Completely Booked - Official Podcast of the Jacksonville Public Library

Listen to stories from local Jacksonville residents, learn something new, and get updates about events happening at the Jacksonville Public Library.

Lit Chat with Local Author Sohrab Homi Fracis 12/01/2023

Lit Chat with Local Author Sohrab Homi Fracis Sohrab Homi Fracis’s new book of North Florida and elsewhere stories, True Fiction, won the 2023 International Book Award for story collections. American Book Award winner Rilla Askew says of it: "True Fiction is a tour de force." Fracis is the first Asian American author to win the Iowa Short Fiction Award, described by the New York Times Book Review as "among the most prestigious literary prizes America offers," for his first book, Ticket to Minto: Stories of India and America. Publishers Weekly called it "A reminder of how satisfying the short story form can be...the work of an impressive new talent." His novel, Go Home, was shortlisted by Stanford University Libraries for the William Saroyan International Prize. Singapore Poetry described it as “newly poignant and even heartbreaking.” He taught literature and creative writing at University of North Florida. He was Twin Cities Visiting Writer in Residence at Augsburg College and Artist in Residence at Yaddo. He received the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Literature/Fiction. The South Asian Literary Association bestowed on him its Distinguished Achievement Award. Interviewer Michelle Lizet Flores is a graduate of FSU and NYU creative writing programs. She currently works as a teacher and co-hosts the What's in a Verse Poetry Open Mic in Jacksonville, FL. She has previously been published in magazines and journals such as The Miami Rail, Chircú Journal, and Travel Latina. A finalist for the Juan Felipe Herrera Award for Poetry, she is the author of the chapbooks Cuentos from the Swamp and Memoria, as well as the picture book, Carlito the Bat Learns to Trick or Treat. Her short fiction can be found in the anthology, Places We Build in the Universe through Flowersong Press. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Invasive Species, is forthcoming through Finishing Line Press. Find out more at michellelizetflores.com. READ Check out from the library! https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=sohrab+homi+fracis&te= SOHRAB RECOMMENDS In addition to books and movies, I also love music and sports. Lately my Spotify playlists center around contemporary folk rock by such musicians as The Paper Kites, Birdtalker, Plains, , Bonny Light Horseman, and . Some of my characters are aspiring musicians, as in "Open Mic," the first story in True Fiction. Playing college sports in India taught me to hang in there when things were going wrong and then to turn them around. I still follow professional tennis and not long ago watched stars such as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Venus Williams live at the Miami Open. I'm excited about the resurgent Jacksonville Jaguars. Go Jags! I see sportsmen as contemporary gladiators. Having been one helped me write the battlefield combat scene in True Fiction's concluding/signature novelette, "The Legend of Rostam and Sohrab," based on my ancient-Persian naming legend. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/28888878

Lit Chat with Historical Fiction Author Tracey Enerson Wood 11/03/2023

Lit Chat with Historical Fiction Author Tracey Enerson Wood Tracey Enerson Wood loves discovering amazing women whose stories have been lost to history and bringing them to life for today’s readers. Her debut novel, , historical fiction about the woman who built the Brooklyn Bridge, is an international and USA Today bestseller. Her newest book, , is centered on Edith Bolling Wilson, the second wife of Woodrow Wilson. She is sometimes described as America's first woman President because of the role she played after the President's massive stroke in October 1919. Tracey has always had a writing bug. While working as a Registered Nurse, starting her own Interior Design company, raising two children, and bouncing around the world as a military wife, she indulged in her passion as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She has authored magazine columns and other non-fiction, written and directed plays of all lengths, including Grits, Fleas and Carrots, Rocks and Other Hard Places, Alone, and Fog. Her screenplays include Strike Three and Roebling’s Bridge. Other passions include food and cooking, and honoring military heroes. A New Jersey native, she now lives with her family in Florida. Interviewer Jessica Hatch has a passion for writing laugh-out-loud fiction with a strong-beating heart. Her first novel, , debuted at #1 on Amazon’s “Humorous American Literature” charts in August 2022. It went on to be a Lonely Victories Best Book of 2022, and her follow-up, , was a BookLovr pick for spring 2023. Jessica has worked in book publishing since 2013. She has had bylines published in Writer’s Digest, The Millions, and G*Mob Magazine, among others, and she is a proud alumna of the Mors Tua Vita Mea workshop in Sezze Romano, Italy. Before being acquired by Bookouture, her debut novel won a pitch slam at the Brooklyn Book Festival in 2018 and was workshopped by acclaimed author Rumaan Alam at Aspen Summer Words in 2019. Jessica was born outside of Richmond, Virginia, and now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her bartender husband, Paul, and their three cats. When she is not writing, you can find her jogging on the Riverwalk or planning her next international trip. Say hello on Instagram at @JessicaNHatch. Prepare for the Discussion Check out from the library! The Library Also Recommends For more excellent historical fiction, try these titles! , by Lecia Cornwall , by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray , by Renée Rosen --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/28511087

