Above: Thanks to a grant, the Library will offer 2-3 live talks a month, starting next week with NYT bestelling romantic-fantasy novelist TJ Klune. (images cropped from flyer)
This month, the Southborough Library launched a virtual series they are excited to announce. The new subscription allows patrons to take part in virtual author talks including Q&A with:
bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.
It also allows patrons to tap into over 75 previously recorded talks.
As with all library events, participation is free to the public.* Anyone can take advantage of the opportunity, but registration is required for the live talks.
The series will feature 2-3 live events per month. If you can’t make the live events, you can still watch the recordings afterwards, which will be added to the existing library of streaming videos.
The first talk in the lineup is a week from today:
The Magic of Found Family: In Conversation with Author TJ Klune
Wednesday, January 15th, 7:00 pm
Klune is a best selling author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. His fantasy novel The House in the Cerulean Sea is a NYT best selle. He recently released the sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
The event page promotes:
Come have a magical moment with New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune as he chats about his Cerulean Chronicles, with special emphasis on his newest in the series, Somewhere Beyond the Sea.
If you’re new to the Cerulean Chronicles, that’s okay! Let us lay the groundwork. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea introduces us to Linus Baker. A by-the-book caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.
You can read more and/or register here.
Two more events are scheduled over the following two weeks:
Notes on Modern Irrationality with Bestselling Author Amanda Montell
Thursday, January 23rd, 2:00 pm
The NYT bestselling author and iHeart Radio Award-winning podcaster. Her non-fiction books include Cultish and The Age of Magical Overthinking.
An Inside Look at Working with a Literary Agent: A Conversation with Seth Fishman
Tuesday, January 28th, 1:00 pm
The VP and Literary Agent at Gernert Company, will present on the publishing process.
And Six more are already scheduled for February and March:
- Tuesday, February 4th at 2:00 pm – How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs with Smithsonian Curator Sabrina Sholts
- Tuesday, February 11th at 7:00 pm – Dystopian Tropes from an Indigenous Perspective: In Conversation with Waubgeshig Rice
- Tuesday, February 18th at 2:00 pm – I Am Nobody’s Slave: An Author Talk with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Lee Hawkins
- Wednesday, March 12th at 2:00 pm – Power of Reset and How to Change What’s Not Working with Author Dan Heath
- Thursday, March 20th at 2:00 pm – How Women’s Liberation Transformed America: In Conversation with Clara Bingham
- Wednesday, March 26th at 7:00 pm – Dreams We Chase: An Author Talk with Novelist Jennifer Weiner
For more information or to register for any of the author talks, visit bit.ly/sbliblsc.
There you can also find links for the following talks that took place over the past 2½ years. They cover a diverse array of subjects and genres including children’s author talks appropriate for kids:
- On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries: A Conversation with Laura Dave
- Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with Dr. Jeffrey Post
- Native Rights and Culture in Fiction–A Conversation with Mona Susan Power
- On Childhood Migration from Central America–In Conversation with Javier Zamora
- Sobre la migración infantil desde Centroamérica–En conversación con Javier Zamora
- A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained: In Conversation with Stanley Milford, Jr.
- Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: Examining the Truths and Fictions we Tell Ourselves with Lori Gottlieb
- Liberating Latin American Genre Fiction: In Conversation with Bestselling Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- A Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats with Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
- A Deep Dive in Character Development with Global Sensation Liane Moriarty
- Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World–with Nate Klemp, PhD
- Capturing the Human Drama of 9/11 and D-Day Through Oral History with Garrett Graff
- An Exploration of Friendship, Reckoning, and Hope with novelist Shelby Van Pelt
- The Golden Ticket to College Admissions Is Not What You Think: Redefining Success for Parents of Teens with Irena Smith, PhD
- Your All Access Pass Behind the Scenes at the Space Station with Smithsonian Curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur
- Graphic Novels are Life! Telling Your Own Story in a Graphic Novel with Dan Santat (5th-8th Grade)
- Learning the Power of Poetry with Bestselling Author Elizabeth Acevedo (9th-12th grade)
- Surviving the Summer with The Last Kids on Earth and Max Brallier (3rd-6th Grade)
- A Visit to Deckawoo Drive with Mercy Watson and Kate DiCamillo (PreK-2nd Grade)
- Unpacking a History of Systemic Racism in the American Education System with Tiffany Jewell
- Psychological Thrillers and the Queen of Twists– An Author Talk with Freida McFadden
- For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet with Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell
- Asian American Representation in Literature: An Author Talk with Rebecca F. Kuang
- A Murder Mystery, Family Story, & Love Letter to Strong Women Everywhere: Author Talk With Nina Simon
- Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I – An Author Talk with Douglas Brunt
- A Literary Examination of Power, Love, and Art with Xochitl Gonzalez
- The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us–A Sweeping History of Food and Culture with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson
- On Retelling Greek Classics: An Exploration of the Modern Epics with Madeline Miller
- 20 Years of Dragon-Riding in YA Fantasy with International Bestselling Author Christopher Paolini
- The Power of Friendships with NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg
- Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity: An Author Talk with Kim Scott
- Exploring Identity, Love, and Being Black in America in Fiction Writing: A Conversation with Award-Winning Author Jason Mott
- Spice, Spirit, and Swoon–A Guaranteed Happily Ever After with Rom-Com Author Tessa Bailey
- The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine: An Author Talk with Dr. Robert Lustig
- Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster? How to Avoid the Hidden Traps in Retirement Planning Advice
- Embrace Love in the New Year: A Heartfelt Conversation with Rebecca Serle
- Let’s Talk World Building with YA Fantasy Fiction Superstar Author Victoria Aveyard
- Power of Women in Science Fiction: Naomi Alderman on Writing Dystopian Worlds
- Why She Writes – An Afternoon Chat with Joy Harjo, Internationally Renowned Performer, Writer and Poet of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Get Good with Money and Reach Your Financial Goals with Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche
- Hollywood, Home, Heart, and Healing: A Conversation with Actor John Stamos
- A Lifetime of Writing: A Conversation with International Bestselling Author John Irving
- Master of Suspense: An Author Talk with Ruth Ware
- European Travel Tips and Tools with Guidebook Author Rick Steves
- How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most: An Author Talk with Adam Alter
- Life, Love, Family, and Food: An Author Talk with Lidia Bastianich
- A Year Inside College Admissions: An Author Talk with Jeff Selingo
- Author Talk with Cassandra Clare: Bestselling Author of The Mortal Instruments Series
- New York Times Bestselling Author of The Prophets: Author Talk with Robert Jones, Jr.
- Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir: An Author Talk with Erika L. Sánchez
- Author Talk with Charles Soule: New York Times Bestselling Author of Daredevil & She-Hulk
- Author Talk with Tananarive Due: Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda Contributing Author
- An American In Provence: Author Talk with Award-Winning Photographer Jamie Beck
- The Fun Habit: An Author Talk with Mike Rucker, Ph.D.
- Author Talk with Courtney Summers: New York Times Bestselling YA Author
- Not Funny: Author Talk with Academy Award Nominated Jena Friedman
- New York Times Bestselling Author of Ordinary Grace: Author Talk with William Kent Krueger
- Author Talk with Kate Beaton: Bestselling Cartoonist of Hark! A Vagrant!
- Bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris: Author Talk with Pam Jenoff
- Southern Inspired: Author Talk with Celebrity Chef Jernard A. Wells
- Author Talk with David Epstein: Bestselling author of RANGE and THE SPORTS GENE
- Author Talk with Sadeqa Johnson: Award-Winning Author of Yellow Wife
- Tastes Like War: An Author Talk with Grace M. Cho
- Back in a Spell: Author Talk with Lana Harper
- xkcd Webcomic and What if? Series Creator : Author Talk with Randall Munroe
- Decluttering to Start Your New Year: Author Talk with Dana K. White
- The Gilded Ones Series: Author Talk with Namina Forna
- A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America: Author Talk with Nicole Eustace
- Author Talk with Fredrik Backman: Bestselling Author of A Man Called Ove
- Author Talk with Geraldine Brooks
- How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond with Kwame Christian
- Lessons in Chemistry: Author Talk with Bonnie Garmus
- The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR: Author Talk with Lisa Napoli
- The Diamond Eye: Author Talk with Kate Quinn
- Where The Children Take Us: Author Talk with Zain E. Asher
- Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty – Author Talk with Dr. Aziz Gazipura
- Author Talk with Simon Winchester
- Raising Thrivers: Parenting Tips & Tools to Help Kids Thrive in an Uncertain World – Author Talk with Dr. Michele Borba
- Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger and Multiply Your Impact – Author Talk with Liz Wiseman
- The Beauty in Breaking: Author Talk with Michele Harper
- Long Bright River: Author Talk with Liz Moore
- Author Talk with Historian and Pulitzer Prize Winner, Dr. Marcia Chatelain
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity – Author Talk with David Allen
- The Henna Artist: Author Talk with Alka Joshi
*This free series is made possible by a supporting grant from the Southborough Community Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation for MetroWest.
