Author and community programs are blooming at the Library this spring, from a KUOW Book Talk with Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe about “Thunder Song” on March 23, to an evening with famed audiobook narrator Julia Whelan on April 15, to two One Book, One Coast events with local authors that reframe and retell the history of Japanese American incarceration.
All Library events are free and open to the public. Many of these events are supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Registration is not required unless noted.
The Bullitt Lecture in American History presents Dr. Ned Blackhawk. Tuesday, March 10, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. Drawn from the last chapters of his National Book Award-winning book, “The Rediscovery of America,” Blackhawk’s talk offers insights into the hidden histories of Native American activists whose lives and legacies helped to reshape American history. Registration is required.
Claudia Rowe discusses “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care.” Thursday, March 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. High Point Branch. “Wards of the State” was a finalist for the 2025 National Book Award, and Rowe’s reporting on racially skewed school discipline for The Seattle Times helped to change education laws in Washington State.
Book Release: “Limitless, Stories from the Neighborhood that Shaped Seattle.” Saturday, March 21, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Douglass-Truth Branch. Meet artists and storytellers whose voices and artwork are in “Limitless,” a collection of oral histories recorded by the Shelf Life Community Story Project that reveals how the people of Seattle’s Central District, forced together by discriminatory housing practices, built a thriving community that felt limitless to those who grew up there.
KUOW Book Talk with Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe. Monday, March 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. Writer and artist Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe will discuss her celebrated essay collection, “Thunder Song,” with KUOW Book Club host Katie Campbell. “Thunder Song” explores Indigenous identity, resilience, and community, weaving together stories of trauma, healing, and creative expression. Registration is required.
LJ Andrews & S.A. MacLean Discuss “Heir of Twisted Lies.” Thursday, March 26, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. In this spellbinding sequel to the bestselling novel “Broken Souls and Bones,” renegade magic-user Lyra and royal bodyguard Roark must wade through long-kept secrets, rising battles, and vicious court intrigue — all while keeping their growing feelings for each other at bay. Registration is required.
One Book, One Coast: Frank Abe discusses “Literature of the Japanese American Incarceration.” Wednesday, April 8, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. As part of the One Book, One Coast shared reading initiative, writer, historian and editor Frank Abe will lead a conversation about an anthology that recovers and reframes the literature produced by Americans of Japanese ancestry who were denied any individual hearings or other due process after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. From the nearly 70 selections emerges a shared story of the struggle to retain personal integrity in the face of increasing dehumanization. Registration is required.
An Evening With Audiobook Narrator Julia Whelan. Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium. Award-winning audiobook narrator, screenwriter, and actor Julia Whelan will bring one of her own books to life with a live reading, then share an inspiring talk on the importance of libraries in today’s world. “Thank You for Listening” is the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel. Registration is required.
Margaret S. Barrie discusses “Auntie M. Speaks.” Wednesday, April 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. High Point Branch. Author Margaret Barrie will lead a discussion of her memoir about her childhood and beyond in a predominantly Black community –– segregated by white politics –– who created a village in Seattle’s Central District, testament to the resilience of the community and the power of nature to heal.
KUOW Book Talk with Molly Olguín. Thursday, April 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. As part of our spring KUOW Book Talk series, Seattle-based writer Olguin will discuss her award-winning collection “The Sea Gives Up the Dead,” which reimagines myths and fairy tales through a queer lens, exploring the borders between fantasy and reality, love and loss, and the monstrous and the human. Registration is required.
David Szalay Discusses “Flesh.” Monday, April 27, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Elliott Bay Book Company (1521 10th Avenue, Seattle). David Szalay will discuss his Booker Prize-winning novel “Flesh,” a propulsive, spare, and deeply contemplative book about a man whose life is derailed by a series of events he’s unable to control. Szalay is the first Hungarian-British author to win the Booker Prize and was previously shortlisted in 2016 for his novel “All That Man Is.”
Amara Lakhous Discusses “The Fertility of Evil.” Tuesday, April 28, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Central Library, Level 4, Room 1. Influenced by a return to Oran after years spent living in Italy as a political refugee, Lakhous’s gripping historical novel weaves a crime story that uncovers the hidden networks and masterminds that render a complicated picture of Algeria’s shadowy history. Registration is required.
One Book, One Coast: Tamiko Nimura discusses “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake.” Tuesday, May 5, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. As part of the One Book, One Coast shared reading initiative, join us to hear local author Tamiko Nimura discuss her new memoir, a deeply affecting memoir of reckoning with a father’s death and the Japanese American incarceration.
Natalie Porter discusses “Girl Gangs, Zines, and Power Slides.” Thursday, May 14, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. In “Girl Gangs, Zines, and Powerslides: A History of Badass Women Skateboarders,” skateboarding librarian and author Porter shows how a once-equitable sport became re-branded as a boys-only pursuit, and emphasizes the importance of validating stories that have been buried, dismissed, or ignored.
KUOW Book Talk with Sonora Jha. Thursday, May 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Acclaimed Seattle author Sonora Jha will discuss her latest novel, “Intemperance” with KUOW host Katie Campbell. “Intemperance” is a sweeping and intimate story inspired by an ancient Indian ritual and the complexities of aging, love, and self-possession in a modern world. Registration is required.
Find all our book-related events, including a variety of book and writing programs, in our Books and Authors calendar. Find information and registration through the event links below.