Sonoma County Library is so excited to share our Distinguished Speaker Series, taking place at libraries across the county.

Join us at one--or all!--of these exciting events, where authors will speak about their lives, books, and inspiration, and will then be available to sign books after the program.

Upcoming Events

6:00pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Sonoma Valley
New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award-winning author New York Times-bestselling author Lisa See. See will discuss her latest book, “The Island of Sea Women,” her culture and answer questions from the audience, followed by a book signing..

2:30pm - 4:00pm
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Central Santa Rosa Library
New York Times-bestselling author Susan Orlean discusses her instant New York Times bestseller "The Library Book", an exploration of the history, power, and future of these endangered institutions.

Past Events

8:00pm - 9:30pm
Friday, January 31, 2020
Petaluma Library
Tommy Orange, author of the New York Times bestselling novel There There, a multi-generational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few of us have ever seen: the lives of urban Native Americans.

8:00pm - 9:30pm
Friday, December 13, 2019
Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library
New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi discusses his books Stamped From The Beginning: A Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America and How to Be an Antiracist. His relentless and passionate research calls into question the notion of a post-racial society and opens readers' and audiences' eyes to the reality of racism in America today.

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Sonoma Valley Regional Library
Visual Artist, co-creator, co-producer and co-host of the podcast “Ear Hustle”, Nigel Poor discusses her work in San Quentin’s media lab to produce stories that are a sometimes difficult, but always honest, view of people living within the American prison system.

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library
Author and Pulitzer Prize Winner Eliza Griswold discusses her most recent book Amity and Prosperity, about how fracking shattered a rural Pennsylvania town, and the one lifelong resident who brought the story into the national spotlight.

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Healdsburg Regional Library
A Renaissance Man for the 21st century, Jaron Lanier is a computer scientist, composer, artist, and author who writes on topics from the social impact of technology to the future of humanism.

6:00pm - 7:30pm
Monday, June 24, 2019
Rincon Valley Library
Author, Recovering Addict and Subject of Beautiful Boy, Nic Sheff shares an unglamorized, authentic and heart-touching story of substance abuse and recovery that is deeply rooted in mental illness.

2:00pm - 3:30pm
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Sebastopol Regional Library
Come hear the recognizable voice of NPR's "Fresh Air" book critic Maureen Corrigan as she takes us into the mysteries, responsibilities and traditions of her craft. She will talk about the role of the critic, about the tone she strives for, and the books she loves.

7:00pm - 8:00pm
Monday, June 17, 2019
Central Santa Rosa Library
Join us for a conversation with New York Times Bestselling Author Firoozeh Dumas, whose New York Times Bestselling novels remind us all that our commonalities far outweigh our differences.

10:30pm - 12:00pm
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Windsor Regional Library
Bestselling Memoirist & Novelist Alice Sebold, discusses her novels, her history, career and the art of storytelling.

3:00pm - 4:30pm
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Petaluma Regional Library
Bestselling Memoirist & Novelist Alice Sebold, discusses her novels, her history, career and the art of storytelling.