Lit Chat Interview with Crime Thriller Novelist Hank Phillippi Ryan 10/23/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Crime Thriller Novelist Hank Phillippi Ryan Hank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of 14 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also an on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller”; she’s the only author to win the Agatha in four categories: Best First, Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best Non-Fiction. A story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship, her newest page-turning standalone thriller, The House Guest, has been dubbed "Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise." Hank is also the host of Crime Time on A Mighty Blaze and co-host of First Chapter Fun and The Back Room. She is a past president of National Sisters in Crime. Visit Hank at , Twitter @, Instagram and Facebook at . On Surprises and Suprise Endings You can also check out Hank on , , and . Interviewer Michael Wiley’s new novel is The Long Way Out, featuring Franky Dast, an exonerated ex-con who investigates a series of murders in Northeast Florida. Michael is also the author of three mystery and detective series, including the Shamus Award-winning Joe Kozmarski books, the Daniel Turner thrillers, and, most recently, the Sam Kelson PI novels, which are currently in development for television. His short stories appear often in magazines and anthologies, including Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2022. Read Check out all of from the library! - The Library Recommends Read similar books from other authors, including: by Alafair Burke by Lisa Jewell by Riley Sager --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/28397648

Lit Chat Interview with Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman 09/12/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman Deb Rogers' novel Florida Woman was published in July 2022 by Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. Called "a bewitching debut" by Publisher's Weekly, Florida Woman was featured as an Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Deb has lived and traveled throughout Florida working as an educator, policymaker and victim advocate, and she now lives on the Atlantic side of the state in the very haunted and very beautiful town of St. Augustine. While she'd love to stumble upon hidden pirate treasure along the coast someday, her daily obsessions tend to be thriller and heist movies, word puzzles, licorice, Florida manatees, and, of course, monkeys. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @debontherocks, or learn more on her website . Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of the Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. Kay is an English major with a concentration in psychology. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, editing, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay’s craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their fur babies. READ Jamie is a Florida Woman. She grew up on the beach, thrives in humidity, has weathered more hurricanes than she can count, and now, after going viral for an outrageous crime she never meant to commit in the first place, she has the requisite headline to her name. But when the chance comes for her to escape viral infamy and imminent jail time by taking a community service placement at Atlas, a shelter for rescued monkeys, it seems like just the fresh start Jamie needs to finally get her life back on track — until it’s not. Something sinister stirs in the palmetto woods surrounding her cabin, and secrets lurk among the three beguiling women who run the shelter and affectionately take Jamie under their wing for the summer. Check out from the library! -- "Florida Woman ushers in a new talent who knows the quirkiness of the Sunshine State." – Sun Sentinel DEB RECOMMENDS Learn about the origins of Central Florida's monkey problem by reading The Bitter Southerner's well-researched article: by Jordan Blumetti. Visit the and take a walk through our state's past, beginning in the epoch (when Florida was underwater). Read some of Deb's favorite books that are set in Florida including by Susan Orlean, by Steph Post and by Karen Russell. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/28010901

Lit Chat Interview with Beatriz Williams for Historical Fiction Lovers 08/24/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Beatriz Williams for Historical Fiction Lovers Beatriz Williams is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of , , , , , , and several other works of historical fiction, including four novels in collaboration with fellow bestselling authors Karen White and Lauren Willig. A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, Beatriz worked as a communications and corporate strategy consultant in New York and London before her first novel was published in 2012. Beatriz’s books have won numerous awards, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and appear regularly in bestseller lists around the world. Born in Seattle, Washington, Beatriz now lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children, where she divides her time between writing and laundry. Reviews "Williams’ particular gift as a writer is peeling back the pages of history to breathe life into the interior lives of women — how they lived, loved, and lost within the expectations and limitations of their time." — Entertainment Weekly "I think Williams is writing the best historical fiction out there. It's lush with period detail but feels immediate." — Elin Hilderbrand Interviewer Jessica Hatch has a passion for writing laugh-out-loud fiction with a strong-beating heart. Her first novel, debuted at #1 on Amazon’s “Humorous American Literature” charts in August 2022. It went on to be a Lonely Victories Best Book of 2022, and her follow-up, , was a BookLovr pick for spring 2023. Before being acquired by Bookouture, her debut novel won a pitch slam at the Brooklyn Book Festival in 2018 and was workshopped by acclaimed author Rumaan Alam at Aspen Summer Words in 2019. Jessica has worked in book publishing since 2013. She has had bylines published in Writer’s Digest, The Millions, and G*Mob Magazine, among others, and she is a proud alumna of the Mors Tua Vita Mea workshop in Sezze Romano, Italy. Jessica was born outside of Richmond, Virginia, and now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her bartender husband, Paul, and their three cats. When she is not writing, you can find her jogging on the Riverwalk or planning her next international trip. Say hello on Instagram at @JessicaNHatch. Reading Recommendations Check out from the library! --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/27842679

Lit Chat Interview with Camille Dungy 08/14/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Camille Dungy In resistance to the homogenous policies that limited the possibility and wonder that grows from the earth, Dungy employs the various plants, herbs, vegetables, and flowers she grows in her garden as metaphor and treatise for how homogeneity threatens the future of our planet, and why cultivating diverse and intersectional language in our national discourse about the environment is the best means of protecting it. Camille T. Dungy is the author of four collections of poetry, most recently Trophic Cascade, winner of the Colorado Book Award. She is also the author of the essay collections Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden and Guidebook to Relative Strangers: Journeys into Race, Motherhood and History, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Dungy has also edited anthologies including Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry and From the Fishouse: An Anthology of Poems that Sing, Rhyme, Resound, Syncopate, Alliterate, and Just Plain Sound Great. A 2019 Guggenheim Fellow, her honors include NEA Fellowships in poetry (2003) and prose (2018), an American Book Award, two NAACP Image Award nominations, and two Hurston/Wright Legacy Award nominations. Dungy’s poems have been published in Best American Poetry, The 100 Best African American Poems, the Pushcart Anthology, Best American Travel Writing, and over thirty other anthologies. She is University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University. Interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the podcast. Her latest novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree was acquired by Scout Press and will be published in 2025. A Chicago native, Nikesha is a columnist with . Her work has also appeared in , , and . She lives in Florida with her family. READ Check out from the library: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=camille+dungy&te= --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/27749625

Lit Chat Interview with Dennis Chan 07/27/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Dennis Chan Anyone can be a writer – even an accomplished chef! The first step is deciding what you'll write about. It could be something you're passionate about or particularly skilled in... Or could it simply be the book (or cookbook) you think is missing from the world! Dennis Chan grew up in Jacksonville, where his family has owned twelve restaurants in the past eight decades. His earliest memories of food include standing on a little stool next to his grandfather’s restaurant stove while watching him cook. Somehow, Dennis always knew that he would end up in the restaurant business. He opened Blue Bamboo in his hometown in 2005, after graduating from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and working with the Disney Company, and celebrity chef Ming Tsai. Chef Dennis is an adjunct professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville and teaches personal enrichment cooking classes at Blue Bamboo. Chan’s first cookbook, Hip Asian Comfort Food, was published in 2009. He also served as president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association North East chapter. Dennis won the 2018 Neighborhood to Nation recipe contest by General Mills and was chosen as one of 16 chefs to participate in Hormel Foods’ Culinary Enrichment and Innovation Program. Chef Chan lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife Elizabeth, and seven-year-old sons Bennett and Michael. He says, “After working around the country, I am so happy to have found my way back home.” A supporter of many local organizations, Dennis believes that there is a place in everyone’s heart and schedule for worthwhile organizations. Officially known as the Boss of Food in her family, interviewer Lauren Titus is a long-time Northeast Florida resident who brings over 30 years experience in our area's local food movement to the magazine, along with a passion and expertise in baking and front-yard farming. After a career in digital production and enterprise content management, Lauren is excited to be focused on her first loves: writing and talking about food and the vital role it plays in our community. Lauren lives with her husband in St. Augustine, and while her children have flown from the nest, they continue to support the local food scenes in Austin and Los Angeles. READ Check out Dennis’s cookbook, , from the library! DENNIS RECOMMENDS Places in Jacksonville to hold events in: The Main Library’s is a cool place to hang out. It is also just a few floors away from the Main Library's which has an auditorium and a very functional event room. We have gotten the chance to cater in some pretty cool venues over the last 18 years. Some were on top of tall buildings, like the clubhouse at the Peninsula, and some were on the ground surrounded by trees, like Chandler Oaks Barn. We've catered at shooting ranges, and at homes right on the beach. We also I also love the venues making a difference for organizations in our community such as the soundstage at WJCT and the Glass Factory. Book inspirations: for playful decorating techniques on cupcakes. The author is the photographer from my mentor's book, Blue Ginger Cookbook. Looking through that book always brings a smile. I have authored two cookbooks currently, Hip Asian Comfort Food and . Local bookstores carry them, and there is a copy at the Main Library. from Celestia Mobley is my favorite local cookbook. Music inspirations: My favorite songs are cooking show theme songs. Sources for great ingredients: Jax Oriental, La Salsa, and Caribbean-Latino Asian are all well-stocked Asian markets. Atlantic Beach Urban Farms, Be Well Greens, and Bacon Farms are all great places to get fresh produce. The North Florida School has a good program teaching special needs children how to grow and maintain produce, and how to work in kitchens. Nothing beats Azar Sausage Company for locally made sausage. Cline's Custom Meats is the best place locally to get a steak to cook at home. We also have a cool "u-pick" persimmon farm here called Willie's Sweet Persimmons. Local Personal Enrichment Cooking Schools: A Chefs Cooking Studio and Italian Cooking Lessons Jax are two places that I teach on occasion, in addition to cooking classes at Blue Bamboo. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/27585852

