Lit Chat

Sticky feet that climb anything. Trunk-like robotic arms. Super-sensitive hearing. What is this? Some kind of new superhero? No! These are all examples of REAL technology made with bionics/biomimicry. In this fun and interactive presentation by children’s science author Jennifer Swanson, you will get an inside look at many awesome inventions being created by engineers right now! Be one of the first 30 children at the event and receive a FREE copy of Beastly Bionics to keep!

There are many book-related holidays, but the one that’s close to our hearts happens in February. That’s right, we’re talking about Library Lovers’ Month, an annual celebration of libraries (and the bookworms who frequent them).

We're showing our amazing adult customers some appreciation with these exciting programs!

What does it take to write a compelling thriller, and then multiple compelling thriller series? Michael Wiley, a local author and professor, certainly knows! Join us to find out his writing secrets at our next Lit Chat Interview.

This month, celebrate reading with great programs at the library! Read on to learn about our programs for readers, writers, gardeners, and more!

Calling our thriller and true crime lovers, our Florida fiction readers, and our soap opera fans! Former soap star turned author Deborah Goodrich Royce joins us at the Beaches Library this January to talk about her new book, Reef Road, a thriller based on a true crime and set in Palm Beach.

How do you talk to kids about slavery? In the new book, An American Story, New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander's unparalleled poetry combines with debut illustrator Dare Coulter's singular art to present a sweeping account of our country's founding. They'll join us, as part of their book tour, for an interview with Jacksonville's own Rahman Johnson to talk about how they put this book together and what they want readers to take away from it. The book and this interview program are intended for middle and high schoolers, educators, parents, and caregivers.

Children’s author Chris Barton joins us for two events in November and December! Kids are invited to a Junior Lit Chat to meet Chris and learn about his books. For adults, Chris teams up with Alton Yates, the subject of his book Moving Forward, to talk about how he came to write about our hometown hero – in the space where he did his research!

Calling all romance lovers! We’re bringing bestselling author and Northeast Florida resident Valerie Bowman to talk about her popular Regency romance series, in conversation with contemporary romance author Jessica Hatch. Find out how writers make a love story feel real and be entertaining at the same time!

Lovers of zines, comics, and podcasts will all enjoy our upcoming Lit Chat Interview with Jim Rugg, a big name in all of those fields! Jim Rugg joins us on October 22 as our headlining author for the inaugural Duval Comic and Zine Fest at the Main Library downtown. Read on for more info!

Have you ever wondered how authors make the people and places in their books feel so real? For Kristy Cambron, it’s the research! Join Kristy and interviewer Madeline Martin for a live Zoom event to learn more about the painstaking process of researching a historical novel, and more!