Sarah Adams to Open EVPL’s SPEAK 2026 Series

Evansville, IN – Sarah Adams, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of 13 contemporary romantic comedy novels, will kick off EVPL’s 2026 SPEAK series on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at Old National Events Plaza in downtown Evansville. Sponsored by the EVPL Foundation, SPEAK events are free and open to all.

Adams’ top-selling books include The Cheat Sheet and Practice Makes Perfect, both part of the Rome, Kentucky series, which concluded in December 2025 with the publication of In Your Dreams. The third book in this series features a main male character who lives in Evansville before moving to Rome.

“For the 2026 SPEAK series, we’ve created a theme of ‘spark a love of reading with EVPL’ to remind people of the joy and escapism that can come from reading great stories,” said Erika Qualls Barnett, Director of Programming & Outreach, EVPL. “Sarah Adams’ books are often described as full of heart, humor, and a cozy escape for romantics, dreamers, and deep feelers.”

In advance of the free event, an exclusive reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include reserved seating at the SPEAK program, the opportunity for autographs prior to the main event, and light appetizers and beverages. Tickets can be purchased on the event webpage at evpl.org/SPEAK2026. Adams’ program will be a Q&A format, and attendees are invited to submit questions ahead of time via the event page, as well.

###

SPEAK: An Explorative Lecture Series, is a featured event of The Arts at EVPL, funded by the EVPL Foundation, which supports and encourages art experiences in four areas: Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Culinary Arts. SPEAK brings authors and thought leaders to Evansville to further our vision of communities united through shared exploration and understanding. More information about SPEAK is available at evpl.org/SPEAK2026

The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization established to support EVPL. Foundation Board Members are engaged and activated community members. Working in partnership with Library Leadership and Library Trustees, Foundation Board Members support EVPL through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy. More information about the Foundation and supporting SPEAK is available at evpl.org/foundation.