Library Journal Day of Dialog Fall 2026: Virtual, Free, and Features ME

Join us October 22 for our Library Journal Day of Dialog virtual event! Spanning a variety of genres, this free, day-long program will offer an in-depth look at the biggest forthcoming books for fall/winter 2026. You’ll hear directly from top authors as they discuss their new titles, inspiration, process, and more.

And don’t forget the virtual exhibit hall! Visit the booths to download free resources and chat with publishing representatives. 

EVENT HOURS: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET

 

I am going to share the full program below, but please note, there are often 3 concurrent programs. This is all good because all sessions will be available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours, and the entire event will be accessible for three months from the event date. So pick your first go around faves and then join in after, but you have to register to have access.

Speaking of the schedule, I am doing one of those first sessions:

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

But there is SO much more.  

Go to the main page and you will find everything you need know: full schedule, registration link, another bios, and the sponsors who will be in the virtual exhibit hall. 

I hope to see some of you there.

FULL PROGRAM is below or at this link.

9:00 – 9:30 AM ET | The Exhibit Hall Opens
 

9:30 – 10:00 AM ET | Opening Keynote
Jojo Moyes discusses Three Sisters (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House), a novel about a family reunion that is by turns comic, tempestuous, heartfelt, and ultimately redemptive.
Moderator: Jill Cox-Cordova, former LJ Associate Editor

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Spellbound for Love
A conversation on crafting fantastical worlds with romance, adventure, and high stakes.

Ruby Dixon, Villain Origin Story (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Tzeyi Koay, A Curse Carved in Ink (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Alexis L. Menard, Vices & Virtues (Forever: Hachette)
Lexi Ryan, Night Tide (Deluxe Limited Edition) (Avon: HarperCollins)
Tasha Suri, The Lady of Thorns (Orbit: Hachette)
Moderator: Nicole Gaudier Alemañy, Assistant Branch Manager, Brooklyn Public Library (NY)

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Turning the Page Together
A lively discussion on books worth talking about, perfect for sharing with friends and book clubs.

Karen Joy Fowler, Otter Music (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, The Three Graces of Pearl Street (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Nina Michiko Tam, Tastes Like Seeing God (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House)
Rory Squire, Small Talk (Cardinal: Hachette)
Marisel Vera, The Girls from Humboldt Park (Liveright: Norton)
Moderator: Lynnanne Pearson, Head of Adult Services, DeKalb Public Library (IL)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nobody Told Me This About Parenting
Experts provide practical, compassionate approaches to raising kids today.

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, The Dysregulated Kid (Page Two: Page Two)
Lisa Damour, The Emotional Lives of Parents (Ballantine Books: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Ashley Rayner, Librarian at NORC, University of Chicago (IL)

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nonfiction Illustrated
Discover culinary traditions, experience a life-changing journey, and reflect upon a tragic moment in history.

Christopher Benson, Framing Emmett Till (Abrams ComicArts - Megascope: Abrams)
Matthew Maxwell, How to Hold a Cockroach (Penguin Random House)
Linda Yi, Let's Make Sichuan! (Ten Speed Graphic: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Alexander Zalben, Host and Editor, Comic Book Club

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Supernatural Curiosity
Explore the museum of lost things, travel to enchanted fairy lands, and encounter ghostly hauntings.

Sarah Clegg, Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Sam Kean, The Museum of Lost Things (National Geographic: Disney)
Margo MacDonald, A Curious Presence: An Exploration of Ghosts and the People Who Haunt Them (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Sarah-Ruth Tasko, Readers' Advisory Librarian - Darien Library (CT)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Culinary Adventures
Discover fresh ways to cook, eat, and feel your best with these four Union Square cookbook authors. From Italian favorites and fiber-fueled meals to the science of flavor and everyday wellness, this panel serves up practical recipes, expert insights, and delicious inspiration for every home cook.

