Author Events

Did you know we have the biggest, number one author event series in the country? Each month the St. Louis County Library Foundation brings bestselling and award-winning authors from a variety of genres to the library, offering readers exclusive opportunities to meet and engage with their favorite writers.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Seating is limited; early arrival is highly recommended. Books for signing will be available for purchase at the events. For more information, please call 314-994-3300.

Ticketed Events   November Events   December Events   January Events   February Events

By Audience
By Date
"The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne" book cover and color author photo of Kate Winkler Dawson

Kate Winkler Dawson

Acclaimed podcaster and true crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson tells the true story of the scandalous murder investigation that became the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.” On a cold winter day in 1832, Sarah Maria Cornell was found dead in a quiet farmyard. When her troubled past and a secret correspondence with a charismatic Methodist minister was uncovered, more questions emerged. Using modern investigative advancements, Dawson brings justice to an unsettling mystery that speaks to our past as well as our present.

Friday, January 10, 2025
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
"Will's Race for Home" book cover and color author photo of Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Coretta Scott King Award Recipient and acclaimed middle grade author, Jewell Parker Rhodes goes West in this thrilling adventure story. It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about the upcoming Oklahoma Land Rush, they set out on a harrowing journey. Will’s family is propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
"The Big Empty" book cover and color author photo of Robert Crais

Robert Crais

Private investigator Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike, are back in this twisty thriller from master of crime fiction, Robert Crais. Traci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared. The evidence says he abandoned his family, but Traci never believed it. Ten years later, Traci is a super-popular influencer with the money to hire a new detective: Elvis Cole. When Elvis finds himself shadowed by a gang of vicious criminals, the simple missing persons case becomes far more sinister and dangerous. In a case that tests Elvis Cole’s loyalty to his clients and himself, the truth must come out no matter the cost.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
“Presumed Guilty” book cover and color author photo of Scott Turow

Scott Turow

Scott Turow presents a breathtaking follow-up to “Presumed Innocent,” the #1 bestseller that redefined the legal thriller. Retired judge Rusty is attempting a third act in life with his loving fiance. But that peace is shattered when his soon-to-be stepson, Aaron, is charged with the murder of his troubled girlfriend. Rusty must return to court one last time. The question is not whether to defend Aaron, or whether the boy is in fact innocent—it’s whether the system to which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty.

Friday, January 17, 2025
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
"The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy–and Why It Failed" book cover and color author photo of Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer

Bestselling author Brad Meltzer shares the little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, is often ranked among Americans’ most well-liked presidents. Yet what most Americans don’t know is that JFK’s historic presidency almost ended before it began—at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite. Written in the gripping, page-turning style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer’s bestselling non-fiction series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life.

Saturday, January 18, 2025
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
"I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free" book cover and color author photo of Lee Hawkins

Lee Hawkins

Pulitzer Prize finalist and former Wall Street Journal writer Lee Hawkins’s riveting memoir examines his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience. “I Am Nobody’s Slave” tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence. Hawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors' lives, using genetic testing, reporting, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races, revealing through their story the story of America.

Thursday, January 23, 2025
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch