author talks

02 12, 2020

Jill Grunenwald talks ‘Reading Behind Bars’ & recommending ‘Gatsby’ to inmates

By admin|2020-02-12T06:00:53-05:00February 12, 2020|

Jill Grunenwald visited us last month to discuss her new memoir, Reading Behind Bars, about her experience as a librarian in a men’s minimum-state prison.

She shared with us what she learned while working there, how she tried to help the inmates in her role as librarian, and how it affected her values. She also all tells what she thinks many people get wrong about incarcerated people.

Grunenwald’s book shares her poignancy and wit. If you enjoyed Orange Is the New Black or Shakespeare Saved My Life, then you should read it. (We even know this cool place where you can borrow it.)

10 13, 2019

Meet mystery author Vivien Chien at Mentor Library

By admin|2019-10-13T06:00:21-04:00October 13, 2019|

We were delighted to host Vivien Chien, author of the Noodle Shop mystery series, earlier this month. After her author talk, she sat down for an interview that was as fun and funny as she.

She explained why she enjoys writing mysteries, what a Noodle Shop Mysteries video game would look like, and tells us her favorite places to eat in AsiaTown in Cleveland.

Chien’s visit kicked off a Month of Mystery at Mentor Public Library. Throughout October, some of the best mystery and true-crime authors will be visiting us, including:

Brad Ricca, author of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, the phenomenal true story of Grace Humiston, the first woman U.S. District Attorney, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Jane Ann Turzillo, who will take us on a tour of the murderers, tricksters, train robbers, and more in Ohio’s wicked past at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

All of these author visits are open to all, free to attend, and require registration. Additionally, they’re all hosted at our Main Branch.

During our Mystery Month, you can also:

Explore the secrets of the Lizzie Borden murders, the sinking of the Titanic and more with professional magician Jim Kleefeld on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at our Main Branch.

We also have mystery programs for all ages and at all of our branches, so visit our event calendar to see which intrigue you.

09 5, 2019

Discover the ‘Unique Eats & Eateries of Cleveland’

By admin|2019-09-05T06:00:48-04:00September 5, 2019|

Looking for new ideas on where to eat in Cleveland?

Get suggestions from the gourmands who literally wrote the book. Fran Golden and David Molyneaux, authors of Unique Eats and Eateries of Cleveland.

The native Clevelanders took a moment to speak with us when they visited the library recently. They share their love for the dim sum at Li Wah, artichokes at Gallucci’s, local staples like Sokolowski’s, and more.

By the way, you can visit our YouTube page for exclusive interviews with other critically acclaimed and bestselling authors like Paula McLain, Christina Baker Kline, Karin Slaughter, and Dan Chaon,

08 11, 2018

Mindy McGinnis & Cinda Williams Chima on fantasy, philosophy & the worst things they’ve ever written

By admin|2018-08-11T06:00:05-04:00August 11, 2018|

Mindy McGinnis and Cinda Williams Chima are award-winning, bestselling YA authors who were kind enough to visit us earlier this summer.

While here, they granted an interview where they discussed EVERYTHING. They talked about:

how to build believable fantasy worlds
the weirdest thing they ever researched for a story
how their philosophy degrees — yes, they both have degrees in philosophy — influence their writing
their favorite books written by each other
the worst things they’ve ever written.