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Virtual Author Talk

Shelby Van Pelt - "Remarkably Bright Creatures"

2024-08-21 19:00:00 2024-08-21 20:00:00 America/New_York Virtual Author Talk Join us online for a LIVE chat with "New York Times" bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. Westlake Porter Public Library - Online

Wednesday, August 21
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2024-08-21 19:00:00 2024-08-21 20:00:00 America/New_York Virtual Author Talk Join us online for a LIVE chat with "New York Times" bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus. Westlake Porter Public Library - Online

Join us online for a LIVE chat with "New York Times" bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus.

We invite you to join us as we chat with the amazing New York Times bestselling author Shelby Van Pelt about her beloved novel Remarkably Bright Creatures. You don’t want to miss this deep-dive exploration of friendship, reckoning, hope, and so much more!

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium—and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance 30 years ago.

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over 30 years ago.

As she works, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old, invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope–a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. Register now for a conversation you just don't want to miss!

About the Author

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, was published by Ecco/HarperCollins (US) and Bloomsbury (UK) in Spring 2022 and was an Instant New York Times bestseller and has sold a million and a half copies. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she’s now missing the mountains in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.


Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Visit our site to see all events, register and explore recordings of past events.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books and Authors |

TAGS: | LSC |

Westlake Porter Public Library

Phone: (440) 871-2600
Fax: (440) 871-6969

Hours
We're closed Friday July 04 due to Independence Day
Mon, Jun 30 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Jul 01 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Jul 02 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jul 03 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jul 04 Closed
(Independence Day)
Sat, Jul 05 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jul 06 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Mon, Jun 30 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Jul 01 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Jul 02 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jul 03 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jul 04 Closed
(Independence Day)
Sat, Jul 05 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jul 06 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Westlake Porter Public Library is an independent public library serving the residents of the city of Westlake, western Cuyahoga County and eastern Lorain County. The library is located at 27333 Center Ridge Road in Westlake, Ohio. Anyone who lives, works, owns property, or goes to school in Ohio can register for a free library card.

Upcoming events

Thu, Jul 03, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Craft Room,Dover Room,Technology Training Lab

Fri, Jul 04, 9:15am - 11:00am
Parking Lot
Registration is now closed

Sun, Jul 06, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Jul 07, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Craft Room

Mon, Jul 07, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Technology Training Lab

Tue, Jul 08, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jul 08, 10:00am - 11:30am
Dover Room

Tue, Jul 08, 10:00am - 11:00am
Porter Room

Tue, Jul 08, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jul 08, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room,Zoom Programming 2

Wed, Jul 09, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 09, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Makerspace,Technology Training Lab

Wed, Jul 09, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 09, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Dover Room

Thu, Jul 10, 10:00am - 10:45am
Friends Pavilion,Storytime Room

Thu, Jul 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room

Fri, Jul 11, 10:30am - 11:30am
Friends Pavilion

Sat, Jul 12, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sun, Jul 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Jul 14, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Registration opens Monday, July 7 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Jul 14, 11:00am - 11:45am
Porter Room
Registration opens Monday, July 7 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Jul 14, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Monday, July 7 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Jul 14, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Porter Room

Tue, Jul 15, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jul 15, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jul 15, 11:00am - 11:45am
Porter Room
Registration opens Tuesday, July 8 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 15, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room

Wed, Jul 16, 11:00am - 11:45am
Porter Room
Registration opens Wednesday, July 9 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 16, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 16, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Makerspace,Technology Training Lab

Wed, Jul 16, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 16, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Wed, Jul 16, 7:00pm - 7:30pm
Storytime Room

Thu, Jul 17, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Friends Pavilion,Porter Room

Thu, Jul 17, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Registration opens Thursday, July 10 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jul 17, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Friends Pavilion

Thu, Jul 17, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Reading Garden
Registration opens Thursday, July 10 2025 at 9:00am

Fri, Jul 18, 10:00am - 10:45am
Porter Room

Sat, Jul 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Friends Pavilion

Sat, Jul 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Porter Room

Mon, Jul 21, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Porter Room

Mon, Jul 21, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Monday, July 14 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 22, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Tuesday, July 15 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 22, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Wed, Jul 23, 11:00am - 11:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Wednesday, July 16 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 23, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Makerspace,Technology Training Lab

Wed, Jul 23, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 23, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Dover Room

Thu, Jul 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Thursday, July 17 2025 at 9:00am

Fri, Jul 25, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Craft Room

Fri, Jul 25, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Storytime Room
Registration opens Friday, July 18 2025 at 9:00am

Sat, Jul 26, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Porter Room

Sat, Jul 26, 11:00am - 11:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Saturday, July 19 2025 at 9:00am

Sat, Jul 26, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sun, Jul 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Sunday, July 20 2025 at 9:00am

Sun, Jul 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Jul 28, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Monday, July 21 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 29, 9:30am - 9:50am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jul 29, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Porter Room

Tue, Jul 29, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Craft Room

Wed, Jul 30, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jul 30, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Storytime Room
Registration opens Wednesday, July 23 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 30, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Porter Room

Thu, Jul 31, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Storytime Room
Registration opens Thursday, July 24 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jul 31, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
Storytime Room
Registration opens Thursday, July 24 2025 at 9:00am

Fri, Aug 01, 9:00am - 6:00pm

Fri, Aug 01, 10:00am - 10:45am
Friends Pavilion

Cancelled
Fri, Aug 01, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Sat, Aug 02, 10:00am - 11:30am
Makerspace
Registration opens Saturday, July 26 2025 at 9:00am

Sat, Aug 02, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Dover Room,Friends Pavilion