Veterans dealing with traumatic experiences find value in putting their thoughts and experiences on paper and then sharing them with an audience.

Take a look back at some of our favorite authors and their works while the snow and ice are keeping you inside!

Andrew Delbanco talks about his new book, “The War Before The War, Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for America’s Soul from the Revolution to the Civil War”.

Author Elliot Ackerman discusses his latest fiction novel “Waiting for Eden”, a book about love, fidelity, loyalty and grief.

University of Chicago law professor, Justin Driver, traces the history of Supreme Court cases involving the constitutional rights of students.

Fiona Davis (The Dollhouse, The Apartment) discusses her new novel, The Masterpiece, an ode to Grand Central Terminal and the forgotten artist Helen Dryden.

#slaughtersquad fans can add to their library with the latest book “Pieces of Her” from #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author, Karin Slaughter.

Paul Schankman talks with author Nick Bunker about his book, Young Benjamin Franklin, offering readers a fascinating look at the youth of this founding father.

Kate DiCamillo reveals the reason behind her new novel, “Louisiana’s Way Home,” a companion story to her beloved bestseller “Raymie Nightingale.”

The Pony Express is iconic for the Wild West with characters like Buffalo Bill Cody. Learn about the Pony’s history and some of its most entertaining tales.

Driving around city, you’ve probably seen work by local artist Cbabi Bayoc, who wants his paintings to bring hope and color to the streets of St. Louis. Cbabi Bayoc is a self-created name that is an acronym for “Creative Black Artist Battling Ignorance” and “Blesses African Youth Of Creativity.” His work is proudly shown around […]

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician and public health advocate whose research exposed the Flint, MI water crisis. “What They Eyes Don’t See” is her story.

Author Alexis Clark talks about her new book, Enemies in Love; the true story of a black nurse and a German P.O.W. who fell in love during World War Two.

Congratulations to all those nominated! HEC couldn’t carry out its mission to “strengthen the education, art, and cultural communities in the metropolitan area” without you and all our supporters! These nominations are for you, St. Louis! Arts/Entertainment- Program Feature Segment 15 Year-Old Short Film Director Kara Vaninger Brock Seals: New Artist, Old Soul Suzanne Vanderhoef, […]

Was one of the most influential literary artists of the 20th century a spy? Former CIA archivist Nicholas Reynolds discusses his research on Ernest Hemingway.

ABC News’ chief legal analyst and “Live PD” host Dan Abrams discusses his New York Times Bestselling book, “Lincoln’s Last Trial,” co-written with David Fisher.

Georgia Hunter, author of “We Were The Lucky Ones,” is interviewed about her new book telling the amazing true story of her family’s survival of the Holocaust.

St. Louis native Jenna Fischer reveals the “nitty gritty” of making it in Hollywood; it took her 8 years in LA to land the role of Pam Beesley on “The Office.”

She famously burned her letters, but the co-authors of “My Dear Hamilton” discuss how they unearthed the remarkable story of founding mother, Eliza Hamilton.

An expert in authoritarian states, St. Louis journalist Sarah Kendzior reflects upon her collection of essays in her book, “The View from Flyover Country.”

Although there there are so many events and happenings taking place in June, we wanted to spotlight a few we are really excited about! To view all events, go to our events page, here. Edo Rosenblith at COCA | June 8 – Aug. 25 Israeli born, St. Louis-based artist Edo Rosenblith will guide COCA visitors […]

World-renowned autism spokesperson Temple Grandin shares personal stories and inventions at the Saint Louis County Library.

Happy World Book Day! Here are a few books we’re reading right now that we highly recommend! We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy Ta-Nehisi Coates “We were eight years in power” was the lament of Reconstruction-era black politicians as the American experiment in multiracial democracy ended with the return of white supremacist […]

Enjoy an evening of conversation, performance, and poetry with local and nationally renown poets and artists.

Amy Bloom reveals “the kind of love that everybody hopes for” in White Houses, her novel about the love between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok.

There’s no doubt St. Louis is a literary city — with local bookshops such as Left Bank Books hosting events almost every day, to the St. Louis County Library hosting tons of educational initiatives for the area, there are literary opportunities everywhere you turn. Check out some of the exciting authors coming to town March […]

Author Daniel Pink enlightens us on how to have better timing in just about everything we do and all the decisions we make.

Ann Leckie talks SciFi stardom, the Imperial Radch and why the hero of her new novel, Provenance, is ‘just like us’.

Longtime St. Louis swim coach Khannie Dastgah hopes to reach children who otherwise may not know about water safety with a new book series.

Why should you care about jellyfish? Berwald explains her unusual journey to tell their fascinating story and how they could help us understand global warming.

Brit Bennett talks about her debut novel The Mothers, what it’s like to write a screenplay for Kerry Washington and why she believes “all art is political.”

  We live in exhausting times—why not escape for a bit with a book? Here are our top 10 staff picks, guaranteed to hit the spot by providing some much-needed escapism. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders The long-awaited first novel from the author of Tenth of December: a moving and original father-son story featuring none […]

Scott Turow’s new thriller, “Testimony,” resurrects the not-so-distant atrocities of the Bosnian War.

Celebrate literature and literary arts at the first annual BookFest St. Louis, proudly presented by the Central West End, Left Bank Books and the Left Bank Books Foundation. BookFest St. Louis will host a diverse mix of locally and internationally renowned writers, with appearances by award-winning authors including Sherman Alexie, Ann Leckie, George Hodgman, Charlie […]

Best-selling author and success coach Jen Sincero talks about her new book, “You are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth.”

Former St. Louis Cardinals baseball great Rick Ankiel discusses his new book, “The Phenomenon” – what got left out of its pages, the “yips,” & lessons learned.

New York Times Bestselling author Christina Baker Kline (“Orphan Train”) talks about her new novel “A Piece of the World,” her writing process and her success.

Temple Grandin, one of the first individuals with Autism to publicly share insights from her personal experiences recently visited Warrenton High School.

By Angie Weidinger, Host So, you think you know Joe Buck? The Fox Sports announcer who has called 19 World Series and five Super Bowls, was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball broadcaster before that, and the son of beloved Cardinals announcer Jack Buck? Well, Joe Buck would disagree with you. “People think they know me […]

“Lucky Bastard” Joe Buck discusses everything from his relationship with his dad Jack Buck to the worst call he ever made.