Chester Library is joining over 200 libraries across the state of Illinois to host Romance & Regency with Bridgerton’s Julia Quinn. Quinn, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning romance author, is known for her Bridgerton series. The event is presented by Illinois Libraries Present, a collaborative effort with libraries across the state featuring virtual events with bestselling authors and esteemed speakers. The event with Quinn will take place via Zoom at 7 PM on Tuesday, February 20 with a watch-party at the library. For more information or to register, click here, register below, or call 618.826.3711. 

Julia Quinn has written close to 40 novels including her popular series about the Bridgerton family which premiered on Netflix in 2020. Her newest novel, Queen Charlotte, is co-written with television pioneer Shonda Rhimes. It’s a powerful and romantic novel of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte and King George III’s great love story and how it sparked a societal shift. 

Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don’t read (or write) romance, and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. Quinn has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and was recently named the national ambassador for EveryLibrary, an organization that helps libraries fight censorship. Quinn’s novels have been translated into 41 languages and have appeared on The New York Times bestseller list 19 times.

Julia Quinn will be joined in conversation with Sarah MacLean, bestselling historical romance author and romance columnist for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bustle. MacLean is also the co-host of the weekly romance podcast Fated Mates. In addition to her novels, she is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place as a feminist text and a cultural bellwether.

Author events are often a cornerstone of library programming. Throughout the pandemic these events continued virtually, and libraries often collaborated to host authors and speakers. Joining forces for such events allows libraries to bring speakers to their communities that might not be possible due to budget constraints or production capabilities. And that’s just what Illinois Libraries Present strives to do. Illinois Libraries Present, now in its third season, brings together diverse communities, ensures access to events with esteemed speakers to patrons across the state, and expands the speaker’s platform.  

Illinois Libraries Present is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Illinois Libraries Present is committed to inclusion and accessibility.