Boston Public Library holding July Author Talks, literary events

Boston Public Library’s free July literary events feature bestselling authors Matthew Quick, Ashley and JaQuavis, local writers, and youth programming:

• Children ages 8+ are encouraged to unleash their inner author with prompts and activities on Thursday, July 6, at 2 p.m. in the Children’s Library at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Author Susan Tan leads activities around her fictional memoir Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire.
• New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook, Matthew Quick, discusses his new novel The Reason You’re Alive, whose main character is a Vietnam vet embarking on a quixotic crusade to track down his nemesis from the war. Saturday, July 8, at 2 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
• Local author Deborah Shariff signs her new book The Grand Pop's Young Readers Series, which offers a new approach to educating children at home or in an after-school program on Saturday, July 15, at 10 a.m. at the Grove Hall Branch, located at 41 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester.
• Three Jamaica Plain authors discuss their experiences with the writing process, getting published, and creating a life as a writer on Monday, July 17, at 6 p.m. at the Connolly Branch, located at 433 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. The panel features Katie Bayerl, author of the young adult novel A Psalm for Lost Girls, Beth Castrodale, author of the historical novel Marion Hatley, and Mindy Fried, author of Caring for Red: A Daughter’s Memoir.
• Authors Vita and Ethan Murrow discuss picture books and lead an art activity for ages 7+ on Monday, July 17, at 3:30 p.m. in the Children’s Library at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
• Joan M. Blake visits the Grove Hall Branch for a reading and book signing of her latest book, Rise Up: How to Overcome Your Battles Utilizing Faith and Belief in God, on Thursday, July 20, at 6 p.m. The branch is located at 41 Geneva Avenue in Dorchester.
• Rosalyn Elder discusses the legacy of Massachusetts’ African Americans, celebrating their history and many contributions on Thursday, July 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the West End Branch, located at 151 Cambridge Street.
• Ashley and JaQuavis, the youngest African American writers to debut on a New York Times list, discuss their new book The Cartel 7: Illuminati on Monday, July 24, at 6 p.m. in Rabb Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
• Children of all ages join local author and illustrator Dan Moynihan for an engaging drawing workshop on Tuesday, July 25, at 2 p.m. at the Faneuil Branch, located at 419 Faneuil Street in Brighton.
• Pat Monteith, the solar system ambassador for NASA and children's book author, presents an entertaining and inspiring program on NASA’s female pioneers who fought the odds to become engineers, mathematicians, and aviators, for ages 6 and up. Wednesday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the Adams Street Branch, located at 690 Adams Street in Dorchester.
• Children’s author and illustrator Matt Tavares visits several library locations to discuss his works and sketch characters from his books Growing Up Pedro, Zachary’s Ball, and Becoming Babe Ruth.
• Ralph Masiello, an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, takes kids on an adventure of creative discovery using baseball as the theme at several locations in July.

About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit bpl.org.