Every year\, the Six Bridges Book Festival presented by the Central Arkansas Library System hosts approximately 50 a uthors for free panel discussions\, readings\, book signings\, and other f un and enriching programs. In addition to offering an opportunity for thou sands of readers to meet some of their favorite authors\, the festival sen ds many of the presenters into local schools to inspire our next generatio n of readers and writers. \; \;
\nOn October 5\, 2025\, Shel by Van Pelt\, author of New York Times bestseller Remarkably Bright Creatures\, will speak about her novel and her inspiration\, a nd will take questions from audience members. \;
\nPublished in 2022\, Remarkably Bright Creatures became an instant New York Times Bestseller and a Read with Jenna Today Show book club pick. Th e novel has sold more than two million copies and is now being adapted by Netflix into a feature film starring Sally Field. The novel tells the stor y of a widow&rsquo\;s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus rel uctantly residing at the local aquarium&mdash\;and the truths she finally uncovers about her son&rsquo\;s disappearance 30 years ago. \;
\nThis ticketed event will raise critical funding so the festival can conti nue providing free public events to the Central Arkansas community. Festiv e drinks and bites will be included in the ticket price\, and Shelby Van P elt will be available to sign books. \; \;
\nWhen Shelby Van Pelt isn&rsquo\;t writing\, she&rsquo\;s herding cats and wrangling children. Her debut nove l\, Remarkably Bright Creatures (Ecco\, 2022) was an Instant New York Times Bestseller and a Read With Jenna Today Show book club pick. In 2023\, she was awarded the Heartland Prize for Fiction and the Mc Laughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize from The Writer&rsquo\;s Center . Remarkably Bright Creatures has sold over two million copies. I t has spent\, in aggregate\, over a year on the New York Times Ha rdcover Bestseller list. \;
\nThe paperback version of Remar kably Bright Creatures was released on April 29\, 2025. \;
\n< p>Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest\, she&rsquo\;s now missing the mountains in the Chicago area with her family.\nHost Co mmittee: Best Ever Book Club\, Booked Solid Book Club\, Bookends Book Club \, Lit Happens Book Club\, Susan and Robin Borné\;\, &\; the Who Picked This Book Book Club
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