Anna Francese Gass, Instant Italian: 100 Modern Classics—Ready in Under an Hour
Dr. Emily Leeming, Fiber Power: 60 Recipes to Transform Your Energy and Boost Your Health in Four Weeks
Helen Rennie, The Science of Dinner: Lessons in Flavor and Texture with 60 Essential Recipes
Elizabeth Stein, Nourish and Thrive: 100 Balanced Recipes for Everyday Wellness
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Novels of Twists and Turns
These mysteries and thrillers range from cozy to creepy and are full of suspense, misdirection, and plot twists.

Tempest Black, Bitter Fruit (Little, Brown and Company: Hachette)
Meg Blakemore, When Harriet Met Homicide (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Lauren Ling Brown, The Inheritance Thief (Bantam: Penguin Random House)
Alyssa Cole, It Takes a Village (Wildthorn: Macmillan)
Rebecca Connolly, Webs of Ink (Shadow Mountain: Shadow Mountain)
Moderator: Tina Panik, Reference Manager, Avon Free Public Library (CT)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Sea Stories
Nonfiction books that capture the drama and danger of life at sea, with accounts of shipwrecks, science, and tragedy.

Caitlin Doughty, Dead in the Water (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Mark Harris, Deep End (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Ben Rawlence, The River in the Sea (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Decker Watson, The Sinking of The Scandies Rose (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL)

12:25 – 12:55 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

12:55 – 1:25 PM ET | Afternoon Keynote
Join Isabel Ibañez in conversation with St. Martin’s Publishing Group’s Executive Editor Eileen Rothschild as they discuss Witch Dance (St. Martin's Publishing Group / Saturday Books: Macmillan Library Marketing), an atmospheric, historical fantasy where forbidden magic, a deadly mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers romance collide in Renaissance Europe.

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Enchantment in the Everyday
These books blend time travel, alternate realities, and magical recipes into daily life.

Sarah Addison Allen, Paper Ghosts (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tabitha Bouldin, Seven Recipes for Second Chances (Bethany House Publishers: Baker)
Emilia Hart, The Enigmas (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Kelly Murashige, Milkiverse (Soho Press) 
Alex Schulman, June 17th (Harper: HarperCollins)
Moderator: James Gardner, Reference Librarian at Clark County Public Library

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Make Your World Better
Self-help authors discuss reconnecting with one’s self, focusing on what's really important, and practicing social bravery.

Autumn Brown, Temper (St. Martin's Essentials / Sounds True: Macmillan)
Chris Cleave, Human Again (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Amy Cuddy, Bullied (Harper Wave: HarperCollins)
Jedidiah Jenkins, Go Quiet on the Mountain (Convergent Books: Penguin Random House)
John S. Kruse, ADHD World (New Harbinger Publications: New Harbinger)
Moderator: Emily Bowles, Lecturer in English, Georgia Gwinnett College

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | First-Time Authors
Learn about debut novels that run the gamut from ping-pong to magical party islands.

Renny Gong, Ping Pong Kids (Ecco: HarperCollins)
CJ Green, Record Lows (Cardinal: Hachette)
Jordan Harrison, Miss Archer (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Ronald Lee Robertson, Goliath (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Raelle Tucker, Obscura (Crown: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Jen Jumba, MLIS, Popular Department Manager, Cleveland Public Library (OH)

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | The Heart of the Matter
Romance books that celebrate connection, character, and unforgettable love stories.

Liana Cincotti, Don't Be in Love (Forever: Hachette)
Kristina Forest, The Unrequited Love Department (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Roxanne LoMarc, Love and Other Two-Player Games (Haven: Baker)
Martha Waters, Spellstruck (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Julia Whelan, Casanova LLC: Deluxe Limited Edition (Kensington: Kensington)
Moderator: Migdalia Jimenez, Librarian, Chicago Public Library (IL)

3:15 – 3:40 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | The Stories We Carry
Authors share the vulnerability and craft of telling their unique histories in their own words.

