Some months back, when Wally Lamb appeared at the Arts Cafe Mystic, the capacity crowd was treated to a chapter from upcoming new novel, "We Are Water" - and the reaction was of stunned awe.

Are you listening, Oprah?

"We Are Water" is tentatively scheduled for a November publication date. It's a long time to wait for anxious fans, but The Master is appearing Friday at the Lyme Congregational Church. And, yes, he'll be reading from "We Are Water" as well as telling anecdotes from his life and works - which include "She's Come Undone," "The Hour I First Believed," "I Know This Much is True" and "Wishin' and Hopin'." He's also served as a mentor/editor on two collections of works by women inmates.

Lamb's appearance is the first in a series of lectures celebrating the Lyme Public Library's centennial anniversary.

- RICK KOSTER

An Evening with Wally Lamb, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lyme Congregational Church, 482 Hanburg Road, Lyme; reception follows; free, donations accepted; seating limited; (860) 434-2272, lymepl.org.