PBS Books

Stacey Kirby - The Bureau of Personal Belonging | The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series
2025-02-14 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit)
Stacey Kirby is a queer, white-bodied, self-appointed civil servant and interdisciplinary artist known for creating participatory installations that explore themes of identity, community, and civil rights. Through interactive performances and immersive environments, she invites audiences to reflect on their roles in civic and social engagement. Kirby’s work takes place in traditional art spaces and alternative public spaces such as restrooms, on billboards and at protests.
As the recipient of the 2025 Roman J. Witt Artist-in-Residence Award, Kirby will collaborate with the campus community to create a new iteration of The Bureau of Personal Belonging, reflecting the current cultural, societal, and political landscape. The Bureau, a series of performances set within site-specific art installations, utilizes bureaucratic forms, postures, and language in vintage office environments to engage participants and community performers in exploring questions of civil authority. With a history spanning two decades, including over 200 performances, involving 300 community performers, and engaging 10,000 participants, Kirby’s work employs humor and satire to foster an on-going dialogue about identity, community, and human rights.
Kirby is a recipient of numerous awards, including the ArtPrize 8 Juried Grand Prize and an NC Arts Council Artist Fellowship for Visual Artists; has been nominated for the United States Artists Award and the Anonymous Was A Woman Award; and was a finalist for the 1858 Prize. Kirby has also been awarded artist residencies at the Headlands Center for the Arts, Barton College, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, the Gibbes Museum of Art, and was a visiting artist at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Her work is represented in the Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University Rare Book Collection, and other private collections. Kirby has a dual degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Studio Art and Journalism and Mass Communication. Kirby serves her community on the Nasher Museum of Art’s Friends Board at Duke University and as a member of the Scrap Exchange Board of Directors.
Presented in partnership with Stamps Gallery and Roman J. Witt Artist Residency Program. This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Fall 2024 Season
This fall, the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater for weekly in-person events.
Detroit PBS and PBS Books, in partnership with the Stamps School, will stream each week’s event Fridays at 8pm.
See the full schedule of events livestreamed by PBS Books here.
Some programs may not be available online, depending on artist requests. Interested in receiving notifications before online videos go live? Sign up to receive a reminder before each event begins streaming.
Watch Past Penny Stamps Episodes

The Magic of Masterpiece | All Creatures Great and Small | Filmmaker Talk with Melissa Gallant
2025-02-14 20:00 - 21:00
Join Heather-Marie Montilla for an engaging conversation with Melissa Gallant, Executive Producer of All Creatures Great and Small, as they share exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the highly anticipated Season 5 of this cherished series.

Slavery After Slavery Author Talk with Dr. Mary Frances Berry
2025-02-19 20:00 - 21:00
Discover Untold Stories of Resilience: PBS Books Author Talk with Dr. Mary Frances Berry
Join us for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Mary Frances Berry, celebrated historian and author of Slavery After Slavery. Hosted by Heather-Marie Montilla, this PBS Books Author Talk traces the stories behind individual cases from southern supreme courts to demonstrate how formerly enslaved families and their descendants were systemically injured through white supremacist practices, perpetuated by the legal system. Dr. Berry calls upon us to have empathy and understanding for marginalized people today.

asses.masses - Ya Herd? Theatre, Games, Democracy and Donkeys | The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series
2025-02-21 20:00 - 21:00
asses.masses is a custom video game designed to be played from beginning to end by a live audience, one person at a time. It’s the 7+ hour epic story of a herd of unemployed donkeys trying to get their jobs back, all while navigating the perils of a post-Industrial society in which they’ve been made redundant. Cheeky, political, and best described as Animal Farm meets Pokémon meets Final Fantasy, asses.masses puts the control(ler) in its audience’s hands and asks them to discover the space between the work that defines us and the play that frees us.
asses.masses creators Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim are conceptual artists exploring urgent questions around the social value of art, digital labour, and the political potential of games. Mixing their backgrounds in performance, philosophy, psychology, and digital media, their collaborations have manifested in video games, participatory installations, digital archives, and card games. In addition to asses.masses, Patrick and Milton are also the co-founders of the Canadian national video archive of performance (videocan) and the co-creators behind a performing arts economy trading card game (culturecapital). Their projects have been presented across Canada, as well as in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, the USA, and the UK, in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Catalan.
In tandem with their appearance in the Penny Stamps Series, asses.masses will be in performance as part of the UMS season on February 15 and 16, 2025 at the Stamps Auditorium, Walgreen Drama Center.
Presented in Partnership with University Musical Society. This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Fall 2024 Season
This fall, the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater for weekly in-person events.
Detroit PBS and PBS Books, in partnership with the Stamps School, will stream each week’s event Fridays at 8pm.
See the full schedule of events livestreamed by PBS Books here.
Some programs may not be available online, depending on artist requests. Interested in receiving notifications before online videos go live? Sign up to receive a reminder before each event begins streaming.
Watch Past Penny Stamps Episodes

PBS Books Readers Club - 'Good Dirt' & 'Black Cake' by Charmaine Wilkerson
2025-02-26 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club is delighted to welcome critically acclaimed author Charmaine Wilkerson to discuss her captivating new novel Good Dirt and her bestselling debut, Black Cake. The episode premieres on February 26 at 8PM ET as a PBS Books Facebook Live event, on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
Good Dirt tells the story of Ebby Freeman, a woman who unravels the connections between a childhood tragedy, a treasured family heirloom, and her ancestors’ enduring legacy. Through multiple generations, Wilkerson masterfully explores themes of family, identity, and how the past shapes the future. Good Dirt is a poignant and complex narrative that highlights the emotional and historical ties that define us.
We’ll also delve into her debut novel, Black Cake, which captivated readers with its compelling tale of family secrets, the search for identity, and a mysterious inheritance.
Both Good Dirt and Black Cake display Wilkerson’s rich, layered storytelling and unique ability to craft vivid characters and intricate plots, blending both historical and contemporary issues with the timeless exploration of identity and belonging.
Our PBS watch alike this month is Great Migrations: A People on the Move, the latest docuseries from Henry Louis Gates Jr., which premieres on January 28, 2025. Preview it now on the PBS App.

About the Author
The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

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When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.

The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.

So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.

In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present., We can’t choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?

In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.

Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.

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Tiff Massey - Whatupdoe | The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series
2025-02-28 20:00 - 21:00
Tiff Massey is an artist whose practice centers around adornment and community. Massey creates jewelry, sculpture, performance, video, music, and immersive environments with large-scale jewelry pieces and quilts. Massey was the first Black woman to earn an MFA in metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. She draws on 1980s hip-hop culture and her experiences as a Detroit native to explore the concept of adornment in African diaspora and contemporary issues surrounding race, class, and popular culture.
Massey merges her art practice with meaningful community engagement to explore the relationship between identity, public space, and community. Her installation 7 Mile + Livernois, currently on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts, refers to the neighborhood at the heart of Detroit’s Black business and fashion district. It is also where Massey grew up, and the site of a new art and community space Massey is building that blends her craft with her drive for community kinship.
Tiff Massey’s art has been featured in solo and group shows around the US and internationally, and has garnered multiple awards. Massey’s work is in the permanent collections of many institutions, including the Museum of Art and Design in New York and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. She is the winner of the 2021 United States Artists Fellowship and the 2019 Art Jewelry Forum Susan Beech Mid-Career Artist Grant, a two-time winner of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knights Arts Challenge, and a 2015 Kresge Artists Fellowship recipient.
This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Fall 2024 Season
This fall, the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater for weekly in-person events.
Detroit PBS and PBS Books, in partnership with the Stamps School, will stream each week’s event Fridays at 8pm.
See the full schedule of events livestreamed by PBS Books here.
Some programs may not be available online, depending on artist requests. Interested in receiving notifications before online videos go live? Sign up to receive a reminder before each event begins streaming.
Watch Past Penny Stamps Episodes

Author Talk: A Conversation with Juhea Kim & the Ballerina Book Club
2025-03-12 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Author Talk: A Conversation with Juhea Kim & the Ballerina Book Club
Join PBS Books for a captivating Author Talk featuring Juhea Kim, acclaimed author of City of Night Birds, in conversation with Ballerina Book Club’s Isabella Boylston and Connor Holloway, renowned dancers from American Ballet Theatre, alongside Heather-Marie Montilla, National Director of PBS Books.
This special live-streamed event celebrates Youth Art Month, highlighting the beauty of art and literature—because we are all young at heart and should celebrate the arts! The discussion will highlight two remarkable books: City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim, a lyrical and immersive novel set in the ballet world.
Kim will take center stage to share insights into her writing process, the challenges of bringing a ballet-themed novel to life, and the deep artistic and spiritual connections between writing and dance. Boylston and Holloway—of the Ballerina Book Club—join as hosts, sharing their love of literature and how their club, in partnership with WNET’s All Arts, brings storytelling of their arts education journey and ballet together in new and exciting ways.
Don’t miss this extraordinary conversation celebrating the power of books, the beauty of ballet, and the art of creative expression. Be part of the PBS Books community and tune in live!

About the Book
A once-famous ballerina faces a final choice—to return to the world of Russian dance that nearly broke her, or to walk away forever—in this incandescent novel of redemption and love On a White Night in 2019, prima ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to St. Petersburg two years after a devastating accident stalled her career. Once the most celebrated dancer of her generation, she now turns to pills and alcohol to numb the pain of her past. She is unmoored in her old city as the ghosts of her former life begin to resurface: her loving but difficult mother, her absentee father, and the two gifted dancers who led to her downfall. One of those dancers, Alexander, is the love of her life, who transformed both Natalia and her art. The other is Dmitri, a dark and treacherous genius. When the latter offers her a chance to return to the stage in her signature role, Natalia must decide whether she can again face the people responsible for both her soaring highs and darkest hours. Painting a vivid portrait of the Russian ballet world, where cutthroat ambition, ever-shifting politics, and sublime artistry collide, City of Night Birds unveils the making of a dancer with both profound intimacy and breathtaking scope. Mysterious and alluring, passionate and virtuosic, Juhea Kim’s second novel is an affecting meditation on love, forgiveness, and the making of an artist in a turbulent world.
About the Author
Juhea Kim is the author of the novel Beasts of a Little Land, which was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the winner of the Yasnaya Polyana Literary Award, Russia’s largest annual award in literature. It has been translated around the world and is being adapted for television. She is also the author of City of Night Birds, which was a Reese’s Book Club pick. A graduate of Princeton University, her writing has been published in Granta, the Times Literary Supplement, the Independent, Zyzzyva, Guernica, and other outlets. She is an advocate for wildlife conservation, animal rights, and education and aid in Africa. Born in Korea and raised in Portland, Oregon, Kim now lives in London.
Learn More About Juhea Kim
About Ballerina Book Club
Ballerina Book Club, hosted on ALL ARTS, was created as a space for readers to connect over a shared love of literature. Founded by Isabella Boylston, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, the club offers a place for book lovers to engage in meaningful discussions. Inspired by her lifelong passion for reading, Boylston sees literature as a way to explore different worlds—much like the immersive experience of dance. “Often, people have the misconception that dancers aren’t intellectually curious, but I’ve found the opposite to be true,” she says. Ballerina Book Club welcomes everyone: “All you need is an open book and an open mind!”
Get the Latest Updates from Ballerina Bookclub and Isabella Boylston
Sign Up for the Ballerina Bookclub Newsletter
Founder, Ballerina Book Club
Isabella Boylston is an international ballet star and Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre. She has appeared as a guest star with Paris Opera Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, National Ballet of China and many others. She transcended onto the big screen in the film Red Sparrow, as well as recently starring in Laufey’s Santa Baby music video along with Bill Murray. In addition to having an active social media presence, she runs Ballerina Book Club with her cohosts Connor Holloway and AllArts to share her lifelong love of reading.
Co-Founder, Ballerina Book Club
Connor Holloway (they/them) born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, is a dancer, reader, writer, producer and content creator. Connor moved to NYC in 2013 to dance with American Ballet Theatre where they met Isabella Boylston and launched the Webby-nominated, Ballerina Book Club in partnership with ALL ARTS (2020). Some favorite books include: David Leavitt’s The Lost Language of Cranes, James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles.
About ALL ARTS
ALL ARTS is the destination for inspiration, creativity and art of all forms. This New York Emmy-winning arts and culture hub is created by The WNET Group, the community-supported home of New York’s PBS stations.
The Mission of ALL ARTS is to enrich lives through the transformative power of art by providing a free, multi-platform portal for the arts, accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Learn More and Sign Up for the ALL ARTS Newsletter
About the Host
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Gary Tyler - Art as Resilience | The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series
2025-03-21 20:00 - 21:00
For over four decades, Gary Tyler has worked at the intersection of art and social justice. After enduring nearly 42 years wrongfully imprisoned at Angola State Penitentiary, Tyler uses his textile-based practice to highlight issues of mass incarceration, instilling messages of hope and resilience.
Tyler first learned to quilt to support the Angola Prison Hospice program, where he was a volunteer. Notably, Tyler was the President of the Angola Prison drama program for almost three decades, using the position to promote a culture of community, civic responsibility and introspection.
Material, symbolism, and quilting traditions are central to Tyler’s work. Since his release in 2016, Tyler’s appliqué quilts feature motifs of transformation, self-portraits and intricate allegorical landscapes, depicting memories of his time incarcerated, including the legendary Angola Rodeo and his time as president of the drama program. Through his work, Tyler honors the lives of those depicted and creates a dialogue around the lasting impact of mass incarceration and its roots in slavery, with the hope of inspiring meaningful change.
Gary Tyler is a 2019 and 2020 Art Matters Awardee, and in 2024 he received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Art and Design from the Massachusetts College of Art & Design. Tyler was awarded the 2024 Right of Return Fellowship by the Center for Art and Advocacy, as well as the Frieze Los Angeles Impact Prize, which recognizes an artist who has made a significant impact on society with their work. His work can be seen at the Historical New Orleans Collective Museum in New Orleans, and is in the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. as well as the City of Santa Monica’s Art Bank.
Presented in partnership with the Library Street Collective, with support from the Prison Creative Arts Project. The Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons is the largest curated exhibition of art by incarcerated artists in the world and features art from every prison in the state of Michigan. The 29th Annual Exhibition will run from March 18 through April 1 in the Duderstadt Gallery on the University of Michigan campus. All of the art is for sale and the proceeds of the sales go to the artists themselves.
This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Fall 2024 Season
This fall, the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater for weekly in-person events.
Detroit PBS and PBS Books, in partnership with the Stamps School, will stream each week’s event Fridays at 8pm.
See the full schedule of events livestreamed by PBS Books here.
Some programs may not be available online, depending on artist requests. Interested in receiving notifications before online videos go live? Sign up to receive a reminder before each event begins streaming.
Watch Past Penny Stamps Episodes

PBS Books Readers Club - 'The Women' by Kristin Hannah
2025-03-26 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes international best-selling author, Kristin Hannah to discuss her powerful and most recent novel The Women. The episode premieres on March 26th at 8PM ET as a PBS Books Facebook Live event, on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
In The Women, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a twenty-year-old nursing student, impulsively decides to join the Army Nurse Corp after her brother is shipped out to fight in the Vietnam War. Her life is changed forever as she is thrust into the chaos and destruction of war, where friendships are forged, tested and lost. As she faces the violence and trauma of war, Frankie also struggles with the challenge of returning home to a nation torn apart by political division, feeling just as lost and out of place as the soldiers who fought beside her.
The Women shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War — female nurses who served courageously, risking their lives to care for others in the midst of danger.
In honor of Woman’s History month, our PBS watch-alike is Call the Midwife, a period piece about nurses, midwives and nuns from Nonnatus House as they serve the expectant mothers in London’s East End. Watch past seasons now on the PBS app. Season 14 premiers on March 30th on PBS.

About the Author
Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her last book, The Four Winds, was the biggest selling hardcover fiction title of 2021. Her previous novels, The Four Winds, The Great Alone, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane were all named Goodreads Best Historical Fiction and her international blockbuster, The Nightingale, won the coveted People’s Choice Award for best fiction and was a selection of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club in 2023 and named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller, as did The Four Winds when it was published in February of 2021 as well as becoming #1 on the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstores’ bestseller lists. It was selected as a book club pick by the both the Today Show and the Book Of the Month Club, which named it the best book of 2021. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world in the week it came out. A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

National Library Week - A Conversation with ALA President Cindy Hohl
2025-04-09 20:00 - 21:00
Join PBS Books for a special celebration of National Library Week (April 6-12) as we explore the enduring impact of public libraries in our communities. In anticipation of the Independent Lens documentary Free for All: Inside the Public Library (premiering April 29 on PBS and the PBS App), host Heather-Marie Montilla sits down with Cindy Hohl, President of the American Library Association, to discuss the important role of libraries in American society.
From the vital work of librarians to the challenges of Freedom To Read and budget cuts, this conversation delves into how libraries remain cornerstones of democracy, knowledge, and inclusion. We also take an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Free for All with filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor, exploring the untold stories behind these beloved institutions.

The Wright Conversations featuring Kwame Alexander
2025-04-16 20:00 - 21:00
Internationally renowned poet, New York Times bestselling author of 40 books, Emmy-winning producer, and educator Kwame Alexander is on a mission to change the world one word at a time.
Alexander comes to The Wright to discuss his newest book, This is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets and read excerpts from his many writings. In an op-ed published last year in the Los Angeles times Alexander captured the challenges and opportunities of the present moment when he wrote so eloquently that “too many of us have lost our way, our will and our sense of historic purpose. The good and righteous in us knows what’s necessary for a renewal. For a healing. For a reclamation of the most important values that have eluded us, but still define our journey as human beings: freedom, democracy and equality of opportunity. The problem is we don’t know where to go, or we’re too afraid of how we get there.”

A Conversation on Free for All: The Public Library
2025-04-23 20:00 - 21:00
Join PBS Books for an enlightening conversation exploring the transformative power of public libraries in America. This special event, created to support the upcoming Independent Lens film Free for All: The Public Library, features an in-depth discussion with filmmakers Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor, as well as a thought-provoking conversation with Cindy Hohl, President of the American Library Association.
Filmmakers Logsdon and Faulknor offer a behind-the-scenes look at their documentary, which traces the evolution of public libraries from their revolutionary beginnings to their role today as essential pillars of democracy, education, and community support. Inspired by the heroic efforts of librarians during Hurricane Katrina, the film examines the historic and ongoing challenges facing libraries, from budget cuts to book bans, while celebrating their resilience and continued relevance.
Additionally, Cindy Hohl provides expert insight into the current state of America’s libraries, the fight for the Freedom to Read, and the critical role libraries play in fostering inclusion, knowledge, and civic engagement.
Hosted by Heather-Marie Montilla, this PBS Books event will also feature the official film trailer for Free for All: The Public Library, offering viewers an exclusive preview of this inspiring documentary.
Where to Watch: Tune in live on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app
Don’t miss this engaging conversation about the past, present, and future of America’s public libraries.
About the Host

Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

About the Guests

Lucie Faulkor
Lucie Faulknor is an arts management and documentary film professional. Founder at Serendipity Films, LLC, she produced the award-winning documentary Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans. Lucie has worked with SFJAZZ, City Arts & Lectures, Dublin Fringe Festival, and more. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration.

Dawn Logsdon
Dawn Logsdon produced, directed, and edited Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, and co-directed Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton. Her editing credits include Jacques Pepin: The Art of Craft, The Weather Underground, Paragraph 175, The Castro, The Vanishing Line, and Have You Heard From Johannesburg among others.

Cindy Hohl
President, American Library Association
Cindy Hohl, director of policy analysis and operational support at Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library is the 2024-2025 president of the American Library Association (ALA).
Hohl is past president of the American Indian Library Association and is an active member of other ALA affiliates, including the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, Black Caucus of ALA, Chinese American Librarians Association, and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. Hohl is also a member of several round tables: Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Library Research Round Table, and Social Responsibilities Round Table.
Hohl holds a Bachelor of Science in Organization Management and Leadership from Friends University, a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Baker University.

PBS Books Readers Club - "Miss Austen" by Gill Hornby
2025-04-30 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes international best-selling author Gill Hornby to discuss her novel Miss Austen. The episode premiered on April 30th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app.
Opening in 1840s England, two decades after her beloved sister Jane’s death, elderly spinster Cassandra Austen returns to the vicarage of Kintbury on a mission to collect and destroy letters written by Jane. Cassandra must navigate time, strained relationships, and a meddling housemaid while on her mission to protect her late sister’s legacy. With each letter she reads, floods of vivid memories resurface, bringing both joy and sorrow.
Miss Austen weaves a story that blends the youthful promise and romance of early years with the hard-earned wisdom of experience.
In the interview, Hornby discusses her research and writing process, the joys and challenges of revisiting the world and writing style of Jane Austen, her recommended reads, and more.

“Cassandra didn’t just do Jane’s reputation a service by burning so many letters, she did me a great service as well because she created all these holes in Jane’s life story… and it was into there, into those pockets, that I could put my imagination.” – Gill Hornby

PBS Watch-Alike: Miss Austen, an adaptation of Hornby’s novel, comes to life on screen in a limited series on PBS Masterpiece. The four-part show will premiere Sunday, May 4th at 9pm EST.
About the Author
Gill is a journalist whose debut novel, The Hive, sold to Little, Brown UK in a heated auction. US rights were pre-empted by Reagan Arthur Books. It’s about a group of women who meet at the school gates each day and – under the guise of the school’s charity committee – scheme, support, compete and jostle for position in their unspoken but fiercely run hierarchy. The book was published in the UK in May 2013 and went straight into the top ten bestseller list. Gill’s second novel, All Together Now, was published in June 2015 (Little, Brown UK)— the Daily Telegraph described it as ‘a sparkling comedy of manners’.
In January 2020 her first foray in historical fiction, Miss Austen (Cornerstone), was published to critical acclaim and instant anticipation, appearing on many ‘Books to Watch in 2020’ lists and receiving glowing reviews in the national papers. Called ‘pitch perfect’ by Kirsty Wark and ‘deeply imagined and deeply moving’ by Karen Joy Fowler, it retells the life of England’s most famous female novelist from the perspective of her forgotten sister, Cassandra, and examines the real-life mystery of why she burned so many of Jane’s letters, a conundrum which has baffled literary historians for centuries. Miss Austen was a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. It has been developed as a four-part television starring Keeley Hawes by the BBC.
Gill’s Hornby’s Godmersham Park returns to the life of the celebrated Regency novelist with the deeply moving tale of a young governess in the Austen family. It was published by Cornerstone in June 2022, and became a Sunday Times Bestseller shortly after. Waterstones selected the paperback of Godmersham Park as their Fiction Book of the Month for January 2023. It had recently been optioned by Federation Stories and Bonnie Productions for TV.
Gill is currently working on her third novel in the Austen series, to be published by Century.
About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Percival Everett Delivers Bauder Lecture at CAALS
2025-05-07 20:00 - 21:00
Join us for the 36th Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series (CAALS), featuring acclaimed novelist Percival Everett, the 2024 National Book Award winner for Fiction.
Percival Everett will deliver the prestigious Bauder Lecture in the Marygrove Theatre. As the latest distinguished guest in Marygrove Conservancy’s lecture series, Everett will read from his works, discuss his literary career, and engage with audience questions.
Everett is the author of 24 novels, including Erasure, which was adapted into the award-winning film American Fiction. His most recent novel, James, is a New York Times best-seller that reinterprets Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the runaway slave Jim. He has received over a dozen major literary awards, cementing his place as one of the most celebrated contemporary American authors.
You can watch Percival Everett’s Bauder Lecture on May 7th, 2025 at 8PM ET on the PBS Books YouTube channel.
Explore more with Percival Everett
July 2024 Readers Club Pick: James – Check out our exclusive conversation with Percival Everett about his bestselling novel here.
Can’t wait for the lecture? Experience Everett’s literary impact firsthand by exploring his body of work, including James, Erasure, and So Much Blue.

Author Talk: "Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout
2025-05-21 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books will highlight Mental Health Awareness month with a conversation with New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout about her book Tell Me Everything.
Join us for this conversation on May 21st at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout explores the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of a murder investigation in Crosby, Maine. The novel delves into the lives of its beloved characters, including Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge, as they navigate friendship, love, and the search for meaning in their lives. Through poignant storytelling, Strout captures the essence of connection and the impact of shared experiences on our understanding of life.
About the Author
Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout was born in Portland, Maine, and grew up in small towns in Maine and New Hampshire. From a young age she was drawn to writing things down, keeping notebooks that recorded the quotidian details of her days. She was also drawn to books, and spent hours of her youth in the local library lingering among the stacks of fiction. During the summer months of her childhood she played outdoors, either with her brother, or, more often, alone, and this is where she developed her deep and abiding love of the physical world: the seaweed covered rocks along the coast of Maine, and the woods of New Hampshire with its hidden wildflowers.
During her adolescent years, Strout continued writing avidly, having conceived of herself as a writer from early on. She read biographies of writers, and was already studying – on her own – the way American writers, in particular, told their stories. Poetry was something she read and memorized; by the age of sixteen was sending out stories to magazines. Her first story was published when she was twenty-six.
Strout attended Bates College, graduating with a degree in English in 1977. Two years later, she went to Syracuse University College of Law, where she received a law degree along with a Certificate in Gerontology. She worked briefly for Legal Services, before moving to New York City, where she became an adjunct in the English Department of Borough of Manhattan Community College. By this time she was publishing more stories in literary magazines and Redbook and Seventeen. Juggling the needs that came with raising a family and her teaching schedule, she found a few hours each day to work on her writing.
About the Host
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

PBS Books Readers Club - "We All Live Here" by Jojo Moyes
2025-05-28 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes international and New York Times best-selling author Jojo Moyes to discuss her brand-new novel We All Live Here. This episode premieres May 28th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app.
Lila Kennedy’s life is in chaos. Her marriage is over, her two daughters are acting out, her house is falling apart, and her elderly stepfather seems to have moved in. She is struggling to maintain some semblance of a career, and her love life is anything but simple. So, when her estranged father- who vanished to Hollywood 35 years ago- shows up at her house, Lila thinks she can’t take any more. However, Lila soon discovers that even the most complicated relationships can teach you profound lessons about love and what it truly means to be family.
We All Live Here is a heartfelt, funny, messy family drama that is full of surprises. It’s a reminder that even the family we think we can’t forgive may have something to teach us about love.
PBS Watch-Alike: Caregiving
This new documentary executive produced by Bradley Cooper is set to premiere on PBS on June 24th at 9p.m. ET. As the aging baby boomer generation and increasing life expectancy put immense pressure on caregiving in America, the nation’s long-term care system is on the brink of crisis. This film humanizes this pressing national issue by sharing stories from caregivers and featuring interviews with experts who are working tirelessly to ensure that caregivers receive the security and support they so selflessly offer to others.
About the AuthorJojo Moyes
Jojo Moyes is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter whose beloved books have captivated readers around the world. Her works include the global bestseller Me Before You, along with its sequels After You and Still Me, as well as The Giver of Stars, Someone Else’s Shoes, The One Plus One, and the short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories. Her novels have been translated into 46 languages, have topped charts in 12 countries, and have sold over 57 million copies worldwide. Me Before You alone has sold more than 15 million copies and was adapted into a major motion picture starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.
Jojo’s work has been featured in Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club and the Richard and Judy Book Club. She is also part of the BBC Maestro platform, where she teaches a course on Writing Love Stories. In addition to her fiction, Moyes is an accomplished screenwriter and a former journalist. She lives in London, England.
About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Wisdom Keepers
2025-06-04 20:00 - 21:00
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Join PBS Books National Director Heather-Marie Montilla in conversation with Wisdom Keepers host Ray Suarez and executive producer Dr. William Baker.
This exclusive conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Wisdom Keepers, a profound new docuseries exploring life’s essential questions through interviews with leading thinkers in philosophy, faith, science, and ethics. The series premieres June 9, 2025 on the PBS App.
More than a preview, this discussion invites viewers to reflect, listen, and engage in meaningful dialogue about belonging, hope, and the pursuit of wisdom.
You can watch Wisdom Keepers on the PBS app or on PBS.org.
Watch Wisdom KeepersHost

Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Guests

Ray Suarez
Veteran journalist Ray Suarez was most recently the host of Al Jazeera America’s daily news program, Inside Story. Before coming to AJAM, Suarez spent 14 years as a correspondent and anchor at public television’s nightly newscast, The PBS NewsHour where he rose to become chief national correspondent. During his years at The NewsHour, Suarez covered the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington, four presidential elections, among hundreds of other stories. In 2004, and again in 2008, Suarez moderated presidential candidates debates broadcast on PBS and HDnet. Before PBS NewsHour, Suarez was the Washington-based host of NPR’s Talk of the Nation for six-and-a-half years. The New York Times called Suarez the “thinking man’s talk show host,” and “a national resource.” Along with years of daily deadline journalism, Suarez has done extensive work in long-form broadcast storytelling. During his decades as a broadcaster, Suarez also did extensive work as a writer. He wrote the 2013 companion volume to the PBS documentary series, Latino Americans. In 2005 he published an examination of the tightening relationship between religion and electoral politics, The Holy Vote: The Politics of Faith in America. His first book looked at the decades of transition in urban America, The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration (Free Press, 1999). Over the years many organizations and institutions have recognized and honored Suarez and his work. He was a co-recipient of two DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton awards, for coverage of the 1994 South African elections, and the Gingrich Revolution and the 1995 Republican takeover in the House of Representatives. UCLA’s School of Public Policy awarded Suarez its Public Policy Leadership Award for his coverage of urban America, and his coverage of global public health has won national and international citations, including four CINE Golden Eagle Awards. The National Council of La Raza gave Suarez its Ruben Salazar Award, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists inducted him into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2010. Suarez holds a BA in African History, from New York University, where he won the Parke Honor in History and the K.Y. Daaku Prize in African Studies. He began his studies at the University of Chicago after winning a Benton Fellowship there in 1991, and later completed an MA in the Social Sciences. In 2005, NYU named Suarez a Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds 14 honorary doctorates from colleges and universities across America.

William Baker
William Franklin Baker is an American broadcaster, author, academic, and explorer.
Baker directs the Bernard L. Schwartz Center for Media, Education, and Public Policy at Fordham University, where he is a Journalist in Residence and professor in the Graduate School of Education. He is also a Distinguished Professor of Media & Entertainment at IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain, and Professor President Emeritus of WNET (New York’s public television station). He teaches a business class at the Juilliard School in New York City.
Baker has received seven Emmy Awards, including the 1987 Trustees Emmy Award. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been inducted into the Management Hall of Fame by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. He received the Mark Schubart award from the Lincoln Center Institute. He has also received two Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Awards and the Gabriel Personal Achievement Award. In 2016, he was honored by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for his work in the performing arts.

Author Talk: Mac Barnett
2025-06-11 20:00 - 21:00
Join PBS Books for a joyful, laugh-out-loud, and insightful conversation with Mac Barnett, the 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, as we celebrate the power of storytelling to spark curiosity, build empathy, and nurture lifelong readers.
In this delightful interview, Mac chats with Heather-Marie Montilla about the magic of picture books and why they deserve a spot on every bookshelf—child and adult alike. With humor, heart, and imagination, Mac reflects on his journey as a beloved children’s book author and shares how young readers often bring the deepest insights to the stories he creates. From Sam and Dave Dig a Hole to President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath, Mac’s work is filled with wonder, surprising turns, and an open invitation to think, laugh, and connect.
This ambassadorial appointment is made possible through a collaboration between the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader. As the 9th National Ambassador, Mac brings his signature wit and creativity to the role—championing picture books as one of the great, and often underappreciated, literary forms.
Don’t miss this engaging conversation that celebrates reading together, building community through books, and the storytelling that shapes thoughtful, imaginative young minds.
Host

Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Guest
Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett, the 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, is a New York Times best-selling author of stories for children. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages and sold more than five million copies worldwide. Mac Barnett’s books have won many prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards, three E. B. White Read-Aloud Awards, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Germany’s Jugendliteraturpreis, China’s Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, the Netherlands’ Zilveren Griffel, and Italy’s Premio Orbil. He is the cocreator, with Jon Klassen, of the Substack Looking at Picture Books, as well as Shape Island, a stop-motion animated series on Apple TV+, based on their best-selling Shapes series of picture books. Mac Barnett lives in Oakland, California.

Gary Graff: 501 Essential Albums of the ‘80s
2025-06-12 20:00 - 21:00
Reflecting on one of the most vibrant decades in music history, acclaimed music journalist and author Gary Graff joins host Fred Nahhat to discuss his latest work, 501 Essential Albums of the ’80s.
Host
Fred Nahhat
Sr. VP, Production & Host, Detroit Public TV | PBS

Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Filmmaker Talk: Behind the Scenes of Caregiving
2025-06-18 20:00 - 21:00
Join us for a special PBS Books Filmmaker Talk featuring Director and Senior Producer Chris Durrance as he takes you behind the scenes of the powerful PBS documentary Caregiving. Hosted by PBS Books National Director Heather-Marie Montilla, this in-depth conversation explores the making of the film and its companion shorts, sharing the stories and challenges of caregiving across America.
Caregiving — narrated by award-winning actress Uzo Aduba and executive produced by Bradley Cooper — is a poignant two-hour documentary that premieres nationwide on PBS on June 24, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET and is currently available for streaming on the PBS App and website. The film highlights the personal experiences of millions of caregivers — both paid and unpaid — revealing their daily challenges and triumphs while placing caregiving within the broader cultural and economic context of the U.S. care system.
In the Filmmaker Talk, Chris Durrance shares insights on the innovative storytelling approach that includes not only the feature documentary but also 18 short films, which capture diverse caregiving stories from communities nationwide. Together with Heather-Marie Montilla, he discusses the importance of recognizing caregiving as a universal act of kindness and community, and how sharing stories can spark greater empathy and support.
Whether you are a caregiver or someone who wants to better understand this vital role in our society, this program offers a meaningful look at caregiving’s many dimensions and encourages viewers to join the conversation.
Watch the PBS Books Filmmaker Talk stream live on YouTube, Facebook, and the PBS App.
For more about Caregiving and to share your own story, visit wellbeings.org/share-your-story and join the national conversation using #ShareYourCaregivingStory.
Host

Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Guest
Chris Durrance
Director & Senior Producer Caregiving, Producer at Ark Media
Chris Durrance is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, who is director of the forthcoming PBS series, Caregiving. Durrance worked on more than a dozen films for Frontline, three presidential biographies and an independent documentary on gerrymandering – Slay the Dragon – which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. He is the winner of a Peabody, two Emmys, a duPont-Columbia silver baton and an Overseas Press Club award. Recently, Durrance directed two major PBS series on science and medicine – Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene. He is the founder of Seven One Eight Studios.

PBS Books Readers Club: Our Favorite Cozy Murder Mysteries
2025-06-25 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club hosts a special event sharing Our Favorite Cozy Murder Mysteries from Masterpiece and the authors who wrote the amazing novels that inspired them. The episode premieres on June 25th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app.
For years, Masterpiece has been bringing renowned murder mystery novels to life through fantastic adaptations. In this special episode, we’ll feature interviews like Robert Thorogood (The Marlow Murder Club), Anthony Horowitz (Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders), and Daisy Coulam (executive producer and writer of Grantchester). Our hosts will explore the key elements of a great cozy mystery novel, with insights from past interviews on crafting intricate puzzles and developing memorable characters. The hosts also share their favorite cozy murder mystery book recommendations.

“I don’t expect the reader to fail to guess who the killer is. There’s normally only 4 or 5 suspects, but the game, and it is a parlor game, is can I smuggle the killer past you? Because when you’re reading a book and you see the reveal of who the killer is and you didn’t see it or you discounted that person long ago, the thrill you get is so intoxicating. And I’m sort of chasing that thrill when I try and write a book.” – Robert Thorogood, The Marlow Murder Club

Our PBS watch-alike this month is the Masterpiece Cozy Mystery PBS pledge program. For over 50 years, Masterpiece has been home to captivating crime dramas, with cozy mysteries emerging as fan favorites. These lighthearted stories feature amateur sleuths in tight-knit communities, focusing on puzzles and characters rather than violence. Shows like Grantchester, Miss Scarlet, Magpie Murders, and The Marlow Murder Club offer a feel-good take on crime, filled with twists, humor, and charm. We’re celebrating these uplifting, fast-paced mysteries for their unique, comforting appeal.
About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

America250 Reading List
2025-07-09 20:00 - 21:00
This Independence Day, PBS Books is proud to present the America250 Reading List—a curated literary journey that celebrates the path to American freedom and commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
As our nation prepares to mark 250 years of independence, we invite readers of all ages to reflect on the people, events, and ideals that forged the United States. This special reading list brings together compelling titles across three distinct genres—nonfiction, historical fiction, and children’s literature—to illuminate the courage, complexity, and conviction behind America’s founding.
???? Nonfiction – Not Just for the History Enthusiast
Dive into meticulously researched works that provide powerful insights into the Revolution and the broader context of American independence that are written in a novelist style. These books reveal untold stories and broaden our understanding of the era—from George Washington’s leadership and the complexities of Indigenous and African American experiences, to the moral struggles that defined the fight for liberty.
Highlights include:
1776 by David McCullough
Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts
African Founders by David Hackett Fischer
The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson
???? Historical Fiction – For the Story Seekers
Experience the era of revolution through the eyes of unforgettable characters brought to life by gifted storytellers. These novels blend fact with fiction, immersing readers in personal dramas set against the backdrop of historical transformation. Whether following the bold disguise of a woman soldier or the trials of Eliza Hamilton, these stories add human depth to our nation’s founding.
Featured titles include:
A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki
America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs
???? Children’s Books – For Young Patriots
Inspire the next generation with accessible, engaging, and age-appropriate books that bring the American Revolution to life. These titles are packed with colorful illustrations, fascinating facts, and heroic figures—from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to the everyday kids and families who shaped history.
Perfect picks include:
History Smashers: The American Revolution by Kate Messner
Guts & Glory: The American Revolution by Ben Thompson
Washington, Adams, and Jefferson by C.A. Worman
Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson
The History of the American Revolution by Emma Carlson Berne
Whether you’re revisiting the founding ideals of our democracy or discovering them for the first time, the America250 Reading List offers something for every reader. We hope these books spark thoughtful conversation, deeper understanding, and a renewed appreciation for the values that continue to shape our great nation.
Explore the full list below and join us in celebrating 250 years of the American spirit—through the power of books.

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PBS Books Live at the Detroit Festival of Books
2025-07-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Eastern Market Shed 5, 2934 Russell St, Detroit, MI, 48207, United States
Detroit Festival of Books – Live
PBS Books is thrilled to present exclusive live coverage from the 2025 Detroit Festival of Books at the historic Eastern Market. Join us on Sunday, July 20, for a day-long celebration of storytelling, identity, and community. This free virtual event is made possible through the generous support of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), with additional support from Michigan Humanities and the Detroit Festival of Books.
Throughout the day, tune in for live author interviews, cultural conversations, and behind-the-scenes festival coverage, streaming nationally on all PBS Books digital platforms. In-person attendees can visit the PBS Books booth—shared with Michigan Humanities—to meet PBS Books hosts Fred Nahhat and Lauren Smith, and connect with fellow book lovers from around the region.
This event is produced in partnership with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible.
Stay Connected & Watch Live:

PBS Books YouTube: @PBSBooks
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Instagram: @pbsbooks
LinkedIn: PBS Books LinkedIn
PBS App: Watch Free on PBS App

Shop books and support PBS Books via our Bookshop page – a portion of proceeds supports more author events and library resources.
Spotlight on Great Michigan Read Author Curtis Chin
PBS Books & the Centers for Asian American Media (CAAM) have proudly partnered in spotlighting Curtis Chin, Detroit native and author of the acclaimed memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, selected as the 2025–2026 Great Michigan Read. Join us for a special on-site conversation with Curtis, where he’ll explore themes of family, identity, and community rooted in his experience growing up in Detroit’s Chinatown.
Curtis will also share insights into his broader body of work:

“Who Killed Vincent Chin?” – We’ll reflect on the groundbreaking 1987 PBS film that awakened national conversation around race and justice.
“Vincent Who?” – Curtis’s own follow-up documentary, diving deeper into the lasting impact of Vincent Chin’s murder on Asian American identity and activism.
“Dear Corky” (2022, PBS American Masters) – A tribute to pioneering photographer Corky Lee and a powerful look at documenting Asian American history.
A sneak preview of Curtis’s upcoming film about Chinese American paper artist Warren King, capturing the intersection of art, memory, and diaspora.
And so much more!

In addition to his live festival appearance, PBS Books will premiere a full-hour recorded author talk with Curtis Chin—captured at the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch on Friday, July 18—that will be made available video on demand.
Festivalgoers can also meet Curtis Chin in person at the PBS Books booth for book signings and casual conversations throughout the day.
Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of books, voices, and the power of community.
Shop the Book List
This list contains affiliate links. When you buy through links on our site, PBS Books may earn an affiliate commission.
Featured Speakers
Revisiting Who Killed Vincent Chin? | One Detroit
Nearly four decades after the documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? premiered, the filmmakers Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña, alongside Detroit Public TV’s Juanita Anderson, join Detroit-area filmmaker Chien-An Yuan to talk about the making of the documentary, the civil rights movement they covered in real-time, and the significance the film still holds nearly today.

PBS Books Readers Club - "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus
2025-07-30 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes international best-selling author Bonnie Garmus to discuss her novel Lessons in Chemistry. The episode premieres on July 30th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS App.
Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant young chemist who struggles to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of the 1950s. She forms a deep connection with her colleague and renowned chemist, Calvin Evans. But like science, life is unpredictable, and Zott unexpectedly finds herself a single mother, reluctantly hosting a cooking show—Supper at Six. While the show appears to be about cooking, Zott uses it as a platform to teach housewives not just about chemistry, but also to value their time and self-worth, ultimately becoming an unexpected feminist icon.
Lessons in Chemistry is a mix of humor, social commentary, and heart, exploring themes like feminism, scientific passion, and the struggle for respect in the workplace. It’s a unique and thought-provoking story that combines wit with deeper reflections on women’s roles in both science and society.
PBS Watch-Alike: The Great American Recipe
This friendly cooking competition follows home cooks from all around the country. Celebrating America’s rich culture through cuisine, this show emphasizes how food helps to shape our heritage, identity, and community. Season 4 of The Great American Recipe premieres July 11 on PBS.
About the AuthorBonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus is a copywriter and creative director who has worked for a wide range of clients, in the US and abroad, focusing primarily on technology, medicine, and education. From Seattle, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99.

About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

PBS Books Readers Club - "Bridget Jones's Diary" by Helen Fielding
2025-08-27 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes beloved British author Helen Fielding to discuss her iconic novel Bridget Jones’s Diary—a clever, laugh-out-loud reimagining of Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of a hilariously imperfect modern heroine. The episode premieres on August 27th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS App.
As we celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, there’s no better time to revisit Fielding’s wildly popular twist on the Mr. Darcy love story. First published nearly 30 years ago, Bridget Jones’s Diary remains a satirical yet heartfelt exploration of the pressures women face to improve, adapt, and appear effortlessly put-together. Fielding’s Bridget is not a self-improvement success story—she’s a cultural mirror held up with charm, wit, and emotional honesty.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the book, this is a perfect summer read—funny, familiar, and still shockingly relevant. Join us for a lively conversation about Bridget’s legacy, her Austen roots, and what it means to laugh at life’s messiest moments.
PBS Watch-Alike: Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th
Just like Bridget Jones’s Diary, these PBS Masterpiece adaptations draw inspiration from the wit, romance, and rebellious spirit of Jane Austen—whose legacy we’re celebrating in her 250th birthday year.
Start with Miss Austen, a moving limited series that explores the untold story of Jane’s devoted sister, Cassandra, and the secret behind why she destroyed Jane’s private letters—revealing a tender, complicated bond between the sisters.
Then dive into Death Comes to Pemberley, a gripping whodunit that picks up where Pride and Prejudice left off—just as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s happy marriage is upended by an unexpected murder at Pemberley.
And don’t miss Sanditon, the lush, romantic adaptation of Austen’s final, unfinished novel, full of strong heroines, seaside scandal, and sharp social commentary.
About the AuthorHelen Fielding

Helen Fielding is a British author, screenwriter, and producer best known for her works Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, and Bridget Jones’s Baby: The Diaries. She has two children and lives in London and Los Angeles.

About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Bipartisan Leadership Project | Governors Spencer Cox & Wes Moore on Politics with Respect
2025-09-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Facebook Live
PBS Books is proud to feature a program from the Bipartisan Leadership Project (BLP), highlighting how leaders can engage across deep differences with respect and purpose. As part of the National Press Club’s Headliners series, Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) and Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) will demonstrate how public servants on opposite sides of the political spectrum can model the civility and collaboration that Americans are yearning for in today’s polarized climate.
Governor Cox and Governor Moore may differ sharply in their policy positions, yet they share a conviction that respectful dialogue is the key to moving forward. Their leadership and the work of the Bipartisan Leadership Project underscores a commitment to elevate civility, listen to each other, and find common ground —proving that disagreement does not have to be disrespectful. In an environment intensified by recent political partisan divides, this conversation will explore how constructive discussion, and cooperation can lead to stronger communities and better governance.
How to participate: Viewers may submit questions in advance to the National Press Club by emailing headliners@press.org with GOVERNORS in the subject line. The deadline for advance questions is 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, September 4.
When & where: The program streams live on Thursday, September 4 at 1:00 p.m. ET on PBS Books.
Learn More About Our Partner:
Featured Guests

Mike Balsamo
President, National Press Club
Mike Balsamo is the national law enforcement editor for The Associated Press, helping to lead coverage of criminal justice, breaking news, and strategic initiatives across the U.S. With extensive experience in law enforcement reporting, Balsamo has covered some of the nation’s most significant stories, including the Justice Department under the Trump administration, the special counsel’s Russia investigation, and criminal cases involving Donald Trump.
Balsamo also led a groundbreaking investigation into the federal prison system, which resulted in the resignation of the Bureau of Prisons director and sparked significant legislative reforms.
A two-time winner of the White House Correspondents’ Association Award for Deadline Reporting and a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, Balsamo has served on the National Press Club’s board for five years. Before moving to Washington, he reported for the AP in Los Angeles and New York City.

Spencer Cox
Governor of Utah
Gov. Spencer J. Cox is a husband, father, farmer, recovering attorney, and Utah’s 18th governor. He also served as the 2023-2024 chairman of the National Governors Association.

Gov. Cox has a long track record of public service, serving as a city councilmember, mayor, county commissioner and state legislator before being appointed as Utah’s lieutenant governor in 2013. He was sworn in as governor on Jan. 4, 2021.
During his first term in office, Gov. Cox cut $1.1 billion in taxes, implemented landmark changes in water law, water conservation and infrastructure planning, locked in record funding for education and teachers, enacted universal school choice and secured funds for affordable housing. A long-time advocate for suicide prevention and mental health resources, he’s become a national voice on protecting youth from the harms of social media. He also signed early education and workforce program funding, launched the One Utah Health Collaborative, and expanded opportunities for women, diverse communities and those living in rural parts of the state.
With a focus on solutions, Gov. Cox promotes respect in politics and innovation in government, works across party lines to find common ground and regularly participates in hands-on service projects. These elements were the foundation of his NGA Chair’s Initiative, “Disagree Better: Healthy Conflict for Better Policy.”
A sixth-generation Utahn, Gov. Cox was born and raised in Fairview, a town of 1,200 in the center of the state. He met First Lady Abby Palmer Cox at age 16 and they married after he returned from serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico. He attended Snow College, Utah State University and the Washington and Lee University School of Law, then clerked for U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart and worked at a Salt Lake City law firm. Several years later, Gov. Cox and First Lady Cox moved back to Fairview to raise their four children – Gavin, Kaleb, Adam, and Emma Kate – on the family farm. The governor, first lady and Emma Kate currently reside in the Kearns Mansion, also known as the Governor’s Mansion, in Salt Lake City.

Wes Moore
Governor of Maryland
Wes Moore is the 63rd Governor of the state of Maryland. He is Maryland’s first Black Governor in the state’s 246-year history, and is just the third African American elected Governor in the history of the United States.
Born in Takoma Park, Maryland, on October 15, 1978, to Joy and Westley Moore, Moore’s life took a tragic turn when his father died of a rare, but treatable virus when he was just three years old. After his father’s death, his family moved to the Bronx to live with Moore’s grandparents before returning to Maryland at age 14.
Moore is a proud graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and College, where he received an Associate’s degree in 1998, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Afterward, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s in international relations and economics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
While at Johns Hopkins, Moore interned in the office of former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. Moore was the first Black Rhodes Scholar in the history of Johns Hopkins University. As a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a Master’s in international relations from Wolfson College at Oxford.
In 2005, Moore deployed to Afghanistan as a lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division, leading soldiers in combat. Immediately upon returning home, Moore served as a White House Fellow, advising on issues of national security and international relations.
In 2010, Moore wrote “The Other Wes Moore,” a story about the fragile nature of opportunity in America, which became a perennial New York Times bestseller. He went on to write other best-selling books that reflect on issues of race, equity, and opportunity, including his latest book “Five Days,” which tells the story of Baltimore in the days that followed the death of Freddie Gray in 2015.
Moore built and launched a Baltimore-based business called BridgeEdU, which reinvented freshman year of college for underserved students to increase their likelihood of long-term success. BridgeEdu was acquired by the Brooklyn-based student financial success platform, Edquity, in 2018.
It was Moore’s commitment to taking on our toughest challenges that brought him to the Robin Hood Foundation, where he served for four years as CEO. During his tenure, the Robin Hood Foundation distributed over $600 million toward lifting families out of poverty, including here in Maryland.
While the Robin Hood Foundation is headquartered in New York City, Wes and his family never moved from their home in Baltimore.
Moore has also worked in finance with Deutsche Bank in London and with Citigroup in New York.
Moore and his wife, First Lady Dawn Flythe Moore​, have two children – Mia and James –​ and a dog, Tucker Balti.

Rhode Island | American Stories: A Reading Road Trip Episode 101
2025-09-10 20:00 | Facebook Live
Join PBS Books, the Library of Congress, and the affiliated Centers for the Book on for the premiere of American Stories: A Reading Road Trip—starting in Rhode Island! Tune-in September 10th at 8pm to the PBS Books Facebook Event, on the PBS Books YouTube Channel or on the PBS app.
Even the smallest state has big stories to tell. This first episode dives into Rhode Island’s rich literary legacy—from the revolutionary writings of Roger Williams and the chilling tales of H.P. Lovecraft to Edgar Allan Poe’s time in Providence and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri’s deeply human storytelling (Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake).
Featuring interviews with award-winning writers like Anika Aldamuy Denise (Planting Stories), illustrator Christopher Denise (Knight Owl), Caldecott honoree Oge Mora (Thank You, Omu!), David Macaulay (The Way Things Work), and Elizabeth Rush (Rising). This episode explores how Rhode Island’s rugged coastline, historic architecture, and vibrant arts community continue to shape literary and visual storytelling.
We’ll also visit iconic spaces like the Providence Athenaeum, Redwood Library, and John Hay Library, and spotlight how RISD has nurtured generations of imaginative talent. From Gothic tales to contemporary voices, this is a celebration of Rhode Island’s creative spirit and enduring literary legacy.
About American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
Pack your curiosity —PBS Books is hitting the road! In partnership with the Library of Congress Centers for the Book, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip shines a spotlight on individual U.S. states and select territories to uncover their one-of-a-kind literary treasures.
From iconic authors and unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way, we’ll meet bestselling authors, passionate booksellers, and local storytellers —plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state’s Center for the Book —revealing how their corner of America has left its mark on the nation’s imagination. Aligned with America’s 250th birthday, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart, history, and creative spirit of the United States —all through the lens of books and storytelling.
New episodes will stream on select Wednesdays at 8pm EST as PBS Books Facebook Live event, and on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States –and extensive materials from around the world –both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
About PBS Books
PBS Books is a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading. PBS Books is dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.Visit pbsbooks.org, subscribe to the PBS Books YouTube channel, and follow PBS Books on social media to learn more.

Georgia | American Stories: A Reading Road Trip Episode 102
2025-09-17 20:00 | Facebook Live
Join PBS Books, the Library of Congress, and the affiliated Centers for the Book for a one-of-a-kind literary adventure in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip.Next stop: Georgia! The episode premieres September 17 at 8 PM ET on the PBS Books Facebook page, YouTube channel, and the PBS app.
This episode celebrates Georgia’s powerful influence on American storytelling—from Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell (Gone with the Wind) to the Southern Gothic brilliance of Flannery O’Connor (A Good Man is Hard to Find) and Carson McCullers (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter), and the groundbreaking voices of Alice Walker (The Color Purple), John Lewis (March), and Lillian Smith (Strange Fruit).
Hear from acclaimed contemporary authors who have called Georgia home like Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees), Karin Slaughter (Will Trent series), Jericho Brown (The Tradition), Carmen Agra Deedy (The Library Dragon), and Katie Mitchell (Prose to the People), as they share how the people, places, and histories of Georgia continue to inspired their legendary works.
Along the way, visit iconic literary landmarks such as historic author homes, storied cemeteries, beloved indie bookstores, Carnegie libraries, and the statewide PINES network—painting a vivid portrait of a state where stories are as enduring as its red clay and as vibrant as its communities.
About American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
Pack your curiosity —PBS Books is hitting the road! In partnership with the Library of Congress Centers for the Book, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip shines a spotlight on individual U.S. states and select territories to uncover their one-of-a-kind literary treasures.
From iconic authors and unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores, amazing libraries, and the real-life locations that inspired great works, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way, we’ll meet bestselling authors, passionate booksellers, and local storytellers —plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state’s Center for the Book —revealing how their corner of America has left its mark on the nation’s imagination. Aligned with America’s 250th birthday, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart, history, and creative spirit of the United States —all through the lens of books and storytelling.
New episodes will stream on select Wednesdays at 8pm EST as PBS Books Facebook Live event, and on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States –and extensive materials from around the world –both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
About PBS Books
PBS Books is a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading. PBS Books is dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.Visit pbsbooks.org, subscribe to the PBS Books YouTube channel, and follow PBS Books on social media to learn more.

"The Bewitching" and "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | PBS Books Readers Club
2025-09-24 20:00 - 21:00
PBS Books Readers Club welcomes award winning author Silvia Moreno-Garcia to discuss her brand-new thriller The Bewitching, and her New York Times Bestseller, Mexican Gothic. The episode premieres on September 24th at 8PM ET as a PBS Books Facebook Live event, on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
The Bewitching spans three generations of haunting. Minerva is a grad student writing her thesis on a little-known macabre author, Beatrice Tremblay, whose most infamous novel may be rooted in a real-life disappearance. As Minerva’s research deepens, she discovers eerie connections between her own life, Tremblay’s dark past, and the frightening stories passed down by her great-grandmother— suggesting a sinister force may be stalking her across time.
Dark, elegant, and deeply atmospheric, The Bewitching blends literary horror with folkloric dread, drawing readers into a web of obsession, memory, and witchcraft. Silvia Moreno-Garcia masterfully crafts a narrative where the supernatural isn’t just a threat—it’s a legacy.
The PBS Books Readers Club will also explore the eerie brilliance of Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, a lush and chilling gothic novel set in 1950s Mexico, where ancestral power, colonial history, and biological horror converge in a crumbling mansion and the monstrous secrets hiding behind decaying walls.
Together, these haunting novels explore themes of inherited trauma, the power and peril of storytelling, the weight of history, and the fight for female agency in worlds shaped—and warped—by the past.
PBS Watch-Alike: Finding Your Roots
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Finding Your Roots- a compelling series that explores the ancestral histories of people from all walks of life, using DNA and historical records to uncover powerful family stories. While the show features a wide range of backgrounds and identities, several episodes during Hispanic Heritage Month highlight the rich, diverse roots of Latinx guests—shedding light on migration, resilience, and cultural legacy.
These stories offer a deeper understanding of Hispanic heritage and its enduring impact on American history. Watch past seasons now on PBS Passport.
About the AuthorSilvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of Silver Nitrate, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Mexican Gothic, and many other books. She has won the Locus and British Fantasy awards for her work as a novelist, and the World Fantasy Award as an editor.

About the Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Lauren Smith

Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!

Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.

Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Caregiving Author Talk with Emma Heming Willis
2025-10-08 20:00 - 21:00
Join PBS Books on Wednesday, October 8 at 8 pm ET | 5 pm PT for an inspiring conversation with author Emma Heming Willis about her deeply personal new book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.

In this moving work, Heming Willis transforms her own experience of navigating her husband Bruce Willis’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis into a compassionate guide for caregivers everywhere. Drawing on her story as well as insights from leading experts, The Unexpected Journey provides clarity, courage, and practical wisdom for those facing the challenges of caring for a loved one while caregivers learn to care for themselves.
Heming Willis—an advocate, mother, stepmother, wife, and co-founder of Make Time Wellness—brings honesty, empathy, and hope to this essential conversation, led by Heather-Marie Montilla, PBS Books National Director.
This event is part of the PBS Books Caregiving series, made possible with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
Host

Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.

Guest
Emma Heming Willis
Emma Heming Willis is a mother, step-mother, wife, advocate, and co-founder of Make Time Wellness, a brand devoted to women’s brain health. After her husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, she became a passionate voice for care partners and families navigating neurodegenerative disease. Through her storytelling and advocacy, Emma hopes to help others feel less alone on the caregiving journey. This is her first book.
