethel will welcome Connecticut author Elissa Altman, celebrating the release of her latest book, Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create.

The program will begin at 4 pm at the book store, 178 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel.

Altman is known for her award-winning memoirs Motherland, Treyf, and Poor Man’s Feast. A longtime editor she has been a finalist for The Lambda Literary Award, Connecticut Book Award, Maine Literary Award, and The Frank McCourt Memoir Prize.

She teaches the craft of memoir at Fine Arts Work Center, Maine Writers & Publishers, Kripalu, Truro Center for the Arts, Rutgers Community Writing Workshop, and beyond.

She lives in Newtown with her wife, the book designer Susan Turner.

After writing three critically-acclaimed memoirs and a decade of teaching memoir workshops at every level, Altman has helped students face the elephant in every writer’s room: how to craft the stories that are most vital to them despite voices that have told them not to.

Permission is a master course, not only on how to craft memoir, but also how to begin and keep going when a writer has been told they can’t, and how to give themselves permission to transcend the fear that keeps vital stories from being written.

Maggie Smith, the author of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, says with Permission, “Altman has given us a profound and generous gift. She candidly addresses the slipperiest questions behind making art from life: Can I tell my story? What are the risks and rewards? How do I care for myself — and others — in the process? There are only a handful of books I recommend every time I teach, without fail, and Permission will be one of them. This insightful, empowering book should be on every writer’s shelf.”

Katherine May, the author of Wintering, said she could not think of a better book on the craft of memoir.

“Erudite, wise and deeply personal, Permission burrows into the complexity of telling our own stories. This is a masterclass,” May added.

Altman’s latest title was released March 11 by Godine.

Due to space limitations, registration is required for the March 23 event at Byrd’s Books. Visit byrdsbooks.com/events/calendar to register or for additional information.

Altman is also scheduled for an interview by NBC-30 CT at 11 am Tuesday, March 18.