Category Archives: Hoover

Elizabeth George is Coming to Hoover, AL, in 2024

Elizabeth George Cover

The excellent speaker series Southern Voices festival held at the Hoover Public Library has announced that British crime novelist Elizabeth George is headlining the 2024 event. This annual event is always a good time if you enjoy hanging out with bookish folks and meeting authors. You can find out more about next year’s conference at the Southern Voices site.

The Hoover Sun has all the good details and wonderful author biographies, but the basics are:

  • January 11, 2024 at 10am – tickets go on sale on their site. Tickets for “An Evening with Elizabeth George” are $40, while tickets for Saturday’s Authors Conference are $45. 
  • Sunday, February 18, 2024 – the Southern Voices Festival kicks off its 31st year with two John Waite concerts. One at 3pm and the other at 7pm
  • Tuesday, February 20, 2024 – artist Katie Baldwin lecture and reception
  • Friday, February 23, 2024 – “An Evening with Elizabeth George” at 7pm
  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 – the Southern Voices Author Conference starts at 9am and ends at 4pm.

It’s always fun to see who Southern Voices organizers can get to speak in Hoover, AL, each year. It’s always a thrill when it is someone of Elizabeth George’s caliber. 

There are other authors as well, including Kate Quinn, Yasmin Angoe, John Archibald, Kim Cross, and more. So be sure to click over and read that Hoover Sun article. Then mark your calendars to buy your tickets on January 11, 2024. It’s shaping up to be another great event at the Hoover Library.

Hoover Library Book Sale 2023

There is a great book sale kicking off in Hoover, AL. It runs through the whole weekend. It’s the quarterly Hoover Library Book Sale held by the Friends of the Hoover Library.

While not as big as it was (they have sales quarterly instead of annually), this used book sale is always worth it.

The shopping kicks off today at 9am and has already been featured on many of the morning news shows here around Birmingham. The sale runs 9am-5:30pm Friday, 10am-5:30pm Saturday and 1pm to 4:30pm on Sunday.

The bag sales are really fun (and a great bargain) at the Hoover Library Book Sales. Don’t get me wrong – some of the books are well-loved well-read used library books you’d expect. What collectors might call “a reading copy”, but some of the books are donations from folks around the area. All for the same price!

I’m still kind of bummed that the Friends closed their bookshop that was in the Hoover Library. I mean I get why… but still… it was always a fun visit.

I’m always pleased to see some of the donated books and the condition and subject matter. If these donated book are any indication, we must have some really cool and interesting folks around Hoover. Though it’s hard to get to know someone when everyone is throwing elbows trying to grab what they can from the $1 hardback tables… it’s a lot of fun!

The weather looks perfect for the weekend as well. If you’re in the area it may be worth swinging by the Hoover Library Book Sale

Hoover Library Hound

I have so many questions for the Hoover Library folks! I have no information about Libby, but the photo, the teasing announcement is wonderful and we want to know all the details.

  • What will Libby do?
  • Where does Libby come from?
  • Is this beautiful pup the one entering all the new data into the Libby library app?

“Libby is currently training to be our first canine librarian.  She will officially join our staff in August.  Check back here for a schedule of Libby’s appearances and to find ways to support Libby’s adoption.”

August seems so far away now. Can’t wait to hear more! If you’d like to keep up with the library, you can check out the site or follow them on all the social channels. They also have a fun Friends of the Library store you should check out if you’re in the Hoover, AL area. They have great prices.

Southern Voices 2016

Tickets for Southern Voices 2016 go on sale Friday, January 8th. The line-up for the February 26-27, 2016 conference looks solid and will be held at the Hoover Library again this year,

SouthernVoices_LarsonThe big draw this year is Erik Larson who has written seven books and is best known for Devil in the White City, In the Garden of Beasts and the amazing best-selling book Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. Dead Wake topped many bookstores’ “Best Books” lists. For $35, you can join Larson and others for a reception on Friday, February 26th.

The Authors Conference kicks off the next day on Saturday, February 27th and will cost you $40 to get in the door for the day. The Saturday Authors Conference runs from 9a.m.-5p.m. During the day you’ll get to hear writing advice and stories from such notable authors as Natalie Baszile, Beth Ann Fennelly and Tom Franklin. Plus, Craig Johnson, Jamie Mason, Laura Lane McNeal and Mark Pryor. It’s a great mix of serious, fun and thriller books.

I have to admit that I was bummed when I saw that this year’s musical guest had to cancel. It’s a shame. She’s great. If you haven’t heard of Kellylee Evans before, you need to watch this video:

How catchy is that? You should also check out her Ordinary People. She has this jazzy blues 60’s pop groove that’s addictive. Maybe Kellylee Evans make it to Birmingham or Hoover someday.

So at 9 a.m. this Friday you can click through to the official site and buy online (the BUY NOW buttons are over in the right sidebar) or you can call  (205) 444-7888. Good luck! Tickets to past Southern Voices events have gone fast.