Virtual Author Talks

February Author Talk Series

2023 continues to impress with exciting virtual author talks from New York Times Best Selling and award-winning authors! Each talk features the opportunity to participate in author Q&A or pre-submit questions during registration! Read on for details on how to register for these and other upcoming talks.

We look forward to you joining us for amazing author talks this month!

Sadeqa Johnson, The House of Eve, Tuesday, February 28th

We look forward to seeing you for an invigorating conversation with highly acclaimed author Sadeqa Johnson as she talks about her brand-new novel, The House of Eve!

Fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising her daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed onto her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrived in Washington DC with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t just let anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

The lives of these two women collide in the most unexpected way as they both face life altering decisions. The House of Eve is a fast-paced, harrowing story that hinges on what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.

March Author Talk Series

This month, join us as we March right into amazing new virtual author talks from a New York Times Best Selling and award-winning author, thought leader, and celebrity Chef! Each talk features the opportunity to participate in author Q&A or pre-submit questions during registration! Read on for details on how to register for these and other upcoming talks.

We look forward to you joining us for exciting author talks this month!

David Epstein, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, Monday, March 13th

What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think. You’re invited to find out during a conversation with New York Times bestselling author David Epstein as he chats about his most recent book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.

Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters, and scientists. He discovered that generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable. Generalists often find their path late, juggling many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see. Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency.

Chef Jernard A. Wells, Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours, Tuesday, March 21st

A talk that will leave you starving for more! Join us as we chat with celebrity chef Jernard Wells about his newest cookbook Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours.

Southern Inspired is full of delicious and inventive recipes that remix the traditional flavors and classic dishes of Southern food and celebrate African-American culinary contributions to tables worldwide. After growing up in Mississippi, the host of CLEO TV’s New Soul Kitchen, Chef Jernard Wells, brought the familiar dishes and bold flavors of the South along with his culinary journey to become a chef, restaurateur, and TV host. With Southern Inspired, Jernard continues his journey—retracing the steps of generations of African American cooks whose creations have contributed to global kitchen tables since slavery. Southern food defines American food at large, and Chef Jernard takes it to a new level while still honoring its roots. Chef Jernard also brings in flavors from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, always with his signature Southern flair. This cookbook shares 100 recipes that are approachable for both beginners and more experienced cooks.

Pam Jenoff, Code Name Sapphire, Tuesday, March 28th

Join us for an exciting trip through time as we chat with New York Times bestselling historical fiction author Pam Jenoff about her newest book, Code Name Sapphire!

Inspired by incredible true stories of courage and sacrifice, Code Name Sapphire follows Hannah Martel as she races to rescue her cousin's family from a train bound for Auschwitz in this riveting tale of bravery and resistance.

It’s 1942, and Hannah has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at the port, she has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily, who lives with her family in Brussels. Seeking help, Hannah joins the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network led by a mysterious woman named Micheline and her enigmatic brother Mateo. But when a grave mistake causes Lily’s family to be arrested and slated for deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah finds herself torn between her loyalties. How much is Hannah willing to sacrifice to save the people she loves?