Miranda Brown, Dumpling Therapy: My Mother, Chinese Food, and Five Thousand Years of Not-So-Ancient Recipes (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tamra Davis, Girl with a Camera (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Ana Hebra Flaster, Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town (She Writes Press: Indie Author Project)
Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Both and Neither: A Memoir and History of Gender (or a Haunting) (Doubleday: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Natalie Marshall, Executive Director, Flint River Regional Library System (GA)

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | Worlds Beyond
Books filled with cozy magic shops, dystopian cli-fi futures, and desert kingdoms readers won't want to leave.

Delemhach, The Dues & Don'ts of Magic (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Sara Hashem, Merciful Carnage (Orbit: Hachette)
Ashley Poston, Elodie and the Dark Lord (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Lev AC Rosen, All Her Potential (Erewhon Books: Kensington)
A.D. Sui, Our Infinite and Inevitable Ends (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Jessica Trotter, Collection Development Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries (MI)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Fantastic Fiction
From the mountains of Jamaica to the hills of Ireland, these books have stories that defy the ordinary.

Mateo Askaripour, Pure Ox (Dutton: Penguin Random House)
Wiley Cash, Same River Twice (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Nicole Dennis-Benn, Black Gold (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Mary Beth Keane, Whale Harbor (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Susan Meissner, Somewhere, Something Incredible (Berkley: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Andrea Gough, Adult Services Librarian, Seattle (WA)

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Reading the Past
Writers weave historical elements, including the Space Race and 19th-century immigration, into compelling narratives.

Marianne Fons, The Dressmaker of Winterset (Union Square & Co.: Union Square)
Jennifer Galvão, Maria, Maria (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Pam Jenoff, The Society of Forgotten Wives (Park Row: HarperCollins)
Shirin Yim Leos, Of Wind and Dust (The Dial Press: Penguin Random House)
Erin Litteken, Find Me in the Stars (Harper Muse: HarperCollins Christian/Focus)
Moderator: Felicia Humphries, Asst. Director Library Services, Boston Public Schools (MA)

5:30 – 6:00 PM ET | Closing Keynote
Bestselling crime writer S.A. Cosby brings his signature grit and suspense to the Marvel Universe with Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel (Hyperion Avenue: Disney), a thrilling tale of justice and power that pushes heroes to their limits.
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

Coming Next Week: Library Lovers Week on EveryLibrary Live!

To start off this new month and week, I have a great virtual option for you to promote to your library patrons (and for yourselves) that is happening NEXT week live but also it will be on demand whenever.

For Library Lovers Week, EveryLibrary Live is once again hosting conversations with popular authors for readers of all ages and all of it is FREE to you. I will be moderating 3 of these conversations. You can see the entire list of content below or with this link.

What is so great about these conversations is that they are not only free but also available on demand anytime. 

Please let you patrons know that they can watch any or all of these conversations whenever they want. 

But for you as a library worker, these are also a great chance to hear about new books by authors from across the literary landscape. Make sure to share this with your youth colleagues as well. You could even pull books by the authors listed below (backlist and new) and make a Library Lovers Week display. 

See below for the full list of events and authors. At the end of this post I have the promotion slides (with full alt text) for my specific events.

With the way the world is right now, we all need to spread the joy and the power of reading. This week will connect your readers to their stories they love. And again, it is all for free.

Maybe I will see some of you there. 

Library Lovers Week 2026

February 9–13, 2026 | 5 PM, 7 PM & 9 PM EDT on Facebook Live and YouTube Live

---

Join EveryLibrary Live! for Library Lovers Week 2026, a three-night virtual celebration of books, authors, and the libraries that connect readers to stories. Featuring bestselling and award-winning writers across adult, YA, and middle-grade fiction, the event highlights the power of reading, discovery, and access.