Lit Chat Interview with Wayne Wood 07/13/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Michael Wiley 07/03/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Michael Wiley Michael Wiley’s new novel is The Long Way Out, featuring Franky Dast, an exonerated ex-con who investigates a series of murders in Northeast Florida. Michael is also the author of three mystery and detective series, including the Shamus Award-winning Joe Kozmarski books, the Daniel Turner thrillers, and, most recently, the Sam Kelson PI novels, which are currently in development for television. His short stories appear often in magazines and anthologies, including Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2022. Michael grew up in Chicago and lived and worked in the neighborhoods and on the streets where he sets his Kelson and Kozmarski mysteries. He teaches literature at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville—the setting of The Long Way Out, an earlier Franky Dast novel (Monument Road), and the Daniel Turner novels. Interviewer Mark Ari authored the novel, The Shoemaker’s Tale (Zephyr Press) and publishes fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His paintings have been exhibited in group and solo shows in Spain, France, and the United States, especially New York City. Most recently, “Not in My Country,” an installation (text, film, sculpture, and scent) created with Ginger Andro and Chuck Glicksman was selected for Walls and Borders, an exhibition at Westbeth Gallery (NYC, 2021) sponsored by the Sculptors Guild (NYC). Recent writings appear in Adroit Journal, Heavy Feather Review, the International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, and the anthology, Music Gigs Gone Wrong (Paycock Press). Ari is a three-time MacDowell fellow. Other awarded fellowships include the Ragdale Foundation (twice), Ucross Foundation, and Spain’s Fundacion Valparaiso. He is a multi-award-winning educator at the University of North Florida, where he directs the creative writing program. READ Check out all of from the library, as well as Ari’s ! Michael Wiley recommends three “first books” by other mystery and thriller writers: Megan Abbott, : “A terrific hardboiled story by a writer known best now for her psychological suspense thrillers.” S.A. Cosby, : “The newly re-released, amazing first book by the author of and .” Walter Mosley, : “The Easy Rawlins mystery by the writer of dozens of excellent books, though none better than this.” --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/27357552

Lit Chat Interview with Leela Corman at DCAZ 2023 06/15/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Leela Corman at DCAZ 2023 Leela Corman is a painter, educator, and graphic novel creator, working in the realm of diaspora Ashkenazi culture and third-generation restorative work. Her books include the Unterzakhn (Schocken/Pantheon, 2012), which was nominated for the Eisner, the L.A. Times Book Award, and Le Prix Artemisia, and won the ROMICS Prize for Best Anglo-American Comic. Her latest, a short comics collection called You Are Not A Guest, was released by Field Mouse Press in 2023. Her graphic novel Victory Parade, a story about WWII, women's wrestling, and the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, will be published by Schocken/Pantheon in 2024. Her short comics have also appeared in The Believer Magazine, Tablet Magazine, Nautilus, and The Nib. Corman works primarily with Polish-Jewish history and life, in both her fiction and nonfiction comics, as well as women’s history, 20th-century New York history, trauma, loss and (occasionally) music. Interviewer Badr Milligan is a project manager by day and a podcast creator by night. Since 2012, he has been vocal in sharing his interests with the world and amplifying the stories of others. He's the creator and host of the award-winning podcast, , and recently launched podcast for music lovers. In 2018, he helped form the , a collective of podcasters and audio creators dedicated to helping one another through collaboration and community. Badr is also an FSCJ alumnus and veteran of the Florida Air National Guard, using both experiences to run his own small business, . Check out from the library: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=leela+corman&te= Unterzakhn by Leela Corman: A mesmerizing, heartbreaking graphic novel of immigrant life on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the twentieth century, as seen through the eyes of twin sisters whose lives take radically and tragically different paths. For six-year-old Esther and Fanya, the teeming streets of New York's Lower East Side circa 1910 are both a fascinating playground and a place where life's lessons are learned quickly and often cruelly. Leela Recommends “I am a recommendations factory!” Places to visit in Florida: The Springs! Visit with care and gentleness for their fragile ecosystems and be amazed at their hallucinatory beauty. They're Florida's best-kept secret! Chamblin's Book Mine in Jacksonville. Hear Again Records, the amazing Third House Books, and Volta Coffee, all in Gainesville. Podcasts Leela Recommends: Maintenance Phase! Essential listening for debunking all the wellness pseudoscience, diet culture, and anti-fatness we all grew up with. The BMI episode alone should be required listening. Plus it's very funny! Conspirituality, a weekly deep dive into the intersection of cults, yoga and wellness culture, right-wing extremism, mis- and disinformation, and politics. On The Media, essential investigative journalism and media literacy. Reveal, one of the best investigative journalism podcasts I've heard, especially in the areas of systemic racism and abuses of power in the US, hosted by the fantastic Al Letson, who I believe is a Florida native. [Editor’s note: An Orange Park High School grad!] Artists Leela Recommends: Clarity Haynes Jinal Sangoi Jeanne Mammen Joan Semmel Television Leela Recommends: Reservation Dogs, a funny and heartbreaking series about contemporary Indigenous life in Oklahoma, created and starring Indigenous folks. Pose, set in the queer ballroom scene of New York in the late 1980s and early 90s, starring, among other greats, national treasure Billy Porter. This is going to sound strange, but I'm really into German detective shows on Netflix, especially Dogs Of Berlin, Same Sky, NSU German History X, and Kleo, all of which deal in various ways with the end of the Cold War, the rise of racist movements after the Wall fell, and the complexities of immigration and contemporary Germany. CW for violence and depictions of racism. Severance is an excellent sci-fi, reminiscent of the very best of . Films/Directors Leela Recommends: That documentary about Little Richard, I Am Everything. What a beautiful person he was! Music Leela Recommends: Come, the best band of the 1990s, who've been re-issuing their back catalog and playing reunion shows everywhere. Bill Orcutt Quartet, "Music For Four Guitars", very up my Branca/Verlaine alley. Chris Brokaw, "Puritan". Thurston Moore Group. Prose Leela Recommends: books. Jewish Currents magazine, the best of contemporary diaspora thought and politics. by Carlene Bauer, the most pitch-perfect Gen X novel I have yet encountered. This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, by Tadeusz Borowski. A corrosive work written a few years after the author's release from Auschwitz, that is required reading for high school students in Poland. Comic Creators Leela Recommends: Lauren Weinstein Rina Ayuyang 4Ever! Miscellaneous Recommendations: Casey Johnston's newsletter She's A Beast, in which she writes about weight lifting, debunking and dismantling diet culture and fitness pseudoscience and anti-fatness, and celebrates getting swole. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/27162402

