Have you ever wondered why the English spelling of words is sometimes… well… just weird? Come on a surprisingly hilarious journey with us and author Gabe Henry through the history of the English language, while we discuss troublemakers like Mark Twain who broke all the rules. Join us on Wednesday, September 17th at 1 PM […]
Join the conversation with Smithsonian professionals Adrián Aldaba and Emily Key as they discuss Nuestra América and highlight inspiring stories of Latinos throughout history, as well as their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States.
Since publishing in 2015, Leigh Bardugo’s highly popular Six of Crows has taken the world of YA literature by storm – and it’s not hard to see why. The complex fantasy setting, thoughtfully-structured magic system, and deliciously morally gray characters all collide in a world you won’t want to leave and you don’t have to! […]
You are invited to be one of the first to hear from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai about her astonishing memoir, Finding My Way. Malala reintroduces herself to the world, sharing how she navigated life as someone whose darkest moments threatened to define her narrative — while seeking the freedom to find out who […]
Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with Virtual Authors Live for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor (out October 14, 2025).
The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging combines diligent science reporting, moving patient success stories, and surprising self-discovery to help us discover the lasting and life-changing power of social prescribing. Traditionally, when we get sick, health care professionals ask, “What’s the matter with you?” But around the world, teams […]
Virtual Authors Live! is thrilled to welcome back Liz Moore –- one of the first guests to appear in the Library Speakers Consortium series –to discuss her latest work, The God of the Woods, an instant New York Times bestseller and one of NPR’s 2024 “Books We Love” highlights. Early morning, August 1975: a camp […]
Feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart’s book, The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic, tells the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery; the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction; and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era. These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously […]
Take part in a conversation with Tom Crouch about the trials, errors, and incredible legacy of the Smithsonian’s foundation.
Join Virtual Authors Live in conversation with bestselling author and humorist Michael Perry, whose collection of genre-spanning works encapsulates the experiences – and the magic – of rural town communities and the everyday people who reside in them. In his memoir, Population: 485, Perry tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy […]
You’re invited to join Virtual Authors Live for a conversation with acclaimed author Kate Quinn about her latest fantastical work, The Astral Library, which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, […]
Join Virtual Authors Live for a special conversation between award-winning journalist Shoshana Walter and bestselling and award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver as they chat about Walter’s book Rehab: An American Scandal. In this work, Walter, a Pulitzer finalist, exposes the country’s failed response to the opioid crisis, and the malfeasance, corruption, and snake oil which blight […]