With sincere thanks to our publishing and publicity partners: Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Random House, W. W. Norton & Company, Kensington, Levine Querido, Ingram, Wunderkind PR, City Owl Press, and Zibby Publishing, whose generous support makes Library Lovers Week possible and helps bring together beloved authors and exciting new voices for readers to discover

12 Live Author Panels • 21 Acclaimed Authors

Each evening features three live conversations designed for readers, librarians, educators, and book lovers of all ages. Library Lovers Week celebrates libraries as essential community spaces that foster lifelong reading, support access, and keep stories alive across generations.

---

Guest Hosts

Guest hosts Gigi Howard (Drinks in the Library) and Becky Spratford (Librarian advisory and horror author), are joined by Andrew Albanese (Words & Money) along with John Chrastka, founder of EveryLibrary, who leads the conversations with insight, energy, and a deep commitment to libraries.

Featured Author Panels

Monday, February 9th 

5:00 PM EDT — James Ponti & Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster) "Mission: Middle Grade High-Stakes Adventures"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1637016404389157
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVKmk8ADQzM

7:00 PM EDT — Cheryl W. Thompson (Kensington Publishing) - "The Lost Tuskeege Airmen"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/26409055965345069
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VhmMuyQwuU

9:00 PM EDT —   Justin C. Key  (HarperCollins & Wunderkind PR) - "Healing, Justice, and the Future We Choose"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/834072879684711
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiI1TAqAo7Q

Tuesday, February 10

5:00 PM EDT — C. J. Box (Penguin Random House) - "At the Crossroads: Justice, Family, and the Modern West"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1547079246345955
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXIEetx8j-U

7:00 PM EDT — Heather Morris & Francine Prose (HarperCollins) - "Stories That Endure: Empathy, Memory, and the Power of Fiction"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1427047182204061
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPIkcsancvw

9:00 PM EDT — Colleen Delaney & Amy Woodruff (City Owl Press) - "Spellbinding Stories with Librarian-Authors" 

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1200283145613246
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-cDR6b4DGM

Wednesday, February 11

5:00 PM EDT — Jamie Sumner & Megan E. Freeman (Simon & Schuster) - "Uncovering Secrets & Finding Strength"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/25472486765756706
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pzHFSZnLnQ

7:00 PM EDT — Donna Barba Higuera & Daniel Nayeri (Levine Querido / Ingram) - "Worlds Beyond, Stories Within"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1507831193647728
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIo2iznN01U

9:00 PM EDT — Raúl the Third & Kyle Lukoff (Hachette Book Group) - "Big Laughs, Bold Heroes, and Books Kids Love"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2963491770648653
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Eww3Ny5zU

Thursday, February 12

5:00 PM EDT — David Guterson & Naeem Murr (W. W. Norton & Company) - "Lives in Motion: Crossing Borders of Place, Memory, and Belonging"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1585721749332911
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp6iI8RJuhk

7:00 PM EDT — Julie Doar & Sarah Sawyer (Zibby Publishing) - "Unraveling the Past"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/895652152872436
YouTube Live: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VMiYpi4akxs

9:00 PM EDT — Janet Skeslien Charles & Sadeqa Johnson (Simon & Schuster) - "Women Who Preserve, Women Who Resist: History, Identity, and the Power of Story"

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1230979675734232
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK7wihxldeI

Thursday, February 12

5:00 PM EDT - Andru Volinsky - The Last Bake Sale - and What It Means for Libraries, Schools, and Higher Ed

Facebook Live:
YouTube Live:

---

Live + On-Demand Viewing

Watch live on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch every session on demand (perfect for classrooms, libraries, book clubs, or late-night readers).

RSVP & Spread the Word

At a time when access to books is more important than ever, Library Lovers Week puts the focus back where it belongs: on readers, on stories, and on the libraries that make both possible.

Reserve your spot, receive event reminders, and get access to replays. Invite your book club, your students, your patrons, and your fellow library lovers.

When

February 09, 2026 at 5:00pm - February 13, 2026

EveryLibrary's Free Banned Book's Week Festival of Authors And I Am A Part of It!

