Friends of the Central Library Celebrate 30th Anniversary Season Authors

The Friends of the Central Library’s (FOCL) is pleased to announce its 2024-25 30th anniversary season authors beginning September 17, 2024 at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater.

Presented annually by the Friends of the Central Library since 1995, FOCL is a nonprofit organization that produces and promotes one of the longest running library-related lecture series in the country. Their mission is to champion the Onondaga County Public library system through advocacy and fundraising. In addition to an amazing line up of authors, FOCL has plans to commemorate this milestone season with an array of contests, giveaways and celebratory events.

Justin Torres, September 17, 2024

Justin Torres is an American novelist and an Associate Professor of English at UCLA. He is the author of “Blackouts,” which won the 2023 National Book Award in Fiction. He is also the author of “We the Animals” which has been translated into 15 languages and was adapted into a feature film. The story is loosely based on his childhood upbringing in Baldwinsville, NY. His short fiction and essays have been featured in The New Yorker, Harper’s, The Washington Post, LA Times Image Magazine, and Best American Essays.

Bonnie Garmus, October 15, 2024

After a decades-long career as a copywriter, Bonnie Garmus, achieved literary acclaim with her debut novel, “Lessons in Chemistry.” It has been translated into 40 languages and has achieved countless national and international awards. It was selected by Queen Camilla for the Queen’s Reading Room and has been on the New Times, Sunday Times and Der Spiegel bestseller lists for nearly two years. Interestingly, when Garmus sent out her first finished book, it was rejected 98 times. “Lessons in Chemistry” was recently made into an Apple TV+ series starring, Oscar winner Brie Larson.

William Kent Krueger, November 12, 2024

Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University-before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked

construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism and eventually settled on becoming a full-time author. Krueger’s mystery series set in the north woods of MN with protagonist Cork O’Connor have won countless awards along with bestseller status. “Ordinary Grace,” his

stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award. The companion novel, “This Tender Land,” published in 2019 spent nearly six months on the top ten New York Times bestseller list. His most recent novel, “The River We Remember” debuted at #5 on the New York Times list and has become a Washington Post, USA Today and International Bestseller.

S.A. Cosby, March 18, 2025

S.A. Cosby is a “Southern noir” crime fiction writer. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller “All the Sinners Bleed” which was on Barack Obama’s Summer Reading List.

“Razorblade Tears,” published in 2021, is described by the Washington Post as “provocative, violent-beautiful and moving, too.” “Blacktop Wasteland” was named one of the best novels of the year in 2020 by NPR and The New York Times along with winning the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player.

Angie Thomas, April 8, 2025

Born and raised in Mississippi, Angie Thomas, now calls Atlanta her home. She is a former teen rapper and holds a BFA in creative writing from Belhaven University. Starting as a senior project in college, Thomas created an award-winning, debut novel, “The Hate U Give.” It is a #1 New York Times bestseller and was made into a motion picture. Her second novel, “On the Come Up,” was published in 2020 and has been described as a “YA love letter to hip-hop.” Her latest book, “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy” is an inventive and suspenseful contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.

Mitch Albom, May 6, 2025

Mitch Albom is an internationally renowned bestselling author, journalist and devout philanthropist. His books, which include the #1 bestselling memoir of all time, “Tuesdays with Morrie,” have collectively sold more than 40 million copies in 48 languages worldwide. Albom is the author of 10 New York Times bestsellers, with eight debuting at #1. His latest novel, “The Little Liar,” published in 2023, is told against the backdrop of the Holocaust and delves into the value of truth and consequences of lies. As well, his 20 years on ESPN, and his work at the Detroit Free Press helped Albom to be named the #1 Sports Columnist in the Nation by the Associated Press Sports Editors, 13 times. When he’s not writing, Albom spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. He is the founder of SAY Detroit and in 2010, founded and operates the Have Faith Haiti orphanage in Port-au Prince, Haiti.

Tickets can be purchased through the Solvay Bank Box Office at the Oncenter, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Group rates for 10+ are 20% off regular ticket prices. Student tickets are $15 for individual lectures, with a valid student ID. New Series subscriptions are available until September 17th with Patron and Literary levels also available. This two higher levels include a meet and greet with the authors, among other benefits.

For more information on individual tickets, group purchases, or student tickets, contact the Solvay Bank Box Office, (315) 435-2121 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.