James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates set to visit Des Moines Public Library for AViD series

What does one of the bestselling authors of all time, the namesake for one of fiction’s most prestigious prizes and a local poet whose first novel was recently called “dazzling” by the New York Times all have in common?

They’re all coming to Des Moines — and the ticket price to see them is absolutely free.

Mystery master James Patterson, literary fiction grande dame Joyce Carol Oates and University of Iowa professor Kaveh Akbar will join thriller writers Gregg Hurwitz and Nick Petrie and romance novelist Jasmine Guillory for the 2024 season of the Des Moines Public Library’s Authors Visiting in Des Moines series.

Better known as AViD, the literary series is celebrating 23 years of providing readers an up-close experience with established, acclaimed authors and emerging writers alike.

“At these events, you’re not just sitting and listening, but you get to meet the authors,” says Tim Paluch, the library’s marketing and communications supervisor. “They’re going to sign your book, and you can ask them questions personally.”

“Even James Patterson, he is going to stay and sign every book.”

Unlike other similar series, AViD events are informative, but meant to be informal and upbeat, says Paluch. An author may be discussing a dark horror narrative or a murder thriller, but the mood is light.

“There’s always a lot of energy in the room,” he adds. “People are going to be laughing. It’s going to be an engaged audience.”

“It’s more entertaining than people might think when they hear, ‘Come and see an author talk about a book.’”

Marquee-topping names like Patterson — whom the library had been trying to book for years — and Oates “immediately bring gravitas to this year’s lineup," Paluch says. But he and his team don't just seek out the biggest titles by well-recognized writers; they strive to craft a season marked by a diversity of topics, genres and authors themselves.

Every year, the planning group starts with a massive “wish list” of possibilities and then sorts through what makes sense as far as new releases, author availabilities and the jigsaw puzzle of logistics in and out of Des Moines.

More from Courtney Crowder: A beloved rural Iowa diner closes. A family of Mexican immigrants reopens it — with a twist.

“The mission is always promote books, promote reading, and we find a great way to do that is to bring in the authors and show that they're real people,” he says. “We let them explain the art, explain the process, explain the books and that really does lead to developing more dedicated readers and dedicated library users, which, ultimately, is our goal in everything we do.”

For more information on the series or any of this season’s events, visit DMPL.org/AVID.

The following biographies of the 2024 AViD authors were provided by the library and have been lightly edited for clarity and space.

Kaveh Akbar

7 p.m., March 21, Central Library

Kaveh Akbar is one of America’s most recognized poets, with work appearing in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Paris Review and more. He released his debut novel, “Martyr!”, in January to universal acclaim and major literary buzz. In the novel, a newly sober, orphaned poet and son of Iranian immigrants embarks on a profound, remarkable search for meaning and for a family secret — guided by the voices of artists, poets and kings.

James Patterson

In conversation with the Register’s Courtney Crowder.

7 p.m., April 10,  Scottish Rite Consistory

James Patterson is one of the most popular storytellers of our time, selling in the hundreds of millions of books worldwide during his illustrious, prolific career. He is the creator of multiple popular characters and series, including Alex Cross, the “Women’s Murder Club,” Jane Effing Smith and “Maximum Ride”; and of true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon and Princess Diana; as well as narratives about our military heroes, police officers and ER nurses.

His upcoming nonfiction book, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading,” will be released two days prior to his AViD appearance. 

VIP reception: The Des Moines Public Library Foundation will hold a VIP reception with James Patterson before his AViD event. The reception includes a copy of "The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians," reserved seating to the conversation, light snacks and the chance to meet Patterson in a small group setting. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online at DMPL.org.

Gregg Hurwitz and Nick Petrie

7 p.m., May 2, Central Library

Two bestselling novelists will interview each other on stage during a new style of AViD event. Gregg Hurwitz is the internationally bestselling author of 24 thrillers, including the “Orphan X” series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in 33 languages. He’s also written screenplays and television scripts for major studios and networks; comics for AWA, DC and Marvel; and poetry, political and culture pieces for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others. He helped write the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup.

Nick Petrie is the author of seven novels in the "Peter Ash" series, most recently "The Runaway." His debut, "The Drifter," won both the ITW Thriller award and the Barry Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the Edgar and the Hammett Awards.

Joyce Carol Oates

7 p.m., May 30, Central Library

Joyce Carol Oates is one of the most celebrated, accomplished and revered novelists of the last 60 years. She has written nearly 60 novels, plus dozens of plays, novellas and short story and essay collections, as well as poetry and nonfiction. She has been nominated several times for the Pulitzer Prize, and has won the National Humanities Medal, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Life Achievement Award and the 2019 Jerusalem Prize for Lifetime Achievement.

She is the Roger S. Berlind ’52 Distinguished Professor of the Humanities emerita at Princeton University and has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978.

Her latest novel, “Butcher,” will be released on May 21 and uses historical documents to tell the harrowing story of a women’s asylum in the 19th century and a terrifying doctor fueled by obsession.

Jasmine Guillory

7 p.m., June 13, Central Library

Dubbed “the undisputed queen of modern-day romance” by Vogue, Jasmine Guillory is the beloved author of bestsellers such as “The Wedding Date,” “The Proposal” and more. Her romantic, upbeat comedic style has led to her being a regular on The New York Times bestseller list and having “The Proposal” chosen as a Reese Witherspoon Hello Sunshine Book Club pick. She also writes a popular newsletter, is a regular guest on the “Today” show and speaks across the country about the importance of writing about Black heroines and breaking literary stereotypes.

Courtney Crowder, the Register's Iowa Columnist, traverses the state's 99 counties telling Iowans' stories. She is a child of public libraries and the magic they hold in their stacks. Reach her at ccrowder@dmreg.com or 515-284-8360.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why are James Patterson and Joyce Carol Oates coming to Des Moines?