The History Book Festival is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, originally formed under the Greater Lewes Foundation and run by a board of volunteers. We believe in the power of history, literature, and civil dialog to change the future for the better.

Susan Heller, Secretary (acting)

Susan Heller, a native Washington, has been part of the local Delaware community for ten years.  The majority of her professional career was spent with General Counsel offices of several Federal departments, advising on legal matters as well as managing a large-scale national program. 

She was simultaneously an active volunteer with a variety of nonprofit organizations in the D.C. area.  She has held volunteer leadership positions, as well as being an active member involved with logistics, fundraising, planning and operations.  Since retiring, she has continued her volunteer work with local Delaware organizations, and has tutored college students at Delaware Technical Community College.  She is currently a member of the Lewes Public Art Committee, working to bring a variety of significant art to public spaces in Lewes.  Susan has enjoyed being an Author Ambassador for the History Book Festival for many years and an HBF supporter.     

Susan Kehoe, Board Director

Susan Kehoe is the owner of Browseabout Books, a thriving community bookshop (now in its 5th decade) on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Virginia Tech and has 30 years of publishing and bookselling experience. Susan lives in Rehoboth with her husband, Matt, their son, Aiden, and two dogs.

Rebecca Lowe, Vice-Chair

Rebecca Lowe is the Adult Program Coordinator at the Lewes Public Library where she is responsible for a wide range of regular and special library events, working with individuals and groups throughout the community to provide programming addressing a broad range of interests.  She also is the Development Director and helped with the capital campaign to build the new Library. Prior to working at the library, Rebecca was in the field of social services assisting survivors of domestic violence. During her time as a stay-at-home mom, she became active in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Odyssey of the Mind. Rebecca attended Bryn Mawr College where she received an undergraduate degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in social services and a master’s in law and social policy. Rebecca lives in Lewes with her husband, Bill, and their children, Daniel and Hannah.

Jen Mason, Co-Founder/Chair

Jen Mason owns biblion: used books and rare finds and The Vintage Underground on Second Street in Lewes. Before opening her shops, Jen was a stay-at-home mom, having retired from directing an international organizational development team and running development programs for Yale’s professional schools. Throughout her career, Jen has shared her time and talents with multiple civic organizations, serving on boards of directors for numerous non-profits and interfaith organizations. Currently she is a director for the Lewes Chamber of Commerce in addition to advising the Historic Lewes Farmers Market and the Greater Lewes Community Village. She lives in Lewes with Nellie the dog and Spot the cat.

Peter Zoll, Treasurer (acting)

Peter grew up in Washington, D.C.  After graduation from university, he worked in economic development, principally in Latin America and the Caribbean, traveling throughout the continent for 30 years. He then found some use for his economics background in money management, spending nearly 10 years in Europe – London, Frankfurt, and Geneva. Upon retiring in 2005, Peter made his way to the Delaware beaches. In addition to relaxing and enjoying beach life, Peter passes his time working on his old cars, spending endless hours researching his genealogy, occasionally using his photographic experience, and volunteering.

Matthew Ash, Founding Board Member, Emeritus

Ronald Collins, Co-Founder, Emeritus

James Curtis, Founding Board Member, Emeritus

Barbara Hames, Founding Board Member, Emerita

Thomas A. Owen, Founding Board Member, Emeritus

Nondiscrimination Policy of the History Book Festival

(Adopted by the board on August 23, 2024)

The History Book Festival does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, the appointment to and termination from its Board of Directors, hiring and firing of staff or contractors, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and providing of services.

The History Book Festival is an equal opportunity employer. We shall not discriminate and will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, Board membership, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, or for any other discriminatory reason.

The History Book Festival observes all applicable non-discrimination requirements of state and federal law.