Bryan + College Station Public Library System presents 2025 Author Series sponsored by the 70th anniversary of the Friends of the Library. For 70 years, Friends have been supporting the library system in many ways. Their advocacy efforts in promoting, encouraging use of library resources, volunteerism and funding opportunities have immensely elevated our services and resources.
2025 Author Series support comes from Friends sponsorship and will feature authors, keynote speakers, special guests, book sales, signings and more. Check back for more author lineups.
Book sale by Hyperbole Bookstore with 10% of proceeds to the Friends. All ages welcome.
Upcoming Authors
Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander
J vs. K Book Tour
- When: Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m.
- Where: Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy S, College Station, TX
- Cost: Free admission
Are you ready for this one-of-a kind author visit between two Newbery Award Winning authors? Look no further, because Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft are on the road with the first ever joint book, “J vs. K”. You won’t want to miss these two legendary authors in one place and it’s guaranteed to be epic.
“J VS. K” Synopsis
J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS). J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC!! Both J and K are determined to win the DAPS annual creative storytelling contest or at least get in the top five. And when they find out that they are both entering The Contest, it’s the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.
It’s artist vs. writer with plenty of shady double crosses as J and K plot their way to the top. This epic match-up from Newbery medal winners Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Jerry Craft (New Kid) celebrates comics, creativity, and the magic of collaboration.
About the Authors
Jerry Craft
Jerry Craft is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novels “New Kid”, “Class Act”, and “School Trip.” “New Kid” is the only book in history to win the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature (2020); the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019), and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most outstanding work by an African American writer (2020).
In his latest book, Jerry has teamed up with fellow Newbery winner Kwame Alexander to bring you “J VS. K.” The story of two fifth graders, one a talented artist, and the other an amazing writer, who become bitter rivals when they enter their school’s annual storytelling contest.
Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City and now travels the world telling kids and their families about the importance of reading.
Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, Emmy® winning producer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 42 books, including the new release “How Sweet The Sound,” “Black Star,” a Coretta Scott King Award-winning book and the second installment of his “Door of No Return” trilogy, “This Is The Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets,” “Why Fathers Cry at Night,” “An American Story,” the Coretta Scott King Award-winning book illustrated by Dare Coulter, “The Door of No Return,” “Becoming Muhammad Ali” (co-authored with James Patterson), “Rebound,” which was shortlisted for the prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, and “The Undefeated,” the National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor, and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
Kwame is also the Executive Producer of an animated PBS show based on his beloved children’s book “Acoustic Rooster,” and the Emmy® winning Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Writer of “The Crossover” TV series, based on his Newbery-Medal winning novel of the same name, which premiered on Disney+ in April 2023.
A regular contributor to NPR’s “Morning Edition,” Kwame is the creator and host of the
“Why Fathers Cry” podcast, premiering September 2023, featuring conversations about love and parenting and loss, with fathers and sons. Recently appointed as the Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts for Chautauqua Literary Arts, he regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world at events like the Edinburgh Book Festival, Aspen Ideas, and the Global Literacy Symposium in West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana.
His mission is to change the world, one word at a time.
Victoria Christopher Murray
Juneteenth Celebration Welcomes Victoria Christopher Murray, Co-Author of “The Personal Librarian”
- When: Wednesday, June 18, at 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Clara B. Mounce Public Library, 201 E. 26th St., Bryan, TX
- Cost: Free admission
Victoria Christopher Murray is the “New York Times” and “USA Today” best-selling author of more than 30 novels, including the “New York Times” Instant Best Sellers, “The Personal Librarian” and “The First Ladies.” Both novels, Victoria co-wrote with Marie Benedict.
A native New Yorker, Victoria Christopher Murray attended Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating, Victoria attended New York University’s Stern Business School where she received her MBA in Marketing.
Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she tested her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria always dreamed of writing and in 1997, she pursued her dream.
Victoria originally self-published her first novel, “Temptation” and in 2000, Time Warner published that novel. “Temptation” remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Victoria received her first NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Literature with “Temptation.”
Over her career, Victoria has received numerous awards including the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award, the Delta Sigma Theta Osceola Award for Excellence in the Arts, Go On Girl Book Club Author of the Year, eleven African American Literary Awards and five NAACP Image Award nominations. In 2016, she won the Image Award for Outstanding Literature for her social commentary novel, “Stand Your Ground.”
In addition to being a “New York Times” Bestseller, “The Personal Librarian” was a “Good Morning America” Book Club selection and named a Best Book of the Year by NPR. “The First Ladies” was Target’s 2023 Book of the Year.
Five of Victoria’s “Seven Deadly Sins” novels became Lifetime movies produced by TD Jakes, Shaun Robinson and Derrick Williams. “The Personal Librarian” has been optioned by Al Roker Entertainment to become a mini series.
With almost three million books in print, Victoria is one of the country’s top African American contemporary authors.
