List of events including author visits to schools, libraries, book clubs, and…
This is your go-to-source for Jean Alicia Elster’s list of events including author visits to schools, libraries, book clubs, writing groups, conferences and book fairs.
Available now: Jean Alicia Elster’s young adult novel HOW IT HAPPENS.
To order your copy, click here.
To view the virtual launch event via YouTube, CLICK HERE
Thursday, April 16, 2p – 5:30p
Jean Alicia Elster, featured author
“Meet the Authors”
Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association 2026 Spring Forum
Loganberry Books
13015 Larchmere Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
Jean Alicia Elster will participate as a featured author during the 2026 GLIBA Spring Forum, as a speaker for the “Meet the Authors” event. As a contributing author to Black Summers: Growing Up in the Urban Outdoors (Wayne State University Press, 2026), her presentation will include remarks and a reading from a portion of her creative nonfiction piece “Neighborhood Constitutional,” which is included in the volume, followed by a Q & A session and book signing. More information here.
Tuesday, April 21, 3:15p – 4:15p
Jean Alicia Elster, book signing, Judson Press booth
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the “Joe Joe in the City” series
Space for Grace Conference 2026: The Power of Storytelling
Hotel Cleveland
24 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the “Joe Joe in the City” series at the conference booth of the series’ publisher Judson Press, Jean Alicia Elster will sign copies of the four volumes in the series: Just Call Me Joe Joe, I Have a Dream, Too!, I’ll Fly My Own Plane and I’ll Do the Right Thing.
More conference information here.
Wednesday, June 10 6pm – 7:30pm
Use Your Voice with Jean Alicia Elster
Southfield Public Library Juneteenth Programming
26300 Evergreen Road
Southfield, Michigan
Jean Alicia Elster gathered stories from her family to write her books. Her presentation will focus on learning and sharing family history through oral histories. Elster will share portions of the oral histories she obtained from her family and will read passages from her family historical fiction trilogy, Who’s Jim Hines?, The Colored Car and How It Happens, to show how she used oral histories to create the narratives in the books.
Elster will offer tips on obtaining oral histories from your family members during family gatherings such as reunions, holidays and other celebrations.
Registration is requested via calendar link here.
Monday & Tuesday, July 27 – 28
Jean Alicia Elster, featured author/storyteller
BIPOC Outdoors Summit 2026
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan
Joining outdoor enthusiasts while centering the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in outdoor spaces, Jean Alicia Elster will be a featured keynote speaker reflecting on her longstanding connection to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She will also lead a writer’s craft session on her approach to writing about the outdoors (featuring a reading from her piece “The Neighborhood Constitutional” from Black Summers) as well as a special session for high school students featuring themes from Who’s Jim Hines?, The Colored Car and How It Happens. More information here.
Please continue to #SupportIndieBookstores.
Some Detroit-area independent bookstore links are posted below–
The Book Beat: click here
Source Booksellers: click here
Booksweet: click here
Next Chapter Books: click here
27th Letter Books: click here