Lit Chat Interview with Jessica Q. Stark 06/01/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Aaron Woodson 05/18/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Aaron Woodson Aaron Woodson is a Florida-based military combat veteran who has served in the US Air Force and US Air National Guard for over 15 years. He began his military career participating in military campaigns such as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. At a very young age, Aaron began to nurture an interest in and passion for poetry. He began to write poems at school and his love for writing grew so deep that he told his parents that someday he would publish his own book. Having moved to Jacksonville in 2016, he decided to finish up his now-completed book, The Face of Expression, a poetry book that fuses story-telling and non-fiction clips into it. The Face of Expression highlights topics about life, love, pain, struggle, rejection, faith, and experiences. Aaron gets his inspiration to write from his spirituality, traveling, singing, music, positive quotes, and experiences, among others. Interviewer Taryn “LoveReigns” Wharwood is a poet, writer, author, emcee, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and curator. Taryn is the program manager for The Performers Academy, a 12-year partner of Family Support Services. The Performers Academy uses the healing power of the arts as behavioral intervention and diversion for youth and teens, and Taryn manages programs including the Just Like Me Cultural and Exhibition Experience for teens. Taryn conducts weekly writing workshops for adults in recovery, at-risk youth in drug rehabilitation centers, youth in foster care and in juvenile detention centers. She is the CEO of IAmLoveReigns Enterprises LLC, providing online business solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses, artists and entertainers. Taryn is also the host of the Random Thoughts of Reign podcast, which she began during the pandemic as a way to connect the world with creators during quarantine. LoveReigns is the founder of Artis(Tree) Live and The Closet Jax and co-founder of The Cypher Open Mic Poetry & Soul, which is, to date, the longest-running open mic in Jacksonville history. READ Check out all of the books in the Face of Expression series ! AARON RECOMMENDS Books: Movies: --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/26882028

Lit Chat Interview with Christopher Gorham 05/04/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Christopher Gorham Christopher Gorham is a lawyer and teacher of modern American history at Westford Academy, outside Boston. He has degrees in history from Tufts University and the University of Michigan, where he studied under legendary historian Sidney Fine. Gorham has a J.D., summa cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law, where he served on the editorial staff of the Syracuse Law Review. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post and in online journals. Interviewer Kelsi Hasden is an adjunct professor of composition at the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English focusing on Postcolonial theory and Women’s studies and a Master’s degree in Rhetoric and Composition. She writes about a range of issues and events, dines out as often as she can, and attends events around Jacksonville. Kelsi writes and edits articles for The Jaxson and Modern Cities. READ Check out The Confidante in print, digital, and audio ! CHRISTOPHER RECOMMENDS Here are the three books I found especially enlightening as I wrote The Confidante. Kristin Downey’s is the story of the progressive whose wish list essentially became the New Deal (minimum wages, Social Security, etc.). Perkins was the first woman cabinet member in American history, serving as Secretary of Labor for the entirety of Roosevelt’s presidency (1933-1945). Personally, Perkins was not particularly warm and could be seen as rather mirthless. But her legacy as a New Deal heroine is deserved and her prominence in FDR’s cabinet underscores how much Roosevelt respected competence regardless of sex or ethnicity. FDR and Perkins went back to his days as Governor of New York, and even before that, women played a large role in his professional life. In , by Kathryn Smith, we learn that after Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921, Roosevelt brought on Marguerite “Missy” LeHand, a working-class woman from Somerville, Massachusetts as his secretary. In time, she became much more. When FDR became President in 1933, Missy came to Washington. She was not only the gatekeeper of his social and professional calendar but was essentially his Chief-of-Staff until a series of strokes incapacitated her in 1940-41. It was at this time, as I discuss in my book, that Anna Rosenberg became part of FDR’s innermost circle. The dual struggles for equality in defense work and desegregation of the armed forces were undertaken within the Roosevelt White House by Mary McLeod Bethune, Robert Weaver, Bill Hastie, Al Smith, and Robert Vann. Bethune was the leader of the “Black Cabinet,” but the men alongside her performed admirable work in the service of advancing the Black cause. In her excellent book, , Jill Watts describes the successes of the Black Cabinet—and the challenges: all five risked losing their jobs, being cashiered to faraway agencies, or being labeled Communist by reactionary congressmen. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/26748573

