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Authors at JCPL
is a program series that brings popular and award-winning writers from around the country right here to Johnson County, thanks to generous donations to The Johnson County Public Library Foundation. If you would like to help ensure that great programming like this continues at JCPL, please consider making a donation.

Upcoming Authors 2024

Megan Miranda

Mon • April 22 • 7 p.m.
The Historic Artcraft Theatre
57 N. Main St., Franklin

JCPL welcomes Megan Miranda, the New York Times bestselling author of "All the Missing Girls". The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a copy of "Daughter of Mine." Please, only one free book per library cardholder. Reciprocal Borrowers are not eligible for the free book. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of "All the Missing Girls", "The Perfect Stranger", "The Last House Guest", a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, "The Girl from Widow Hills", "Such a Quiet Place" and "The Last to Vanish". She has also written several books for young adults. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

Visit her website
Check out her books

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*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

author Megan Miranda in black shirt
Photo credit: Ashley Elston

Leah Johnson

Mon • May 20  • 6 p.m.
Clark Pleasant Middle School
1354 East Worthsville Road, Greenwood
Doors open at 5 p.m., please use Door 12E

Registration opens on Fri, Apr. 12 at 9 a.m.

JCPL welcomes New York Times bestselling author Leah Johnson back to our Authors at JCPL series! The first 50 JCPL Cardholders to register and attend will receive a free copy of "Ellie Engle Saves Herself."  Please, only one free book per library cardholder. Reciprocal Borrowers are not eligible for the free book. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will be available for purchase through Loudmouth Books.

Leah Johnson is the author of award-winning books for children and young adults. Her bestselling debut YA novel, "You Should See Me in a Crown", was a Stonewall Honor Book, and the inaugural Reese's Book Club YA pick. In 2021, TIME named "You Should See Me in a Crown" one of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Her debut middle grade, "Ellie Engle Saves Herself" was published by Disney-Hyperion in May 2023. When she’s not writing, you can find her at Loudmouth Books, her Indianapolis-based independent bookstore that specializes in highlighting the work of marginalized authors and uplifting banned or challenged books.

She will be joined in conversation by writer Jay Coles. Jay Coles is the author of critically acclaimed “Tyler Johnson Was Here”, a composer with ASCAP and a professional musician residing in Muncie, Indiana. He is a graduate of Vincennes University and Ball State University and holds degrees in English and Liberal Arts.

Visit her website
Check out her books

Indiana Authors Awards logo





Loudmouth Books




*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Author Leah Johnson in a floral shirt in front of a bookshelf


Author Jay Coles in a floral shirt in front of greenery

Past Authors 2024

Michael Koryta writing as Scott Carson

Wed • Mar 27 • 7 p.m.
Franklin College's Branigin Room in the Napolitan Student Center
253 S Forsythe St, Franklin, IN
Doors open at 6 p.m.

JCPL welcomes New York Times bestselling author Scott Carson (Michael Koryta) of more than 20 books to our Authors at JCPL series! The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a free copy of "Lost Man’s Lane." Please, only one free book per library cardholder. Reciprocal Borrowers are not eligible for the free book. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies will be available for purchase through Wild Geese Bookshop.

Scott Carson is the pen name of Michael Koryta, a New York Times bestselling author whose work has been translated into more than twenty languages, adapted into major motion pictures, and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A former private investigator and reporter, his writing has been praised by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, and Dean Koontz, among many others. Raised in Bloomington, Indiana, he now lives in Indiana and Maine.

He will be joined in conversation by writer Paul Hoffman. Paul Hoffman is the author of two nonfiction books, “Murder in Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddy Schumacher” and “Wicked Columbus.” He is a former journalist of 34 years and owns a small publishing company.

Visit his website
Check out his books

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*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Author Michael Koryta in blue shirt and black leather jacket


author Paul Hoffman in blue shirt and tie

Past Authors 2023

Shelby Mahurin

Tue • Sep 26 • 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Whiteland Community High School Auditorium
300 E Main St, Whiteland, IN 46184

JCPL welcomes Shelby Mahurin, the New York Times, indie and internationally bestselling author of the Serpent & Dove trilogy. The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a copy of “The Scarlet Veil.” Please, only one free book per library cardholder. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Shelby Mahurin grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana, where sticks became wands and cows became dragons. Her rampant imagination didn’t fade with age, so she continues to play make-believe every day—with words now instead of cows. When not writing, Shelby watches The Office and reads voraciously. She still lives near that childhood farm with her very tall husband and semi-feral children.

Visit her website
Check out her books

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*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Author Shelby Mahurin

Ruth Ware

Mon • June 26 • 7 p.m.
The Historic Artcraft Theatre
57 N. Main St., Franklin

JCPL welcomes Ruth Ware, the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of "The Woman in Cabin 10." The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a copy of "Zero Days." Please, only one free book per library cardholder. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Ruth Ware is the international number one bestselling author of "In a Dark, Dark Wood", "The Woman in Cabin 10", "The Lying Game", "The Death of Mrs. Westaway", "The Turn of the Key", "One by One" and "The It Girl". Her thrillers have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and The New York Times. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages. Before becoming an author, she worked as a waitress, a bookseller, an ESL instructor, and a press officer before settling down as a full-time writer. Ruth lives near Brighton, England with her family.

Ruth Ware will be joined in conversation by Ashley Flowers. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Creative Officer of audiochuck, the award-winning, independent media and podcast production company known for its standout content and storytelling across different genres, including true crime, fiction, comedy, and more. Most recently, Ashley is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, "All Good People Here." Flowers was born and raised in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, her daughter, and their beloved dog, Chuck. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Services from Arizona State University.

Visit her website
Check out her books

Wild Geese Bookshop logo







*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Ruth Ware
credit Gemma Day Photography


Ashley Flowers in blue sweater



Jack Carr

Tue • May 23 • 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Historic Artcraft Theatre
57 N. Main St., Franklin

JCPL welcomes #1 New York Times bestselling author and former Navy SEAL, Jack Carr to our Authors at JCPL series! The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a signed copy of “Only the Dead.”

Due to popularity of this event, please only one free book per JCPL cardholder. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone - you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Carr will be joined in conversation with Franklin Chief of Police, Kirby Cochran.

Jack Carr is the author of the bestselling James Reece series. His debut novel, “The Terminal List”, was adapted into the #1 Amazon Prime Video series starring Chris Pratt. He is also the host of the top-rated podcast Danger Close.

Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana will be collecting boxed and canned goods at our Authors at JCPL event with Jack Carr. Here is a list of items to fulfill immediate needs. Bring your items with you to the event.

Visit his website
Check out his books

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*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

photo of author Jack Carr with hat in front of lighthouse


Kirby Cochran

Angeline Boulley

Wed • May 10 • 7 p.m.
Beeson Hall
396 Branigin Blvd, Franklin

JCPL welcomes Angeline Boulley, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Printz Award winning novel, “Firekeeper’s Daughter.” The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a copy of "Warrior Girl Unearthed." Please, only one free book per library cardholder. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Angeline Boulley is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Her debut novel “Firekeeper’s Daughter” has earned the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, the Printz Award, the William C. Morris award for YA debut literature, and was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. It was also named one of the top 100 young adult novels of all time by Time magazine and has been optioned for Netflix as a miniseries.

Angeline will be joined in conversation with Autumn Brunelle. Brunelle is Anishinaabe, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and grew up on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Autumn graduated in 2015 from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Native American Studies with a desire for integrating indigenous knowledge into environmental education and outreach. She has continued to develop this passion through her diverse work experiences with international and local non-profits, the National Park Service, local governments, and in creating community-based environmental programming. She currently works as a full-time Naturalist for the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Department.

Visit her website
Check out her books

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*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Angeline Boulley



Autumn Brunelle


V.E. Schwab

Thu • Apr 13 • 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Come early to enjoy a beverage at the cash bar before the program begins.
The Sycamore at Mallow Run
7070 Whiteland Rd., Bargersville, IN 46106

JCPL welcomes Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books for adults, teens and children, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the Cassidy Blake series and the international bestseller, "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue."

The first 100 JCPL cardholders to register and attend will receive a signed copy of "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue." Please, only one free book per library cardholder. General admission tickets may be reserved by anyone; you do not need a library card to attend. Copies of the author's books will also be available for purchase from Wild Geese Bookshop.

Her work has been translated into over two dozen languages, as well as optioned for television and film. "First Kill" – her YA vampire series based on the short story of the same name – is currently on Netflix. Schwab serves as a creator, executive producer and writer for the show. A Nashville, TN native, Ms. Schwab now lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters.

Ms. Schwab will be joined in conversation by author Brooke Lauren Davis, author of "The Hollow Inside" and "After Dark with Roxy Clark." She loves stories of all kinds, from plays to ballets, to TV shows, to memories rehashed over the dinner table. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found annoying her pets, haunting bookstores, or shouting Jeopardy! answers at the TV.

Copies of the paperback edition of "The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue" will be pre-signed and stamped with a tour exclusive custom image. In lieu of a post-event signing line, there will be a longer Q&A session. A limited number of signed bookplates will be available for personal copies. Please, only one per person.

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Visit V.E.'s website.
Check out V.E.'s books.

*Please contact Kelly Staten (kstaten@jcplin.org or 317-738-9835) with accessibility or interpretive needs.

Photo Credit: Jenna Maurice

Author Brooke Davis
A look back at many of the great authors we’ve hosted during our Authors at JCPL bestselling author series: