(All events free; no tickets or reservations necessary)

July Author Schedule

Richard Doster, the fine, award-winning Atlanta author, returns with an exciting, throught-provoking new novel: Crossing the Lines. The story focuses on events of the mid-1950s when Jack Hall, a reporter for the AJC, encounters stories of white violence against black Americans. He sets out to counter those stories with those of the South he knows well and loves, only to find there are important, hidden connections between the best and worst in the region. Doster is editor of magazine, the official publication of the Presbyterian Church in America and a native of Mississippi. 7:15 p.m., Monday, July 27, Decatur Library Auditorium.

Coleman Barks, the distinguished, prize-winning poet and translator, visits us with an important new book, Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems, 1968-2008. Critics are calling it "masterful," rich in vitalilty and originality, "funny, brave and honest." Barks has taught creative writing and American poetry in the English department at the University of Georgia for 30 years, and has written and translated dozens of books. He is the foremost translator of the 13th century mystic poet Jalal Al-Din, and his bestsellers include The Essential Rumi, The Soul of Rumi and Rumi: The Book of Love. 7:15 p.m., Thursday, July 30, Decatur Library Auditorium.

Stephen L. Carter, whose brilliant debut novel The Emperor of Ocean Park was a New York Times bestselling novel, returns with something different: a new book, Jericho's Fall, centered on the shadowy world of spies, government secrecy and financial fraud. It's a riveting thriller for Carter, professor of Law at Yale University since 1982. His other books, all featured on many bestseller lists, include Palace Council and New England White. 7:15 p.m., Friday, July 31, 7:15 p.m., Decatur Library Auditorium.

August Author Schedule

James Braziel, author of the acclaimed novels Birmingham and 35 Miles, visits us with a powerful, mesmerizing new book, Snakeskin Road. It's a cautionary futuristic tale of a woman's harrowing journey of survival through a Southeastern United States that has been devastated by catastrophic climactic changes. It's a frightening depiction of a familiar landscape now turned lawless and corrupt and utterly dangerous. 7:15 p.m., Monday, August 3, Decatur Library Auditorium.

Amanda C. Gable. Welcome Atlanta author Amanda Gable, with her richly imagined and heartwarming new novel, The Confederate General Rides North. It's a whimsical, totally original story about an endearing young heroine, 11-year-old Katherine McDonnell, a precocious Civil War buff, and her touching relationship with her mother. It's set in Georgia in the 1960s, and we're predicting it will emerge as one of the finest debut novels of the year! Join us to welcome this gifted new writer. Charis Books will have copies of the novel for sale and signing. 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, Decatur Library auditorium.

Jonathan Tropper, whose popular novels include Plan B and The Book of Joe, returns with a new book, This is Where I Leave You. It's an "uproarious, sophisticated, deeply moving novel with a sense of humor and deft touch that may remind readers of early John Irving and Michael Chabon. The story centers around a very dysfunctional family forced to spend time together by the death of one of their own. 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, August 25, Decatur Library Auditorium.

September Author Schedule

Decatur Book Festival. The Georgia Center for the Book helped develop the plans for the Decatur Book Festival back in 2005, and now we want to urge everyone to join us for the fabulous fourth annual event on and around the Historic Square in Decatur. More than 200 authors will be taking part in this fabulous festival. The keynote speaker will be Sir Harold Evans, former editor of the London Times and head of Random House. Among the list of participants are Pulitzer Prize winners Rick Bragg, Robert Olen Butler, Natasha Trethewey and Douglas Blackmon; five-time Grammy winner Mary Chapin Carpenter; award-winning mystery writer Lee Child; bestselling fantasy author Diana Gabaldon; and children's author Jon Scieszka. For details, go to www.decaturbookfestival.com. Friday, September 4 - Sunday, September 6.

Mary Kay Andrews. The delightful Atlanta writer and New York Times bestselling author (Hissy Fit, Savannah Breeze, Deep Dish) Kathy Trocheck returns as Mary Kay Andrews with a laugh-out-loud, wonderful new novel, The Fixer Upper. It's the drop-dead funny story of one woman's quest to re-do an old home. It was written at the same time the author was fixing up an old home at Tybee Beach, and we'll have some before-and-after photos to help illustrate how art imitates life. 7:15 p.m., Thursday, September 17, Decatur Library Auditorium.