Lit Chat Interview with Jessica Hatch 04/20/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Jessica Hatch Author Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin’s Press. Jessica’s editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer’s Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts. Interviewer Michelle Lizet Flores is a graduate of FSU and NYU creative writing programs. She currently works as a teacher and co-hosts the What's in a Verse Poetry Open Mic in Jacksonville, FL. She has previously been published in magazines and journals such as The Miami Rail, Chircú Journal, and Travel Latina. A finalist for the Juan Felipe Herrera Award for Poetry, she is the author of the chapbooks Cuentos from the Swamp and Memoria, as well as the picture book, Carlito the Bat Learns to Trick or Treat. Her short fiction can be found in the anthology, Places We Build in the Universe through Flowersong Press. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Invasive Species, is forthcoming through Finishing Line Press. Find out more at . READ Check out Jessica’s contemporary romantic comedies ! JESSICA RECOMMENDS Places in Jacksonville mentioned in my novel: The Volstead (though under a different name), the Main Street Bridge, James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie, and the of the library! Film/TV inspirations: , anything and everything in the '80s, New Girl, Parks & Recreation Book inspirations: Beth O'Leary's Music inspirations: by Fleetwood Mac Important organizations doing work related to a subplot in my novel: Ability Housing Jax, the JAX Rental Housing Project at UNF, HabiJax. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/26603748

Lit Chat Interview with Deborah Goodrich Royce 03/17/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Deborah Goodrich Royce Deborah Goodrich Royce’s thrillers examine puzzles of identity. Ruby Falls won the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist in 2021 and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America’s “best of” lists in 2019. She began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time. With her husband, Chuck, Deborah restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre, Savoy Bookstore, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island and the Catskills. She serves on the governing and advisory boards of the American Film Institute, Greenwich International Film Festival, New York Botanical Garden, Greenwich Historical Society, and the PRASAD Project. Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in modern foreign languages and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lake Erie College. Interviewer Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin’s Press. Jessica’s editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer’s Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Check out all of from the library: And , too: Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/26259813

Lit Chat Author Talk with Kristy Cambron 03/02/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Valerie Bowman 02/16/2023

Lit Chat Interview with Valerie Bowman Valerie Bowman’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction. Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzers, Huckleberry and Violet. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. Interviewer Jessica Hatch is a professional freelance editor and novelist with more than a decade of publishing experience. She worked her way through the slush pile at New York-based literary agencies like Writers House, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Fox Literary Management, and learned what attracts readers to a book at St. Martin’s Press. Jessica’s editorial clients have gone on to receive partial and full manuscript requests from agents, to earn Kirkus starred reviews and placement on Best Book of the Year lists, and to win national awards. As a writer, Jessica has won pitch wars; attended juried workshops in Aspen, London, and Rome; and has been published in The Millions, Writer’s Digest, Fast Company, Burrow Press, and Babes Who Hustle, among others. Her debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, debuted at #1 on Amazon's Humorous American Literature charts. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Valerie BowmanCheck out Valerie's books from our catalog: Twitter: Website: Jessica HatchCheck out Jessica's books from our catalog: Twitter: Website: Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/25955493

Lit Chat Author Talk with Madeline Martin 02/02/2023

Lit Chat: Interview with Julie Delegal 01/21/2023

Lit Chat: Interview with Julie Delegal In her self-published novel, Seen, Julie G. Delegal takes a story straight from Jacksonville’s headlines and tells a fictional version that explores a similar event from two perspectives. Join us to chat with Julie about the process of fictionalizing true events and how she was inspired to write this novel! Julie G. Delegal is a freelance journalist and author who lives in Jacksonville. Her novel, Seen, earned the 2022 Independent Book Awards Gold Medal (IPPY) for best fiction in the Southeast region. For ten years, Julie covered education and other topics for Folio Weekly, Jacksonville’s alternative weekly magazine. She has published journalism, editorials, and feature articles in various online and print media outlets throughout Florida. A proud PTA veteran, Julie also wrote for the family law firm, now Delegal and Poindexter, P.A., while raising three children with her husband, Tad. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, minoring in Political Science and Women’s Studies, from the University of Florida. Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of The Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay’s craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their wife and fur babies. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Julie Delegal Check out Julie's book Seen from our catalog: Twitter: Webiste: Kay Huggins Twitter: Website: Jacksonville Public Library Website: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/25684650

Lit Chat: Interview with Chris Barton and Alton Yates 01/07/2023

Lit Chat: Interview with Chris Barton and Alton Yates Chris Barton and Alton Yates in conversation with local educator TiLena Robinson discussing Chris's book Moving Forward, a nonfiction children's book about Alton's roles in Space Age military experiments and in Jacksonville's 1960 civil rights sit-ins that culminated in Ax Handle Saturday. Chris Barton is the author of picture books including bestseller Shark vs. Train, Fire Truck vs. Dragon, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, and Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, which has been included on 21 state reading lists. His new books in 2021 and 2022 include How to Make a Book (About My Dog) and Moving Forward: From Space-Age Rides to Civil Rights Sit-Ins with Airman Alton Yates. Chris and his wife, YA/middle-grade novelist Jennifer Ziegler, live in Austin, Texas, and co-host the children’s literature video series “This One’s Dedicated to…” Interviewer TiLena Robinson worked as a middle and high school social studies teacher with Duval County Public Schools for nine years before becoming a Secondary Social Studies Specialist with the school district in October 2015. She transitioned into her current role as a Regional Social Studies Specialist for high school in October 2021 and continues to work with administrators, teachers and students to carry out the vision and mission of Duval County Public Schools. She is a member of DCPS’s African American History Task Force and works to bring equity, inclusion, and diversity to education by working with teachers to implement the teaching of Africa and its’ peoples and the contributions of African Americans into high school social studies. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Reading, and a certification in Educational Leadership. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment Chris BartonCheck out Chris Barton's books from our catalog: Twitter: Webiste: Jacksonville Public Library Website: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: [email protected] /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/25532217

