Libraries over the course of time have been many things to many people. At the core of all public libraries’ goals is to inspire a love of reading, starting with encouraging those at early ages and extending to readers at every age and stage. WCPL’s programming lineup has been strongly influenced by a desire to put books in the hands of readers as well as readers in the audience of authors. To that end, we have developed strong connections in the publishing industry to book local, regional, and national authors, bringing talented, award-winning authors to the local stage on a regular basis.
Our 2024-25 “Let’s Read” series is a new one showcasing talented, high-profile authors and illustrators. Specifically geared toward school children, the series has already begun, with Max Brallier visiting in September and Alicia Salazar presenting October 1. As a sneak peak, November’s featured author and illustrator will be Mike Lowery, whose November 14 presentation we will discuss in fuller detail in next month’s article. Program details are also online at warrenpl.org/lets-read-series.Mid-October, we will host a dynamic writing team at the Capitol. Monday, October 14 at 7pm Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, both award-winning authors, have joined forces in their latest collaboration for middle grade readers, The Bletchley Riddle. Their novel is a fast-paced historical mystery set at Bletchley Park, which was the top-secret home to WWII codebreakers. 300 free copies of their novel will be distributed at the event, so be sure to attend their presentation!
Mid-October, we will host a dynamic writing team at the Capitol. Monday, October 14 at 7pm Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, both award-winning authors, have joined forces in their latest collaboration for middle grade readers, The Bletchley Riddle. Their novel is a fast-paced historical mystery set at Bletchley Park, which was the top-secret home to WWII codebreakers. 300 free copies of their novel will be distributed at the event, so be sure to attend their presentation!
The book’s co-author, Steve Sheinkin is the acclaimed author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction histories, including Impossible Escape, Fallout, Undefeated, Born to Fly, The Port Chicago 50, and Bomb. His awards are numerous as well, having received a Newbery Honor, three Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal and Honor, and three National Book Award finalist honors. He lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, New York and can be found online at stevesheinkin.com, on Twitter (@SteveSheinkin), and on Facebook (@Steve.Sheinkin).
That week begins with great authors and ends with another! On Friday, October 18 at 6pm, the Capitol stage will feature another best-selling author, Emily St. John Mandel, who has penned numerous novels, including The Glass Hotel, Station Eleven, and Sea of Tranquility. Station Eleven, adapted into a limited series for HBO, won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Toronto Book Award, and the Morning News Tournament of Books, and was a finalist for a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. She is a staff writer for The Millions. 200 copies of her book will be given away at the event, so you won’t want to miss her presentation, either!
While the library aims to encourage readers, it also enjoys inspiring and equipping those who aspire to write by hosting free writing workshops. We are thrilled to announce that another best-selling author will be in town Wednesday, October 23, as both a workshop leader and presenter! With almost three million books in print, Victoria Christopher Murray is the popular author of many novels, several of which have become Lifetime movies. Her historic novels written with Marie Benedict, The Personal Librarian, a Good Morning America Book Club Book Club selection, and First Ladies, the 2023 Target Book of the Year, have wowed readers across the country. Those interested in learning the craft of writing can sign up for her two-hour workshop scheduled between 3:30pm to 5:30pm prior to her presentation that begins at 6pm.
The final author event of October will also take place at the Bob Kirby Branch Library Sunday, October 27, at 3pm highlighting Cinda Williams Chima. This New York Times best-selling author of the Seven Realms, Heir Chronicles, and Shattered Realms teen fantasy series will be joined in conversation by fellow authors Jeff Sentner and Mindy McGinnins to discuss her latest book. Chima’s duology, The Runestone Saga, launched fall 2022 with Children of Ragnarok, followed by its highly anticipated sequel Bane of Asgard released just this month. Jeff Zentner is the award-winning author of the New York Times Notable Books The Serpent King and In the Wild Light. Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. Her most recent tiles include Under This Red Rock, and A Long Stretch of Bad Days.
Free tickets are available for all these events through the library’s calendar of events (warrenpl.org/events), so let us know if you are coming by reserving yours today!
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