Public libraries have always been cultural hubs, offering more than just books. Among our key initiatives are author talks, which allow writers to share the stories and inspirations behind their works, creating a more intimate connection between author and audience. Over 92% of U.S. public libraries, including the Plymouth District Library (PDL), host such events, showcasing their popularity and the diverse perspectives they offer, with authors from varied backgrounds participating both in-person and online.
This spring, PDL is offering several author talks and discussions. A diverse lineup of writers—from various ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds—will be available to share their experiences and stories both in person and online.
For young and aspiring writers, author talks are invaluable. Learning about the hurdles and triumphs faced during the writing process provides insight and motivation. It’s these real-world lessons from established writers that could inspire these attendees to continue their writing ambitions and be the next generation of authors. For others, author events are opportunities to fan out over favorite writers or to learn about new ones. This April and May, PDL have several authors, online and in-person to inspire you and to enjoy. Mark you calendar and register soon
Author Talk: A Literary Examination of Power, Love, and Art with Xochitl Gonzalez
Wednesday, April 17 | 8pm (virtual)
Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite. In 1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name had been all but forgotten―certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student was preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. Xochitl Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming. Named Best of 2022 by The New York Times, TIME, Kirkus, Washington Post, and NPR, Olga Dies Dreaming was the winner of the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize in Fiction and the New York City Book Award. Gonzalez is a 2021 MFA graduate from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her nonfiction work has been published in Elle Decor, Allure, Vogue, Real Simple, and The Cut.
Author Talk: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I – Douglas Brunt
Wednesday, May 1 | 3pm (virtual)
Douglas Brunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel and host of the top-rated SiriusXM author podcast Dedicated with Doug Brunt. A Philadelphia native, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. Visit DouglasBrunt.com for more information. Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
An Evening with Angeline Boulley
Tuesday, May 7 | 6:30pm | Penn Theatre
Join us as we welcome author Angeline Boulley for an author talk, Q&A and book signing, hosted at the Penn Theater! Angeline Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a storyteller who writes about her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is a former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Her books, The Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed are both New York Times best sellers, and The Firekeeper’s Daughter (also the current Great Michigan Read) is currently being adapted into a series by Netflix.
Author Talk: A Murder Mystery, Family Story, & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere: Nina Simon
Wednesday, May 8 | 7pm (virtual)
Nina Simon writes crime fiction about strong women. She is the New York Times-bestselling debut author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night. This big-hearted whodunnit is a Reese’s Book Club pick and a “best of 2023” selection for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CrimeReads, and LibraryJournal. Mother-Daughter Murder Night follows high-powered business woman Lana Rubicon. She has a lot to be proud of with her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.
Book Discussion – 3mph: Adventures of One Woman’s Walk Around the World
Saturday, May 11 | 2pm | Plymouth District Library
Polly Letofsky left her Colorado home and headed west across 4 continents and over 14,000 miles–by foot–to become the first woman to walk around the world. In a spirit of adventure, along with the goal of raising global awareness for breast cancer, strangers welcomed her into their homes. The world had embraced her. But in the middle of Polly’s journey, 9/11 flung us all into a crossroads in world history, and she found herself navigating a vastly changing world.A Community Reads book discussion! Polly Letofsky, author of 3mph: The Adventures of One Woman’s Walk Around the World will be making an appearance at the Penn Theatre in June. As a lead-up to that program, we’d like to introduce you to her work. The first ten people to register for this book discussion will receive a free copy of the book, which the author can sign for you at the Penn Theatre event! Library staff will contact you to pick up your copy if you are among the first ten on the list. A few other copies will be available for check-out if you’d like to attend the discussion, but are not one of the first ten.
Author Talk: Asian American Representation in Literature: Rebecca F. Kuang
Wednesday, May 21 | 7pm (virtual)
In Yellowface, authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. Rebecca F. Kuang is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, and Yellowface. A Marshall Scholar, she has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she studies diaspora, contemporary Chinese literature, and Asian American literature.
A Conversation with Author Ben Greene
Wednesday, May 29 | 6:30pm
Ben Greene is a transgender advocate and educator who has spoken internationally on topics surrounding transgender inclusion. After coming out at 15 in a small town, Ben has devoted his career to spreading empathy, education, and storytelling around the trans experience, and has spoken for companies, hospitals, schools, religious organizations, and government entities sharing what it means to be transgender and how to show up as an ally. He is passionate about educating others from a place of compassion—no matter where they’re starting from. Greene will join us in conversation on his latest book, My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy Centered Approach to Support. Literati Bookstore will be selling books that will be available for signing after the presentation. This event is presented in collaboration with the Plymouth-Canton PFLAG Chapter.