Lit Chat with Jim Rugg 10/27/2022

Lit Chat with Jim Rugg Jim Rugg is an Eisner and Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist, designer, and YouTuber. His comics have been published by Marvel, DC, Image Comics, AdHouse Books, New York magazine, Dark Horse Comics, Titan Books, and Fantagraphics. Rugg’s comics career began with the publication of in 2004. Street Angel comics are part of the National Archives and the Smithsonian Collection. In 2007, Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg created , launching the Young Adult graphic novel explosion. Rugg’s graphic novel Afrodisiac was honored on the AIGA 50/50 list for book design. In 2018, Rugg started on YouTube with Ed Piskor (X-Men Grand Design). Cartoonist Kayfabe celebrates all things comics – with creator interviews, history, tutorials, and discussions about comics. In 2020, Jim Rugg created the world’s 1st blacklight comic book, Mtsyry: Octobriana 1976. He taught visual storytelling at the School of Visual Arts from 2012-2022. Rugg has run one marathon so far and lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and cats. Interviewer Badr Milligan is a project manager by day and an audio creator by night. Since 2012, he has used a mic to help others share their stories. He hosts the award-winning show, , and recently created the podcast for fellow vinyl lovers. Inspired by the expanding podcast medium and community around him, he assembled the first meet-up in 2018, a now regular event with a fast-growing collective of podcasters and audio enthusiasts dedicated to helping one another through collaboration and community. Badr is also an FSCJ alumnus and veteran of the Florida Air National Guard, using both experiences to run his own small business, . --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Jim Rugg Borrow Jim’s books from our collection: = Website: Twitter: Instagram: Badr Milligan/The Short Box Website: Twitter: Instagram: Jacksonville Public Library Website: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/24810858

Lit Chat with Marc Cameron 10/13/2022

Teen Lit Chat with Chris Crutcher 08/25/2022

Teen Lit Chat with Chris Crutcher Chris Crutcher’s first novel, , was published in 1983, and by 1984 made USA Today's top ten banned books list, along with nine other long-celebrated novels. He is proud to report that nearly all of his subsequent works have been censored and/or banned somewhere in the great U.S. of A, and that those challenges have earned him two lifetime achievement Intellectual Freedom Awards, one from the National Council of Teachers of English and the other from the National Coalition Against Censorship. Crutcher first came face to face with his professional destiny and the vibrant, often courageous community that would provide inspiration for his fictional work as a teacher, then director, of a racially-diverse K-12 alternative school in Oakland, California. That and his subsequent twenty-odd years as both a therapist specializing in child abuse and neglect and chairperson for his region's Child Protection Team have informed his thirteen novels and two collections of short stories. In the midst of all that heartbreak and unforgiveable neglect and violence, he says, "new heroes arose" — compelling Crutcher to fashion his stories around them. Interviewer Stacey Horan left her career as a corporate lawyer to become an award-winning author of young adult novels. Her works include , , and The (a five-book series). She also hosts a podcast called The Bookshop at the End of the Internet, which is dedicated to helping book lovers discover new authors. Visit her website at or find her on social media at @staceyleehoran. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment Chris Crutcher Borrow Chris' books from our collection: https://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=AUTHOR%3D%22chris+crutcher%22&te= Website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriscrutcher Stacy Horan Website: www.staceyhoran.com Twitter: @staceyleehoran Jacksonville Public Library Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/24167571

Lit Chat with Nikesha Elise Williams 08/15/2022

Lit Chat with Nikesha Elise Williams Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha's forthcoming book, Mardi Gras Indians, will be published by LSU Press on October 5. A Chicago native, Nikesha is an Editor at Narrative Initiative and a columnist with JAX Today. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Florida with her family and is working on her next novel. Interviewer Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams is a poet, teaching artist, and proven culture change strategist. She publishes, curates, and facilitates storytelling for healing, creating art, for consciousness-raising, and advocacy.  Her most recent work is a digital poetry chapbook: Something Old, New, Borrowed, and The Blues. As a recovering bank executive and management consulting firm CEO, Yvette runs a social arts practice, Narratives for Change, LLC. Writing poetry and essay, teaching, and activism is central to her social arts practice. She teaches creative writing for women and girls, and Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) for social justice thought leaders. Yvette is on the editorial board for Practicing Social Change for Applied Behavioral Science. She is a volunteer for TEDx Jacksonville as a curator and speaker coach. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Alternate ROOTS, a social justice organization for artists and cultural organizers.  Yvette lives with her banker-jazz musician husband in Atlantic Beach, FL. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Nikesha Elise Williams Borrow Nikesha's books from our collection: Website: Twitter: Yvette Angelique Website: Twitter: Jacksonville Public Library Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/24060834

