Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures

Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
July 26
6 p.m.

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures is calling all budding teen writers to a unique public program showcasing three rising star local authors.

Part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ latest “Made Local” series, the free event invites book fans of all ages to enjoy an engaging dialogue between critically acclaimed, Pittsburgh-based Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade authors Siobhan Vivian, Jonathan Auxier and Nick Courage.

During the event, the three authors—who are all celebrating new books—will discuss writing for children, what inspires them, their creative process, and their upcoming projects. Presented in partnership with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the event will also feature a Q&A with the audience and a book signing.

Courtesy Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures.
Courtesy Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures.

Author of the YA novel, The List, as well as Not That Kind of Girl, Siobhan Vivian co-wrote the Burn for Burn trilogy with Brooklyn-based writer Jenny Han and also teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. Vivian’s newest book, The Last Boy and Girl in the World—a novel about a girl named Keeley Hewitt who is forced to “say goodbye to everything she knows after a storm wreaks havoc on her hometown”—was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2016.

The bestselling author of The Night Gardener and Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, award-winning writer Jonathan Auxier teaches children’s literature and lives in Pittsburgh with his family. In his latest book—Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard—Auxier  introduces readers to a 12-year-old girl who dreams of escaping her mundane life repairing books, and suddenly embarks on a memorable adventure with a mysterious boy and a talking “cat/horse” companion.

Born in New Orleans, writer and avid skateboarder Nick Courage is co-founder of Littsburgh: Celebrating Literary Pittsburgh. His debut book, The Loudness—published by Sky Pony Press in April 2015—is described as a “stunning, fast-paced, and punk rock” middle grade novel, “part dystopian, part coming-of-age,” and “perfect for Hunger Games and Divergent fans.”

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

Looking for more events? Read our 10 Pittsburgh events not to miss in July, Everything you need to know about Pittsburgh concerts in July, and our Top 10 things for families to do in July in Pittsburgh feature articles.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.