In this episode, Ross speaks with Programming Manager Sarah Brubaker about the upcoming our Winter Reading program. Listen for more information on this year's theme (HINT: Get ready to press the A button!), incremental prizes, and grand prizes.

Winter Reading runs from December 19, 2025 to January 19, 2026. To learn more about signing up for the challenge, please visit our website.

In this episode, local author Dr. Ashley Baker speaks with Ross about her new book The Ashes of Us, which is a novel that navigates themes of trauma, paternal love, and the devastating price of retribution. Dr. Baker talks about her inspiration for the book and how she's utilized her experiences and knowledge to write a book that is ultimately a tribute to her own father, who was a forensic pathologist.

Dr. Baker is a clinical psychologist (PsyD), who practices and lives in Forsyth County, and is author of two psychological suspense novels, including The Furious Others.

Dr. Baker will be at the Sharon Forks Library on October 22, 2025 at 7:00PM for a reading and author talk for The Ashes of Us. We hope to see you there!

It has been an exciting year for the Forsyth County Public Libraries. We opened a brand new library branch in March: Denmark Library! On May 10, 2025, the library's official dedication took place. Many local and state officials were on hand to share what this library has meant to them and what it will mean for the community.

If you missed the dedication, we have great news: you can listen to it here! The dedication includes United States Representative Rick McCormick, State Senator Greg Dolezal, State Representative Carter Barrett, Forsyth County Commissioners Alfred John and Todd Levent, and Chair of the Library Board of Trustees Christy Winters.

Summer Reading is just around the corner, and Ross is joined by Sarah Brubaker, Programming Manager at FCPL, to discuss how to make the most of this year's Summer Reading Fun! Sarah shares how to get started using Beanstack, as well as some tips and tricks for logging your and your family's reading.

Curious about our incremental and grand prizes, or want to know who is performing at our Summer Reading Kickoff Events? Sarah provides a sneak peak of what you can expect this year. Hint: It's going to be awesome!

Summer Reading Fun starts May 22 and ends August 4, 2025. You can learn more about registering with Beanstack, prizes, and upcoming events on our website.

In this episode of Unreadable, Ross speaks with Shelby Van Pelt about her novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, this year's Forsyth Reads Together selection. Van Pelt's debut novel, published in 2022, remains a New York Times bestseller and features the unique perspective of Marcellus the octopus as a narrator. Van Pelt spoke with Ross about how she developed her characters, some based on true life and others based on people (and marine life) watching at the Georgia Aquarium, and she shared her excitement about the upcoming film adaptation. An Evening with Shelby Van Pelt is Mar 11, 2025 at the Forsyth Conference Center. The event is ticketed and currently full; however, there are a plethora of events related to the book taking place at all the Forsyth County Public Library branches. You can find out more in our event calendar.

A transcript of this episode is available on Bookmarked, the Forsyth County Public Library's blog for book recommendations and news .

It's that time again! Our Winter Reading Challenge is back. If you enjoyed the reading challenge last year, especially collecting those trading cards, we have good news for you: we have a whole new set of trading cards to collect this winter!

The Winter Reading Challenge is for all ages. Listen to find out how to participate and what grand prizes can be won this year.

Links Beanstack

Earlier this month, the Southeastern Institute of Paranormal Research conducted a paranormal investigation at the Hampton Park Library. In this episode, you'll hear an abridged version of investigation, including an equipment overview and sessions conducted in different parts of the library. Are there ghosts in the library? You'll have to listen to find out!

In this episode, Ross speaks with Sarah Brubaker about The Smokey Bear Reading Challenge, which celebrates Smokey Bear's 80th birthday. Listen to hear about prizes, deadlines, and an upcoming Smokey Bear Celebration taking place at the Cumming Library on October 26.

Also, in this episode, we include our first ever listener submitted book reviews. Thank you, Carolynn and Andrea!

If you'd like to submit a book review or library-related question, you can email the podcast at [email protected].

Are you ready for an adventure? FCPL's Summer Reading Fun begins May 23. In this episode, Kim Ottesen, Programming Manager at FCPL, previews what you can expect during our Summer Reading program, including prizes and performers. From lanyards to camping gear to magicians, listen to get a little taste of all the exciting adventures we have planned for you this summer!

Links Summer Reading Guide Episode Transcript

In this episode, Ross speaks with Benjamin Herold about his book Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America's Suburbs, which follows five families in different areas of the United States, including Gwinnett County, and examines their experiences living in suburbia and their experiences with suburban school systems.

Benjamin Herold is a education journalist, who has reported for Education Week, PBS NewsHour, NPR, the Hechinger Report, Huffington Post, and the Public School Notebook. He has a master's degree in urban education from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Join us for an author talk with Benjamin Herold at the Sharon Forks Library on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM.