Authors at the Library
Hilliard Branch
Join Edgar Award-winning authors Margaret Peterson Haddix and Natalie Richards in conversation about writing mysteries for kids and teens.
Book giveaway will be available to kids and teens, courtesy of Battelle, while supplies last.
Main Library | Auditorium
New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter joins us on her national book tour with The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, the second book in her action-packed adult rom-com series.
Main Library | Auditorium
Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith join us to discuss their new book, The People’s Project, a liberatory anthology of 26 writers charting paths ahead for action and care in the face of political uncertainty.
This is a paid, ticketed event in partnership with Prologue Bookshop.
Ticket + Book is $26.29.
Main Library | Reading Room
Renato Cisneros presenta su último libro como parte de la serie Autores en la Biblioteca y la Feria Internacional del Libro, Columbus, Ohio, (FILCO) organizada por la Asociación de Escritores de Ohio.
Karl Road Branch
Author and illustrator Jashar Awan joins us with his new picture book, Every Monday Mabel, for a family-friendly author talk.
Book giveaway will be available to kids and teens, courtesy of Battelle, while supplies last.
Hilliard Branch
Local author Andrew Welsh-Huggins joins us to talk about his latest action-packed thriller, The Mailman.
Main Library | Reading Room
Columbus Metropolitan Library and Experience Columbus invite you to join us for a spine-chilling conversation with legendary horror author R.L Stine as he discusses his newest book. Get Goosebumps at the library and throughout Columbus all month long with special celebrations across the city!
Main Library | Reading Room
Join New York Times bestselling authors Marissa Meyer and Alix E. Harrow in conversation about reluctant heroes, tragic fates and rewriting legends.
Hilliard Branch
Award-winning author Derrick Barnes presents his beloved picture books in this family-friendly author talk.
Virtual Event
CML’s Teen Choice Author Karen McManus joins us virtually to discuss her latest twisty YA thriller Such Charming Liars.
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries: Saturday, Jan. 25
Author and history professor at The Ohio State University, Jeffries regularly shares his knowledge of African American history and contemporary Black politics through lectures, workshops, op-eds and interviews.
Lisa Genova: Sunday, Jan. 26
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Genova is the New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice, adapted into an Oscar-winning film.
Amber McBride: Friday, Jan. 31
McBride’s debut young adult novel, Me (Moth) was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the 2022 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent.
An Evening with Rick Steves: Thursday, Feb. 20 (Wexner Mershon Auditorium)
Presented by 12 central Ohio library systems: Bexley, Columbus, Delaware, Grandview Heights, Granville, London, Marysville, Plain City, Southwest, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington.
Mary Robinette Kowal and John Scalzi: Sunday, March 23
The acclaimed science fiction authors discussed their latest novels and the intricacies of balancing fiction with accurate science. Hundreds of happy fans left with signed books, photos, and memories.
Vashti Harrison: Saturday, April 5
Harrison is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of BIG. She is a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children.
Nora Neus: Friday, April 11
Neus is an Emmy-nominated producer, author and freelance journalist with bylines in CNN, The Guardian, Teen Vogue, VICE News, POLITICO Magazine, The Washington Post and more.
Loung Ung: Tuesday, April 15
Ung was five when Khmer Rouge soldiers forced her family from their home during a mass evacuation. By 1978, the regime had killed her parents and two siblings, and she was trained as a child soldier before being reunited with living family after the war.
Ruth Awad, Sara Abou Rashed and Mandy Shunnarah: Tuesday, April 22
In celebration of Arab American Heritage Month, we were joined by local poets and writers with roots in Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria who read from recent works and discussed their craft.
Katherine Applegate: Saturday, May 10
Applegate is the New York Times bestselling author of Odder, Home of the Brave, and The One and Only Ivan, for which she won the Newbery Medal.
Kirk Hammett: Saturday, May 10
Hammett is the lead guitarist of Metallica. He partnered with Gibson Publishing to create a luxury 400-page coffee table book, which explores his extraordinary guitar collection and life in music.
Thursday, Feb. 20 | 7 p.m.
Mershon Auditorium | 1871 N. High St.
Main Library | Reading Room
A passionate, curious crowd filled the Reading Room on Jan. 25 to hear Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries’ talk, “How Did We Get Here? (Re)Building Community.” Dr. Jeffries explored the ways our society has interacted with racism and its effects throughout history.
Main Library | Reading Room
On Jan. 26, eager Lisa Genova fans gathered to hear about her newest book and the experience of writing fiction as a neuroscientist. Genova shared stories from her career, celebrated being the No. 1 bestseller in Canada and dropped tantalizing hints about upcoming casting for her book’s screen adaptation.
Main Library | Reading Room
Hundreds of high school students and other readers gathered on Jan. 31 to hear from award-winning author Amber McBride. She talked about weaving the rich tradition of storytelling into her books and spent a generous amount of time answering questions from young readers.
* Battelle’s generous gift to the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation helps make it possible for the library to host additional author talks for kids and teens.
