Lit Chat

Daryl Gussin is a writer and musician who has been awkwardly standing around at punk shows for the last twenty-something years. Thankfully at some point in his late teens, he decided to become a little more productive and has been working on zines, setting up shows, and playing in bands consecutively since then. In 2006, Daryl Gussin became integrally involved in the Razorcake fanzine where he is currently the managing editor.

Dean Butler is an actor, producer, and director best known for his role as Almanzo Wilder (the man Laura Ingalls married) in Little House on the Prairie, based on the beloved Little House book series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. He appeared in the final four seasons of the show, the spin-off show Little House: A New Beginning, and the three post-series TV movies. Meet him live on Zoom as he talks about his new memoir, Prairie Man.

This month, you have the chance to meet a buzzed-about debut author and an award-winning graphic novelist in our popular Lit Chat Interview series. Or, you can make your first self-published zine or learn how to format any work for print with our Writer's Lab Workshop series. Plus, there are 15 Library Book Club meetings, Life Lit gardening and small business workshops, and more! 

Debut Florida author, Alejandro Nodarse, talks about his high-energy thriller, Blood in the Cut, at our next Lit Chat author interview program. He will be in conversation with local author, Michael Wiley live at the Webb Wesconnett Library on Monday, June 10. An audience Q&A and a book signing will follow the interview.

Nate Powell is a National Book Award-winning cartoonist who began self-publishing as an Arkansas teenager in 1992. His work includes the new graphic novel Fall Through and a new comics adaptation of James Loewen’s influential Lies My Teacher Told Me, as well as Save It For Later, civil rights icon John Lewis’s March trilogy, Come Again, Two Dead and more.

This month, we have two History Chat programs, two Lit Chat Author Interviews, two Writer's Lab workshops, 15 Book Club meetings, a Great Decisions discussion, Life Lit gardening workshops, and more! So, whether you like meeting bestselling authors or just fellow book lovers around Jacksonville, there are so many great ways to use your Library card this month!

Register now for the Lit Chat Interview with New York Times bestselling author Jeff Goodell. He will appear in person on Saturday, May 18 at 2 p.m., live at the Main Library. If you are unable to attend in person, you can catch the live stream online via Zoom. A book signing will follow and books will be available to purchase on-site from partner The Bookmark.

The Lit Chat Interview with Siera London will take place live at the Bradham and Brooks Library on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. If you are unable to attend in person, you can catch the live stream online via Zoom. A book signing will follow and books will be available to purchase on-site from partners at Femme Fire Books.

The Main Library is proud to host the third annual Duval Comic and Zine Fest in downtown Jacksonville on Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. A celebration of independent publishing featuring local creators of self-published zines, comics, alternative press, and DIY media, the event will feature over 50 tablers, a risograph printing activity, a Writer's Lab workshop, and a Lit Chat with graphic novelist Nate Powell. The event is and all programs are free to attend!

Do you have poetry you'd like to share with the world? Do you want to hear from local poets who write creatively about life in Jacksonville? Drop by the Main Library on Wednesday, April 3, during Art Walk for a special Open Mic Night with Taryn "LoveReigns" Wharwood and Hope at Hand, Inc. They'll be set up in the Lounge at 303 North (just inside the entrance on Laura Street). There will also be a poetry zine-making workshop in the Zine Zone (on the First Floor), if you'd like to see your work in print. Then, on April 13, we’ll have a poetry program doubleheader at Willow Branch Library!