The International Thriller Writers (ITW) is an honorary society of authors, both fiction and nonfiction, who write books broadly classified as “thrillers.” This would include (but isn’t limited to) such subjects as murder mystery, detective, suspense, horror, supernatural, action, espionage, true crime, war, adventure, and myriad similar subject areas. The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
In celebration of Friday the 13th, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with Booklist, Book Riot, iREAD, and NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), announced the eighth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and library workers and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.
Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade. For 2026 those selected titles in the NLS collection are:
Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, April 21 at7:00 p.m. (Central) with thriller and true crime author, Kathryn Casey.
Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean, will discuss Ms. Casey’s career and her Sarah Armstrong Series, starting with the first book, SINGULARITY (DBC 18075). Following the talk, there will be a Q&A session.
Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!
Participating is easy:
Use your landline to dial in via phone.
Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.
To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.
We invite you to ask Kathryn Casey questions about her book. Please submit your questions by April 14. We will select questions based on the responses to this form, and they may be asked during the event! Fill out the form here: Author Questions
To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here.
Or if you prefer, reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.
Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with her book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Her book is also available to be mailed in a large print format. And, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).
SINGULARITY: SARAH ARMSTRONG SERIES, BOOK 1 by Kathryn Casey (DBC 18075)
NLS Annotation: As a single mother and one of the few female Rangers in Texas history, Sarah Armstrong has had to work twice as hard to rank among the best cops in the Lone Star State. But when megawealthy businessman Edward Lucas III is found murdered along with his mistress, Sarah quickly senses that this will be the deadliest case of her career. While others focus the investigation on Lucas’s estranged wife, Sarah disagrees and hunts a suspect only she believes in. Yet nothing in her career could have prepared her for the horror of a young man who is convinced he has been sent from heaven to massacre innocent people. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2008.
We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, April 21!
The Alamo reminds us that stories live on when they’re shared. The Texas Talking Book Program ensures every Texan can access stories in audio, braille, and large print. #RememberTheAlamo with one of these titles from our collection!
From the library:
ALAMO REMEMBERED: TEJANO ACCOUNTS AND PERSPECTIVES (DBC 26407)
SAM HOUSTON AND THE ALAMO AVENGERS: THE TEXAS VICTORY THAT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY (DB 97726) (LB 12663)
THREE ROADS TO THE ALAMO: THE LIVES AND FORTUNES OF DAVID CROCKETT, JAMES BOWIE, AND WILLIAM BARRET TRAVIS (DBC 25531)
Literacy starts young. For most children, an interest in reading starts with picture books at home or in the classroom. Dr. Seuss is a beloved author who has become synonymous with Read Across America, so celebrate his birthday today with some green eggs and ham!
From the library:
CAT IN THE HAT (DB 33062) (BT 13466)
GREEN EGGS AND HAM (DB 34056) (BR 16721)
ONE FISH, TWO FISH, RED FISH, BLUE FISH (DB 22796) (BR 16379)
