Author Events All Banned Books Week 2026 on EveryLibrary Live

September 29, 2026

Join EveryLibrary Live! for Banned Books Week 2026, a four-day virtual celebration of authors, books, readers, and the freedom to read. Throughout the week, authors and guests will come together for live conversations about books, censorship, creativity, and the importance of protecting access to stories and ideas.

With sincere thanks to our publishing and organizational partners: Levine Querido, City Lights, Blackstone Publishing, Mission Point Press, Hachette Book Group, Kensington Books, Workhouse Editions, Bloomsbury, Penguin Random House, New Gondor Creation, Lerner Books, Chronicle Books, City Owl Press, Simon & Schuster, Silver Sprocket, Authors Against Book Bans, the Kurt Vonnegut Estate, and Amnesty International.

24 Live Conversations • 40+ Authors, Creators & Guests

Each day features live conversations designed for readers, librarians, educators, authors, and everyone who believes in the freedom to read. Visit us at Facebook.com/EveryLibrary and our YouTube Live channel for all these events.

The Freedom to Read

The freedom to read protects the space where disagreement, curiosity, discovery, and understanding are possible.

Banned Books Week brings readers and authors together to talk about the books that have been challenged, the stories that matter, and the importance of keeping books accessible to everyone.

Guest Moderators

We are grateful to our wonderful moderators Kekla Magoon, Susan McCulloch, Gigi Howard, and Kathleen McEvoy, who will lead conversations throughout the week with authors and guests.

Featured Author Panels

Visit us at Facebook.com/EveryLibrary and our YouTube Live channel for all these events.

Sunday, October 4

2:00 PM EDT — Mark Vonnegut

Few writers understood the power of words like Kurt Vonnegut. In this special Banned Books Week conversation, Mark Vonnegut discusses his father's fight against censorship, his unwavering support for libraries and librarians, and the enduring belief that telling the truth through literature is one of the most powerful acts of freedom.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1796807154910352
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzAxLCN-JE

3:00 PM EDT — John A. Jenkins & Michael Gerhardt

What happens when powerful people decide which stories, ideas, and histories belong on the shelf, and which don’t? Award-winning journalist John A. Jenkins and constitutional scholar Michael J. Gerhardt join us for a lively conversation about presidential power, the rule of law, impeachment, and the forces that can shape what Americans are allowed to read, question, and know. From the turbulent summer of 1971 to today, they’ll explore the history behind the headlines and why understanding our democracy matters.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxtABK7yeAk
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxtABK7yeAk

4:00pm EDT — Anthony Aycock

What happens when a school board bans nine books, and a teenager takes the fight all the way to the Supreme Court? Anthony Aycock, author of Just Plain Filthy, dives into the unbelievable true story behind Island Trees v. Pico, the first school book-ban case to reach the High Court, and what this landmark battle can teach us about today’s fight for the freedom to read.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1371883308361013
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKI9WlL6YQ

5:00 PM EDT — Darcie Little Badger & Linda Ryan Walking Woman

Ghosts, monsters, mysterious owls, and stories passed down through generations. Newbery Honor-winning author Darcie Little Badger and her mother, Linda Ryan Walking Woman, join us for a special conversation about storytelling, Lipan Apache traditions, family, and the inspiration behind Darcie’s wonderfully fantastical worlds.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1584087689600831
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVgKuD61NZo

6:00 PM EDT — Rosanne Parry & Cassy Lee, sponsored by Authors Against Book Bans

What happens when stories teach us to see the world differently, and someone decides readers shouldn’t have that chance? Rosanne Parry & Cassy Lee will talk about where stories begin, what young readers can understand, why curiosity matters, and what is lost when adults decide which perspectives children should never be allowed to encounter.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2520930051719692
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y95PAepnWig

7:00 PM EDT — Adam Nelson

What happens when you take Huckleberry Finn, one of the most frequently challenged books in American history, out of the classroom and onto the road? Author, actor, filmmaker, and professor Adam Nelson joins us to talk about Huckleberry Jim, his darkly funny debut novel inspired by his own experience touring a two-man stage adaptation of the classic to middle schools across upstate New York and Appalachia. Set in 1991, the novel puts race, performance, censorship, and America’s complicated relationship with its own history under the spotlight, and asks what happens when there’s no script left to hide behind.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/776147382260769
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZb5Kwt7H64

Monday, October 5

3:00 PM EDT — Kasey Lansdale & Brian Asman hosted by Gigi Howard from Drinks in the Library

A cold case. A masked killer. A trail of secrets that won’t stay buried. Join Kasey Lansdale and Brian Asman for a thrilling conversation about crime, horror, and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of everyday life. From small-town mysteries to deadly desert pursuits, these authors explore what happens when ordinary people are pushed to their limits, and why readers can’t get enough of the chase.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1625953545788797
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4o0vCJKvE4

5:00 PM EDT — Jennifer Graeser Dornbush & Erin Bledsoe hosted by Susan McCulloch

What makes a woman dangerous? The secrets she uncovers, the rules she breaks, or the power she refuses to surrender. Join Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, author of Walking on White, and Erin Bledsoe, author of Mob Queen, for a conversation about women who push past the roles others have written for them. Dornbush and Bledsoe join us to talk about writing women who are allowed to be difficult, driven, compromised, angry, resilient, and sometimes dangerous, and why crime fiction remains such a potent place to explore the truths communities would rather keep hidden.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1917070065932678
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWtLP1O-Yxs

7:00 PM EDT — Patricia McCormick hosted by Kathleen McEvoy

Patricia McCormick doesn’t shy away from the stories that matter. From Sold to Never Fall Down and I Am Malala, she tackles difficult subjects with honesty, compassion, and courage. McCormick talks about chasing the stories that demand to be told, writing for young readers, and why access to challenging books matters more than ever.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/4473573049564091
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw4FcEmRecs

8:00 PM EDT — Jess Turner & J.J. Cagney hosted by Gigi Howard from Drinks in the Library

Romance, murder, secrets, survival, and some seriously bad decisions. Join Jess Turner and J.J. Cagney as they talk about creating irresistible stories, unforgettable characters, and the kind of trouble readers love to get into. One thing is guaranteed: whether it’s love or a killer on the loose, getting out unscathed isn’t easy.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2169912773955867
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYurgNMGhkM

Tuesday, October 6

5:00 PM EDT — MariNaomi & Steven Prouse hosted by Gigi Howard from Drinks in the Library and sponsored by Authors Against Book Bans

MariNaomi and Steven Prouse join us for a lively conversation about their work, creative process, and the stories that inspire them. From graphic memoir and comics to speculative fiction, they’ll take us behind the scenes of their creative work and share what keeps them writing, drawing, and telling stories. As members and supporters of Authors Against Book Bans, they’ll also talk about why protecting the freedom to create, read, and share diverse stories matters.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1442526814701074
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX0sPu73XHk

6:00 PM EDT — Meg Shaffer & Moira Macdonald hosted by Susan McCulloch

What if the right book could change your life? Moira Macdonald (Storybook Ending) and Meg Shaffer (The Book Witch) join us for a joyful conversation about bookstores, books, magic, and the stories that pull us in. From a mysterious note tucked between the pages to a witch who can jump straight into a novel, these authors explore why we fall in love with books, and what happens when books start working a little magic of their own.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2055034932136112
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXQVsilXzI

7:00 PM EDT — D.M. Pulley & Zoje Stage hosted by Gigi Howard from Drinks in the Library

Join bestselling authors Zoje Stage and D. M. Pulley for a chilling discussion of their latest novels, Something of a Calling and Stone Mad. From unexplained murders and unsettling transformations to haunted mansions, missing girls, and long-buried secrets, these gripping stories explore what happens when ordinary lives collide with the terrifying unknown. Together, Stage and Pulley will discuss crafting suspense, building unforgettable atmospheres, and why readers can't resist a good scare.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1654007339650317
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8xoY9ahc14

8:00 PM EDT — Jessica R. Stefanski, LMSW, hosted by Kathleen McEvoy

How do we help children navigate divorce, change, and big emotions? In The Olive Tree Still Grows, therapist and debut author Jessica Stefanski draws on her Lebanese heritage to offer a tender story of resilience, family, and the enduring power of love. Join Jessica for a conversation about helping children process change, healing generational trauma, and finding strength in the stories we inherit.

Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1659298685638160
Watch on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mm5yhiSRNE

Wednesday, October 7

3:00 PM EDT — Brinda Shah & Roseanne A. Brown hosted by Gigi Howard from Drinks in the Library and sponsored by Authors Against Book Bans

What happens when you stop staying quiet and start finding your voice? New York Times bestselling author Roseanne A. Brown and debut author Brinda Shah join us for a lively conversation about writing powerful stories rooted in identity, culture, courage, and self-discovery. From epic West African-inspired fantasy to a coming-of-age story about dance, family, and body image, they’ll talk about creating characters who challenge expectations and finding the courage to tell stories in your own way.