How do you keep the spark alive over three decades of writing romance fiction? Rochelle Alers clearly knows the secret, with over 80 published books, including her newest, The Beach House. Join us to chat with this prolific romance author!
Jacksonville artist Michael Regina published his first books with Kickstarter money back in 2013, and now his newest book, The Sleepover, is being published by a major imprint. Find out how he achieved this success at our next Lit Chat!
Historian Richard Webb chats about his book Boats Against the Current. He presents a case for Westport, Connecticut as the real setting of one of America's most famous novels, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Boats Against the Current is a large-format book that includes compelling stories about Scott, Zelda, and their wealthy neighbor the model for Jay Gatsby. Illustrated with period newspaper clippings, items from Fitzgerald family scrapbooks, and never-before-seen photos, the book also recounts Webb’s process of making a companion documentary film with Robert Steven Williams.
Sometimes an epic fail can become an epic success. The Space Race in the US started with a failed satellite launch nicknamed “Kaputnik” and the Wright brothers had many mishaps on their way to their first powered flight. For Erik Slader, writing and talking about these epic fails has led to a successful podcast and children’s book series!
Erik will share his experiences in writing and talking about history at our next Lit Chat, so be sure to join us!
Join us for Art & Conversations, by registering for Lit Chat with Dylan Allen Thursday, May 20, at 7 pm. Author Dylan Allen will chat about her experiences with the romance genre with romance author Brenda Jackson and connect it to MOCA's current group exhibition, Romancing the Mirror.
Interested in learning more about authors from your community? What is their writing process and what inspires them? Learn more at Lit Chat with Therese Tappouni, who will talk about her book, Caught Between Worlds. Tappouni will be joined with moderator Stacey Horan, a local author and podcaster. Both authors reside in Jacksonville and are passionate about living creatively and helping others through their writing.
We all know a “Florida Man”, but how many of us want to admit to being one? In The Thing About Florida, author Tyler Gillespie takes on the strange people and stories of the Sunshine State from the perspective of a fifth-generation Florida native. Gillespie joins us to talk about what he discovered in his quest to learn more about the state we all call home.
April is National Poetry Month! This 25th annual celebration of poets and poetry was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 to remind us that poets have an integral role to play in our culture. And what better time than Spring to promote artists and an art form that’s given us so much beauty? Whether you’re looking for a new poet, revisiting old favorites, or composing your own haiku, freeform poem, rhyme, or blank verse: the Library’s collection is a great place to find something that resonates with you.
Have you ever wondered how a poem gets from a spark of an idea to a written work of art? Find out at our next Lit Chat celebrating National Poetry Month with local poet and educator Tiffany Melanson. Melanson will talk about her poetry and the process of writing in conversation with Yvette Angelique, a local poet and artist.
