A new year means a new season of Club Book — and this year it also means new leadership, a revamped website and podcasts.
After four years under the auspices of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, Club Book crosses the river and will now be led by Library Strategies, a consulting arm of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. Hennepin County also coordinates Talk of the Stacks and PenPals, and this shift to St. Paul helps spread out the workload.
The retooled website (which should go live on Sunday) is at ClubBook.org, which will also link to podcasts of all the events.
The spring lineup includes bestselling writers Elizabeth Berg, J. Courtney Sullivan and Nikki Giovanni, along with a host of regional writers, including mystery writers Julie Kramer and Brian Freeman, and novelists P.S. Duffy and Peter Geye.
Club Book is a free, nonprofit writers series that brings notable writers to suburban libraries. It is paid for through the Legacy Fund. The lineup:
Amy Thielen, host of the Food Network's "Heartland Table" and author of "The New Midwestern Table." 7 p.m. Feb. 3, Prior Lake Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Av. SE., Prior Lake.
Julie Kramer, author of the Minnesota Book Award-winning "Stalking Susan" and "Delivering Death." 7 p.m. Feb. 11, Central Park Amphitheater, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury.
J. Courtney Sullivan, author of "The Engagements" and "Maine." 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Chanhassen Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen.
Elizabeth Berg, author of "Tapestry of Fortunes" and other bestselling books. 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley.
P.S. Duffy, whose debut novel is "The Cartographer of No Man's Land." 7 p.m. March 11, Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Av., St. Paul.
Poet Nikki Giovanni and sports writer Dave Zirin, in conversation at 7 p.m. March 19 at Southdale Library, 7001 York Av., Mpls.
Brian Freeman, author of the Jonathan Stride series. His newest book is "The Cold Nowhere." He'll speak at 7 p.m. April 7 at Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka.
Peter Geye ("Safe From the Sea") and Amy Greene ("Long Man"), 7 p.m. April 15, Roseville Library, 2180 Hamline Av. N., Roseville.
Amanda Coplin, author of "The Orchardist" and a graduate of the University of Minnesota's MFA program, 7 p.m. April 24, Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St. N., Stillwater.
Laurie Hertzel • 612-673-7302
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