Avid readers and aspiring writers can mingle with published authors at various author visits at New Jersey libraries. These events bring in authors who write for all ages to instill a love of reading.
“Author visits are important to our patrons because they’re a chance for our community to get together and interact with the creators of their favorite novels. By making it a more immersive experience, young and old can better appreciate all the work and imagination that go into writing a book. A few of the children have expressed interest in writing their own books and one of our author events actually helped an adult patron make the connections she needed to publish her own book!” said Jessica Moskowitz, Head of Children’s Services at the Peaquannock Township Public Library.
The Peaquannock Township Public Library held an event this February that featured two New Jersey authors: Wil Mara and Valeria Munro. Wil Mara read a selection from the third book in his Twisted series, The Time Trap. The Time Trap was available for purchase for the first time ever at this event. It will be officially released in April. Valerie Munro also spoke at the event and signed copies of her books, Down the Swale and Journey to Nagwanis.
The Cherry Hill Public Library will be holding a YA AuthorFest on April 6th from 10 am-1 pm. Fifteen young adult and middle grade authors will talk about their work and sign books for fans. Patrons can bring their own books, or purchase at the event courtesy of Inkwood Books. This is a great opportunity for readers and writers to connect to YA authors. Teens and YA fans from different communities come together for this event, which is a collaboration between Cherry Hill and the Burlington County Library System. ” That’s something I think makes this event unique – it’s collaborative effort between two libraries in the same region,” says Cherry Hill teen librarian Melisssa Brinn. “We switch off hosting but both libraries promote the event to our communities every year, which helps get the word out to a larger amount of potential attendees.”
The following authors are confirmed for YA AuthorFest, and more will be confirmed closer to the event:
Maria Andreu
M.C. Atwood
J.A. Culican
Jennifer DiGiovanni
Julie Eshbaugh
Alison Ashley Formento
Colleen Kosinski
Katherine Locke
Jon McGoran
Ismee Williams
and more!
Can’t make it to one of these author events? Find your library and stop by to see what special events are happening there!