Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona Center for the Book, an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is excited to announce the launch of its new initiative, “Southwest Book Chats,” a series of recorded discussions featuring authors, librarians, and avid readers. This innovative program aims to foster a love of reading and community engagement through insightful dialogues about a wide range of literature.
Beginning October 08, 2024, the series will be available for streaming on the State of Arizona Research Library YouTube channel. Each episode will feature titles selected from the Pima County Public Library’s Southwest Books of the Year publication.
The first episode, featuring Arizona authors Melissa Sevigny and Wynne Brown, will discuss Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny and will be available on October 08, 2024. The remaining episodes will be released weekly through November 12, 2024.
Join us as we discuss six titles that address the challenges and triumphs of our communities. We will explore, celebrate, and share the stories that make Arizona’s literary landscape one of the richest in the nation. The lineup includes:
- Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny with conversationalists Wynne Brown and Melissa Sevigny
- Bringing Home the Wild: A Riparian Garden in a Southwest City by Juliet C. Stromberg with Erin Lorandos and Angela Judd
- Eating Up Route 66: Foodways on America’s Mother Road by T. Lindsey Baker with Leo Banks and Gregory McNamee
- The Missing Morningstar by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie with Yitazba Largo-Anderson and Lindsey Curley
- Remembering by Xelena Gonzalez with Keertana Konkimalla and Tae Cooper – moderated by John Muñoz
- Tripas by Brandon Som with Mari Herreras and Yahm Levin
These recorded discussions will be made available on the State of Arizona Research Library YouTube channel.
The Arizona Center for the Book is an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Starting in 1984, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress began to establish affiliate centers in the 50 states. Today, there is a State Center for the Book in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library received its designation on January 2, 2004.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
libdev@azsos.libanswers.com
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This program is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
