Author Events
Pikes Peak Library District's author events offer exciting opportunities to connect with writers, discover new books, and engage with ideas that inspire. Whether attending virtually or in person, readers can enjoy thought-provoking conversations, author interviews, and interactive Q&A sessions with bestselling authors, emerging voices, and subject matter experts.
October/November In-person Author Visits
Erin Taylor: Cheesman Park, From Denver’s City Cemetery to City Park
Wed., Oct. 7, 6 – 7:30 p.m., at Library 21c
Discover the history beneath one of Denver's most recognizable parks. Once the site of the city's first cemetery, Cheesman Park was transformed into a public space, even as many graves remained beneath its grounds.
Author and historian Erin Taylor will explore the cemetery's history, its transformation into a city park, and the mysteries that surround it today. The presentation also highlights a real-life setting featured in Woman of Light, a 2026 All Pikes Peak Reads selection.
Colorado Women Homesteaders with author and historian Gail Beaton
Sat., Oct. 10, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., at Manitou Springs Library
Nearly 13,000 women homesteaded in Colorado, staking claims, building businesses, raising families, and helping shape the Centennial State. Through diary entries, letters, photographs, and meticulous research, acclaimed Colorado historian and author Gail M. Beaton brings their remarkable stories of life, resilience, and independence to life.
Join author and historian Gail Beaton as she discusses her new book, Colorado Women Homesteaders. Through personal stories, historical records, and photographs, Beaton brings to life the experiences of women who helped shape Colorado's history.
Author David Baron - The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America
Wed., Nov., 18, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., at Penrose Library
Join Colorado author, and Colorado Book Award finalist, David Baron as he discusses his newest book, The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America. This novel has been chosen as one of 2025’s top books by The New Yorker, TIME, Boston Globe, Science News, Library Journal, and Colorado Public Radio.
September/October Virtual Authors:
From space exploration to a music-filled virtual event for children, join PPLD during our virtual author talks for September.
Courage, Choice, and What Comes Next with Veronica Roth
Thu., Oct. 1, 5 p.m.
Return to the world of Divergent with bestselling author Veronica Roth as she discusses her popular young adult series and offers a sneak peek of her upcoming novel, The Sixth Faction, available Oct. 6.
Discover how familiar characters face new choices in an alternate version of dystopian Chicago that captivated readers.
Art in Flight: Reinventing Postmodernism with Smithsonian Curator Carolyn Russo
Thu., Oct. 8, Noon
Discover how the wonder of flight inspired American artist Robert Rauschenberg's work across collage, photography, performance, and printmaking.
Author and Smithsonian curator Carolyn Russo will discuss her book, The Ascent of Rauschenberg, exploring how birds, insects, aviation, and spaceflight influenced the artist's creative vision.
Ghosts, Grief, and Growing Up: YA Storytelling with Cherie Dimaline
Thu., Oct. 22, 5 p.m.
What happens when a made-up ghost story summons a real spirit?
Join bestselling author Cherie Dimaline as she discusses her young adult novel, Funeral Songs for Dying Girls, a haunting story about a teenager navigating grief, identity, and unexpected connections. Dimaline will also explore her writing career and the inspiration behind her stories.
Explore more conversations with authors and experts during November's virtual author visits:
- Tue., Nov. 3, at noon: Reclaiming Your Inner Wisdom: Sacred Indigenous Teachings with Asha Frost
- Thu., Nov. 5, at 5 p.m.: Secrets, Lies, and Unforgettable Twists: A Conversation with E. Lockhart
- Wed., Nov. 11, at noon: How Money Became God: Rethinking Wealth and Greed in Modern Society with Paul Vigna
- Thu., Nov. 19, at 5 p.m.: Epic Worlds and Celestial Prophecies: Exploring the Between Earth and Sky Trilogy with Rebecca Roanhorse