Banned Books week is coming up on September 22 and EveryLibrary is doing a full week of author and publishing and library professional interviews. They have recruited me to help and I will be doing 3 authors interview panels.

You can go here to signup for free. From the landing page with and easy sign-up box and the schedule as its stands now:

Join us for over 25 panels with 45+ authors, publishing professionals, and experts on book bans and the First Amendment for "EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books Week 2024", September 22 - 27 online. This will be an extraordinary week of conversations about the joy of writing, the culture of reading, the challenges of censorship in schools and libraries, and the celebration of the freedom to read. Plan now to be a part of this new literary festival where everyone is encouraged to read freely. 

We have an exciting lineup of author conversations, panels, and learning events that you can attend online and at your convenience. We will be hosting live broadcasts every day during Banned Books Week 2024 on our Facebook Live or YouTube Live channels. Be a part of each event as it happens, or access the "instant archive" for on-demand viewing. Meet your favorite authors and take the time to learn, listen, and enjoy new ones. 

We start our festival of reading on Sunday, September 22 at 12n EDT and run through Friday, September 27 at 8pm EDT. All events are free to attend. Meet and listen to authors like Julia Quinn, Jason Reynolds, Malinda Lo, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Stephen Chbosky, Maia Kobabe, and Paula Poundstone as they share about writing and how libraries matter in their lives. Join the conversation about fighting censorship and supporting the First Amendment with noted experts and organizers like Dr. Emily Knox and Patrick "PC" Sweeney.

This reading festival is free and open to the public.

EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books Week 2024 is supported by the participation of great publishers like Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, Hachette, Rowman & Littlefield, Kensignton, Candlewick, and Seven Stories Press. Our partner organizations, Authors Against Book Bans (AABB), the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and the We Are Stronger Than Censorship initiative, are powerful advocates for reading. Join your hosts Gigi Howard from the hit podcast Drinks in the Library, Lee Wind from IBPA, Becky Spratford from RA for All, author and ambassador Rex Ogle, and John Chrastka from EveryLibrary for dozens of engaging author conversations.

RSVP now to get the full festival schedule emailed to you, along with reminders every morning. New sessions are still being announced. Sign up now so you won't miss a thing!

While I think this event will be of interest to you, my readers, I also want to remind you that you can (and should) make this FREE event part of your library's Banned Books Week programming.

First, and most importantly, please notice that the authors here are all currently publishing. We are not talking about banning classics. These are books and authors whose work is challenged RIGHT NOW. These are people who are involved in the fight right to stop censorship today.

Please model this behavior during your Banned Books Week programming and promotion. This is not about the outrage of classic titles being banned. We are in a moment when contemporary stories where people who write authentically as a person of color or from their LGBTQIA+ perspective are facing challenges that are demanding that their existence be silenced. Yes it is that serious. Sure it sucks that people ban Huck Finn, but you should be outraged that simply having a queer character means there are loud voices calling it pornography. Showcase the books from the last 10 years that are actively being removed from libraries. Books that have won major awards. 

Second, you can set up a room in your library to show these interviews live throughout the week as well as passing it on to your patrons for them to watch on their own. This can be your Banned Books Week in person event. EveryLibrary is helping you by doing the work to organize it, but they are doing it to help all of you.

I was talking to EveryLibrary Executive Director John Chrastka about encouraging libraries to make watch parties for this weeklong, "accidental" book festival (his word in quotes). He agreed.

In fact, if you look at the schedule, they were thinking about just this as planning because there are live events starting as late as 8pm Pacific- meaning that all libraries, across the continental US have the chance to have evening programming all week long.

And yet, they are also all free and will be archived for use at anytime. So while this a Banned Books Week event, it can be an anytime of year event as well.

Please sign-up for yourself, advertise the event as YOUR Banned Books Week Programming. Make displays of the books by the authors scheduled to appear. They write in all age levels so that means you can do intergenerational displays as well, and I love these as I have made evident in these posts.