Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of the Jaipur Trilogy: The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris. Her debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon Pick. It has been translated into 29 languages and is currently in development as a tv series. Joshi was born in India and came to the U.S. with her family at the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts.  Alka shares her writing tips on her YouTube Channel.

Join us as she discusses her most recent book, released this April, Six Days in Bombay. The book is a tale of identity and self-discovery inspired by the mysterious death of India’s free-spirited painter Amrita Sher-Gil. Before flamboyant painter Mira Novak dies in a Bombay hospital, she leaves four paintings for her nurse Sona to deliver to friends and former lovers in Prague, Florence, and Paris, sending the innocent young woman on a perilous journey pre-WWII. Sona returns to Bombay with another question: Who was Mira Novak really?

We recommend pre-ordering the title from Bookshop Santa Cruz, Two Birds Books, or your favorite online retailer. Some copies of the book will be available for purchase thanks to our partners at Two Birds Books. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required. Please register below.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Capitola Branch Library.

You may also enjoy watching this earlier recording of The Henna Artist: Author Talk with Alka Joshi from our Library Speakers Consortium!

Living the Otter Life with Katherine Applegate (3rd-6th Grade)

Join us as award-winning author and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate talks to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, Odder. 

Everyone wants to meet Odder, the Queen of Play. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

Katherine Applegate’s Odder, is inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers. This poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

Join the conversation and register at https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/77670.

About the Author: Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, Crenshaw, the Endling series, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series.  She lives with her husband, who writes as the author Michael Grant, and their children in California.

For upcoming author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

SCPL's Virtual Author Talks are made possible by the Friends of the Capitola Library.

Book: The Kurdish Bike, and the author Alesa Lightbourne

Join us for a fun, casual book club meeting at the Branciforte Branch Library! 

New books will be chosen by the group each month, but there is no reading requirement. 

 Feel free to bring any snacks or drinks you'd like to share.

We can discuss our current book, share recommendations, or just chat about anything book-related.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Acompaña al autor e ilustrador Raúl the Third mientras nos habla de su libro ¡Vamos! ¡A leer! Conoce a Lobito y sus amigos mientras exploran el Festival del Libro Love de su biblioteca. Desde demostraciones de libros de cocina y talleres de cómics hasta creación de máscaras y clases de idiomas, esta biblioteca tiene algo para todos los gustos y Lobito está deseando mostrárselo.

Raúl the Third usa su cultura y su experiencia de crecer en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México para inspirar su arte y sus historias. Se animará a los estudiantes a explorar su mundo a través de una perspectiva creativa. Se planea un dibujo conjunto y se recomiendan materiales y papel para dibujar.

Por Favor: Tenga en cuenta que esta fecha tendremos dos presentaciones de Raúl the Third: una en español y otra en inglés. Asegúrese de registrarse en el formato que prefiera.

Registrarse en https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/80230.

Sobre el autor: Raúl the Third es un ilustrador, autor y artista superventas del New York Times y tres veces ganador del premio Pura Belpre, residente en Boston. Su obra se centra en la experiencia mexicoamericana contemporánea y sus recuerdos de su infancia en El Paso, Texas, y Ciudad Juárez, México. Actualmente está adaptando sus libros "World of Vamos!" a una serie animada de televisión con Silvergate Media y Mercury Filmworks.

Para las próximas conversaciones del autor, visite https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

Las Charlas Virtuales de autor son posibles gracias a Friends of the Capitola Branch Library.

Join author and illustrator Raúl The Third as he discusses his book ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Read!. Meet Little Lobo and friends as they explore their library's Libro Love Book Festival! From cookbook demonstrations and comics workshops to mask making and language classes, this library has something for everyone and Little Lobo can’t wait to show you. 

Raúl the Third uses his culture and his experience growing up on the US and Mexico border to inspire his art and his storytelling. Students will be encouraged to explore their world through a creative lens. A draw along is planned, drawing supplies and paper are recommended. 

Please note that we will be hosting Raúl the Third twice on this date, once in Spanish and in English. Be sure that you are registering for your preferred format.

Join the conversation and register at https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/78182.

About the Author: Raúl The Third is a New York Times bestselling and three-time Pura Belpre award-winning illustrator, author, and artist living in Boston. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican-American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He is currently adapting his World of Vamos! books into an animated television series with Silvergate Media and Mercury Filmworks.

For upcoming author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

SCPL's Virtual Author Talks are made possible by the Friends of the Capitola Library.