Friends of the Carlyle Campbell Library: Home

 Book Event with Author and Actress Bethany Joy Lenz

A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free.

On October 23rd, 2024, Meredith College Friends of the Library partnered with Quail Ridge Books to host author Bethany Joy Lenz to promote her new memoir, Dinner for Vampires. 

Bethany Joy Lenz starred in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. Her other acting credits include Guiding Light, Grey’s Anatomy, Charmed, Felicity, Suits, Dexter, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She is also a recording artist who has released several albums. Lenz currently cohosts the podcast Drama Queens and is the founder/editor-in-chief of the broadsheet newspaper Modern Vintage News.

 Book Event with Author and Actress Kelly Bishop

“[Bishop’s] story is one of perseverance and good old-fashioned chutzpah…a definitively dishy read, written with warmth and refreshing frankness about the hard work and luck that contributed to her career… A captivating narrative, engagingly told.” —Library Journal

On September 18th, 2024, Meredith College Friends of the Library partnered with Quail Ridge Books to host author Kelly Bishop to promote her new memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. 

Kelly Bishop is a dancer and actress best known for her roles as matriarch Emily Gilmore in the beloved Emmy Award–winning show Gilmore Girls and as Marjorie Houseman in the hit film Dirty Dancing. Born in Colorado Springs in 1944, Bishop first moved to New York at age eighteen to pursue a career in ballet. Years later, her breakthrough performance originating the role of Sheila Bryant in the iconic musical A Chorus Line earned her a Tony as well as a Drama Desk Award. Pivoting from dancing to acting, Bishop’s onscreen credits include Six Degrees of Separation, Law & Order: SVU, The Good Wife, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and others. She lives in New Jersey.

Book Event with Senator Tim Kaine

Unfortunately, this event has been canceled for reasons beyond our control.

On February 18th, 2024, Meredith College Friends of the Library partnered with Quail Ridge Books to host author Alan Gratz to promote his new book Heroes.  Thank you to all who supported this event! 

Alan Gratz is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Two Degrees, Ground Zero, Allies, Grenade, Refugee, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, Code of Honor, and Captain America: The Ghost Army, an original graphic novel. Alan lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

On September 28, 2023, Meredith College Friends of the Library partnered with Quail Ridge Books to host authors James Patterson and Mike Lupica as they discussed their new book 12 Months to Live. Thank you to all who supported this event! 

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. Among his creations are Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, and Maximum Ride. His #1 bestselling nonfiction includes Walk in My Combat Boots, Filthy Rich, and his autobiography, James Patterson by James Patterson. He has collaborated on novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and has won an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, and the National Humanities Medal.   

Mike Lupica has been inducted into the National Sports Media Hall of Fame.  He is an award-winning columnist for the New York Daily News and has written 17 New York Times bestsellers.