Popular young adult author Lamar Giles visits Topeka

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is hosting bestselling young adult (YA) author Lamar Giles on Thursday, November 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the library's Marvin Auditorium. Giles will talk about his work, take audience questions and sign books. His most recent release the YA thriller "The Getaway" is being developed for TV by Don Cheadle's Radicle Act and Sony Pictures Television.

Giles is the author of the acclaimed novels Fake ID, Endangered, Overturned, Spin, The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, Not So Pure and Simple and The Last Mirror on the Left as well as numerous pieces of short fiction. He is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books and resides in Virginia with his wife.

“I write books primarily to entertain readers," said Giles. "I like to imagine them gasping in a thrilling moment, or cracking up at the funny parts. My books are the kind that anybody can enjoy. But, while anybody can enjoy them, they're not about generic avatars; my books are about Black kids. They may be in strange situations, or have talents you don't expect, but they are Black. They're the characters I was advised not to write. The characters I was told no one would read. The characters I always wanted to read. So the most interesting thing about me might be how stubborn I am because while I'm here to entertain I'm also here to prove wrong the people who said it couldn't--or worse, shouldn't--be done.“

Giles' visit is one of four author visits to the library during October and November. These fall author visits are made possible by the Friends of the Library and The Library Foundation.