Teen Lit Chat with Mackenzi Lee 07/27/2022

Teen Lit Chat with Mackenzi Lee Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA in creative writing from Simmons college. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling Montague Siblings series, which kicked off in 2017 with The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, which was a New York Times bestseller, an ABA bestseller, has been optioned for film by Greg Berlanti for HBO, was a 2018 Stonewall Honor Book, and won the New England Book Award. Mackenzi is also the author of Bygone Badass Broads, a collection of short biographies of women in history you probably don’t know about but definitely should, based on her viral twitter series of the same name; and The History of the World in 50 Dogs, which is the same thing but dogs. She is currently finishing a series with Marvel detailing the origin stories of fan-favorite antiheroes from the MCU and comics-iverse, including Loki, Nebula, and Gamora. In 2020, Mackenzi was included on the Forbes 30 under 30 media list. Her short fiction and nonfiction has appeared in the Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, Teen Vogue, and Bust magazine, among others. Interviewer Kay Huggins is a creative, the owner of Aphelion Editing and Consulting, and the host of The Raindrop Corner Podcast. As a longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, they have sought to support local artistry, foster thought-provoking content, and aid in human rights advocacy. For over a decade, their life has been dazzled with project management, technology industries, logistics, writing, and production. Through the intersectionality of Kay’s craft, they aim to champion the community by providing a platform to marginalized groups. Currently, Kay is writing their debut novel and enjoying leisure moments with their wife and fur babies. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Mackenzi Lee Borrow Mackenzi Lee's books from our catalog: Website: Kay Huggins Website: Twitter: Jacksonville Public Library Website: jaxpubliclibrary.org Twitter: twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: facebook.com/JaxLibrary Instagram: instagram.com/jaxlibrary YouTube: youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/23878860

Lit Chat with Jada Wright-Greene 06/30/2022

Lit Chat with Jada Wright-Greene In her new book of historic photographs, Jada Wright-Greene celebrates the homes of African Americans throughout the state, including cabins, shotgun homes, and two-story residences in Jacksonville and beach homes in American Beach and Butler Beach. Join us to learn more about these homes and the process of researching their histories! Jada Wright-Greene is a writer, independent museum professional, lecturer, museum activist, and Black history lover. She is the Founder & President of Heritage Salon, the first and only electronic magazine dedicated to promoting Black museums, historical sites, and homes and telling the stories of Black history. Jada was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and is an alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University, Michigan State University, and Johns Hopkins University. Jada recently fell in love with her home state of Florida's Black history, and she is on a mission to share the stories of Black Floridians. Interviewer Ennis Davis is a certified senior planner who holds a degree in Architecture from Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award-winning books Reclaiming Jacksonville, Cohen Brothers: The Big Store and Images of Modern America: Jacksonville. A mayoral appointee to the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is a co-founder of Modern Cities and TransForm Jax, and a former citizen member of the Florida Times-Union editorial board. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Jada Wright-GreeneBorrow Jada Wright-Greene's book Website: Twitter: Ennis DavisWebsite: and Twitter: Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/23594312

Lit Chat with Craig Pittman 06/16/2022

Lit Chat with Craig Pittman If you love living in Florida, and love to be annoyed at “Florida Man”, you will definitely want to check out our upcoming Lit Chat with New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman! Pittman writes fondly of the strange state we call home and all the interesting people who make it famous. Thanks to the Friends of the Beaches Branch Library for sponsoring this Lit Chat! Craig Pittman is a native Floridian, an author, a podcaster and an award-winning environmental reporter. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him "the most destructive force on campus." In 31 years at the Tampa Bay Times, Pittman covered a variety of beats and several natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes and the Florida Legislature. He now writes a weekly column for the Florida Phoenix and is co-host of the popular podcast "Welcome to Florida." He's the author of six non-fiction books about Florida, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country and Cat Tale: The Wild Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther, which Garden & Gun magazine named one of the 20 best books of 2020. His most recent one, published in September 2021, is The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife and two children. Interviewer Bill Delaney is a writer, editor and higher education professional from Jacksonville whose work focuses on the culture and history of the First Coast. Delaney is the author of the guidebook Secret Jacksonville, and is co-owner and editor of the publications Modern Cities, TheJaxsonMag.com and Edible Northeast Florida Magazine. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of North Florida. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Craig PittmanBorrow Craig Pittman's books Website: Twitter: Bill DelaneyWebsite: Twitter: Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/23448575

Lit Chat with Dawnie Walton 04/28/2022

Lit Chat with Dawnie Walton Dawnie Walton left Jacksonville after high school to pursue a successful career in magazines. Now she returns to town to chat with us about her first novel, which features a music magazine editor on a mission to discover the truth about an enigmatic music duo – a mission which includes a quick trip to Northeast Florida! Dawnie Walton is the author of the novel The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, a “spectacular debut” (Publisher’s Weekly, starred review) that has been named one of 2021’s most anticipated books by Essence, Vogue, The Oprah Magazine, Elle, The Independent, Lit Hub, PopSugar, The Millions, and Hypebae. Her work as a fiction writer and journalist explores identity, place, and the influence of pop culture. A MacDowell Colony fellow (2015), a Tin House Scholar (2017), and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop (MFA, 2018), she has worked as an executive-level editor for magazine and multimedia brands including Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Getty Images, and LIFE. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, she lives in Brooklyn. Interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha is a Chicago native and she attended The Florida State University. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — Dawnie WaltonBorrow Dawnie Walton's books Website: Twitter: Nikesha Elise WilliamsBorrow Nikesha Elise Williams' books Website: Twitter: Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net /episode/index/show/completelybooked/id/22942586

#58 Lit Chat with Andres Rojas 04/15/2022

#57 Lit Chat with Alyssa Day 03/31/2022

Completely Booked - Official Podcast of the Jacksonville Public Library

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