The development of Long Island’s sprawling suburbs was a symbol of prosperity for some, and a mark of entrenched inequality for many others. In deeply researched new histories, Tim Keogh and Chris Verga share uncovered histories of Levittown, Robert Moses, and the people who fell in the crosshairs of the Island’s march towards progress, illustrating the disparities of wealth and power inherent to the creation of Long Island as we know it. 

Mets fans, don’t miss this opportunity to meet a living legend! Art Shamsky, 1969 New York Met and noted author, talks with baseball historian Kevin Baker about stories and anecdotes from his 50-year relationship with the Mets. Afterwards, he’ll sign books for fans!

In this lively Q&A, novelist Ellen Meister sits down with Book Doctor David Henry Sterry to discuss the importance of keeping readers entertained. They’ll talk about pacing and humor, as well as how story structure combines with character development to drive a novel forward. You’ll learn why her funny and poignant new book, Joyride, has become a favorite destination for entertainment-hungry readers. Plus, you’ll get a front seat view of the twists and turns on the road to publication.

Pirates, wizards, and merfolk oh my! If you love fantastic characters and fabulous world-building, don’t miss this conversation with Greg Lucci, C. W. Rose, and Caitlin Rozakis. They’ve woven magical stories full of miracles, mayhem, and dazzling twists and turns. If you love fantasy, science fiction, and magic, these books are for you!

Long Island has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years. Its modern development has happened on top of their history and culture, including on sacred and burial sites. In 2023, New York State’s Unmarked Burial Law finally passed, protecting remains uncovered by property owners. The law was a long time coming, and the result of years of hard work by indigenous Long Islanders. Lawyer Tela Troge, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe, was instrumental in this process. She talks with archaeologist Allison McGovern about her work with the New York State Burial Committee Board, Graves Protection Warrior Society and Niamuck Land Trust, to protect sacred and burial sites. She shares what she and others did to ensure the Unmarked Burial Law was successfully passed, and what you can do to honor Long Island’s sacred ground and history.

Every day, we’re barraged with information and events happening with lightning speed. Even those of us who think we’re paying attention have a hard time finding clarity around basic political and legal issues. What’s myth? What's real? What has historical context? Political professor and former congressional staffer Casey Burgat sits down with Congressman Steve Israel to sort fact from fiction and offer insight into how we can navigate the maelstrom of issues confronting us every day.

Fans of Sarah J. Maas and The Hunger Games, discover your new favorite books as YA authors Lisa Amowitz and Virginia Mary whisk us into worlds unknown! Secrets of the past are uncovered on an island wonderland with a vanishing walled garden, magical healing plant, and enigmatic young man. A young warrior comes up against treacherous seas, ruthless raiders, and vengeful assassins as she fights a dark militia. Epic adventures await!

Fans of true crime and Law & Order, grab a seat for this big discussion between two talented novelists who took inspiration from real life crimes for their new page-turning stories.

The Nature Conservancy of New York presents a special conversation about the power and beauty of birds, with actress and author Lili Taylor and nature writer David Gessner. In her new book, Taylor shares her search for peace in the cacophony of birdsong and the rich world of change, movement, and survival she discovered there. Gessner shares his story of Flaco, the famed New York City owl. What do birds have to teach us, if only we’d look up, pause, and pay attention?

The journey from idea to publication to promotion can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Join award-winning authors, media experts, and publishing pros Carol Hoenig and Paula Rizzo for a candid, actionable conversation designed to empower both aspiring and seasoned writers.

A murderous clown at a Halloween party. A poisoned football player in a sunny suburban town. Two teen girls whose survival skills are tested to the max. Fans of jump scares and slasher flicks, join authors Kara Thomas and Lisa Springer as they talk all things horror writing and their spine-tingling, leave-the-lights-on latest YA novels.

Award-winning writer and spiritual advisor Anita Kopacz sits down with Darlene Williams, director of Long Island’s Black Authors Festival, to discuss creating magic and power on the page and in our own lives. Her new novel transports us to a magical realm of 1870s America, where a young Cuban girl inherits otherworldly powers and journeys across the country, discovering her identity and possibilities.

Acclaimed historian and bestselling author Russell Shorto offers up a thrilling new narrative of how New York City–brash, bold, and archetypal–came to be. In conversation with Kevin Baker.

Two masters of crime fiction take us from the city to the suburbs in their suspenseful new thrillers. In Chris Pavone’s The Doorman, the residents and staff of The Bohemia confront a night of simmering tensions that burst citywide, and one doorman who knows more about their patch of sidewalk than anyone. In The Ruins, Lindenhurst takes center stage as the discovery of a body uncovers a sinister evil that rocks this 1954 working-class town. If you love a good thriller, don’t miss this conversation!

The origins of the eugenics movement in the early twentieth century can be traced close to home: the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the direction of Charles Benedict Davenport from 1910 to 1939. The work conducted there directly led to the forced sterilization of thousands of American citizens and the passage of anti-immigration laws, and sparked a deadly global movement. Author Mark Torres explores the local characters, influences, landmarks and ghastly consequences that emanated from this small Long Island facility for decades and spread throughout the world.

Friends forever… until you’re not. In new YA novels by Shveta Thakrar and Jen Nissley, friendships get complicated as characters grow into new versions of themselves. How do we hold on to the people we love as they–and we–change? Join the conversation as these authors share characters who figure out platonic intimacy in worlds magical and realistic. 

Phony nuptials and a cheeky dating contract are at the center of delightful new romance novels by KJ Micciche and Stacey Agdern. Two writers get married to save face in their MFA program. High school exes shake hands to be each other’s plus-ones to jumpstart their careers. As fire and furies ignite, will these couples make it to the end of their agreements–or is there more in store? Dish about the drama with KJ and Stacey as they share the fun of writing romance!

Aspiring writers, this is your chance at a book deal! Pitchapalooza is American Idol for books (only kinder and gentler). Twenty writers will be selected at random from the audience to pitch their book. Each writer gets one minute—and only one minute! At the end of Pitchapalooza, the judges will pick a winner. The winner receives an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her book.

Bestselling author and television producer Thomas Maier delves into the little-known tales behind the Rockefeller Center spy operation and the origins of American intelligence. Full of action and fascinating characters, this untold history reveals how Ernest Cuneo, America's first WWII spy, helped the British launch a covert campaign against Nazi conspirators hidden in America, an espionage war unbeknownst to many, and includes vivid insights about many top twentieth-century figures, including Churchill, FDR and later JFK.