Jacksonville Public Library Blog 2023 Archive

Join a Book Club at the Library this November

Fall is finally showing up in Jacksonville! Are you prepping for all those extra hours of darkness by building your to-be-read list? It'll be dark by 6 p.m. before you know it! You might also consider joining a Library Book Club! You'll get to talk about what you loved, what surprised you, and what you'd recommend for anyone looking for something similar. Of course, our librarians can recommend read-alikes too!

Book clubs are one of the best ways to discover what other people are reading (and what they think about the books everyone else is reading).

Adult Programs at the Library this November Including Tips for Writers!

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Have you been planning and plotting your first novel? Or maybe you've been hoping to craft the next great American novel by the seat of your pants? Whether you're a plotter or pantser starting your first draft or you have a completed manuscript ready to go, the Library has some great workshops coming up that can help you cross the finish line to publication!

We start out the month with a Lit Chat Interview with local author, Tim Gilmore. He's written 22 books and even cofounded the Jax-by-Jax Literary Arts Festival. There are also free Writer's Lab workshops starting in November and continuing into early December that are focused on revising your first draft and then self-publishing the polished final product through Kindle Vella and Amazon KDP.

Writer's Lab: Self-Publishing with Kindle Vella and Amazon KDP

If you plan to come out of National Novel Writing Month with a ready-to-publish manuscript (or you just want to plan your next steps), join us at Writer's Lab in December for a hands-on how-to session with Mike Messier. He will instruct you, step-by-step, on how to write and publish fiction and nonfiction on Kindle Vella & Amazon KDP. If you bring your finished manuscript, you could even leave with a published book!

November Life Lit Workshops: Winter Yard Prep, Curb Appeal & More!

Looking for ways to increase your property value? Want to spruce up your home's exterior? Not sure how to prep your yard for winter? Learn everything you need for a successful, all-season yard from Master Gardeners and our friends at the UF Extension Office! Or get entrepreneurship basics and more from our partners at EY at a Life Lit workshop this November!

Writer's Lab: Novel Revision Tactics

Writer's Lab with Hurley Winkler: Novel Revision Tactics

So you've finished writing a draft of a novel (or perhaps you're nearing the finish line). What comes next? Join writer Hurley Winkler to learn about novel revision tactics. You'll walk away with a stronger revision plan for your book-length project as well as renewed energy and inspiration.

Purchase Your Tickets for Steve Berry and Support JaxKids Book Club

An Evening with Author Steve Berry benefiting JaxKids Book Club

The Library Foundation of Jacksonville invites you to spend a special evening with author Steve Berry in the Conference Center at the Main Library on Wednesday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. Included in the price of your ticket: delicious food from Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ, desserts from bb's restaurant, and a bar featuring Manifest Distilling products, beer and wine. Proceeds from the event benefit JaxKids Book Club and help ensure that every new Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten student in Duval County gets a backpack of free books!

Halloween Costume and Makeup Tips for Teens

Haunted Happenings: A Spooky Teen Halloween October 23 - November 3

Scare up some friends (ages 12-17) and join us for budget-friendly costume tips, practice with special effects makeup, spooky book recommendations, themed games, treats, and more!

It's a complete takeover of the Teen Advisory Board from October 23 through November 3!

Small Business: Running a Successful Local Restaurant

It's fall, y'all! With October comes cooler temperatures and probably thoughts of pumpkin spice pancakes and muffins! It's fitting then, that this month, we were able to speak with the owners of Cool Moose Café, a Riverside staple since the summer of 1998. They talk about what it's like owning a business and what advice they'd give to their fellow entrepreneurs.

Halloween Happenings and Books for Kids and Teens at the Library

Halloween is almost here! Before you know it, the ghosts and goblins will be showing up at your doorstep, with trick-or-treat bags in hand! It can be a fun time for horror fans and pranksters alike. And we can't forget about all of the yummy fall treats like pumpkin pie, caramel apples and free, full-sized candy bars from your favorite neighbor down the street! But with all of the masks and monster makeup, strange noises and zombie movies... It can also be a scary time for kids. While it can definitely be fun to be scared... Sometimes you want a not-so-scary alternative! And the Library has plenty of both!

Lit Chat with Prolific Local History Author Tim Gilmore

A prolific local history author, Tim Gilmore, has written extensively about Jacksonville. The writer and creator of www.jaxpsychogeo.com, he has told more than 700 stories of strange and historic locations in and around Jacksonville, Florida. He is also the founder of JaxbyJax. A literary arts festival, now in its 10th year, JaxbyJax was built on the theme of “Jacksonville Writers Writing Jacksonville.” Few have written about Jacksonville more. He joins us this November to talk about his latest book, The Culture Wars of Warren Folks.