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Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures

with Novelist Vanessa Riley
2026-02-05 18:00:00 2026-02-05 19:00:00 America/Chicago Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Please register Virtual -

Thursday, February 05
6:00pm - 7:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-02-05 18:00:00 2026-02-05 19:00:00 America/Chicago Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Please register Virtual -

Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Please register

The Caribbean Sea, 1675. Jacquotte Delahaye is the mixed-race daughter of a wealthy tavern owner on the island of Tortuga. Instead of marriage, Jacquotte dreams of joining the seafarers and smugglers whose tall-masted ships cluster in the turquoise waters around Tortuga. In Haiti she becomes Jacques, a dockworker, earning the respect of those around her while hiding her gender.

Jacquotte discovers that secret identities are fairly common in the chaotic world of seafaring, which is full of outsiders and misfits. As Jacques, Jacquotte falls in love with Lizzôa d'Erville, a beautiful courtesan who deals in secrets and sex. While others see their work clothes as a disguise, Lizzôa’s true self is as a woman.

For the next twenty years, Jacquotte raids the Caribbean, making enemies and amassing a fortune in stolen gold. When her fellow pirates decide to increase their profits by entering the slave trade, Jacquotte turns away from piracy and the pursuit of riches. Risking her life in one deadly skirmish after another, she instead begins to plot a war of liberation.

Don’t miss out on this exciting discussion! Register now to embark on a seafaring journey of self discovery and reclamation of personal power.


About the Author: Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author and proud recipient of the 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Fiction Author of the Year. She writes Sagas and Book Club Fiction that brings to life the hidden narratives of Black women and women of color in novels like Island Queen and Queen of Exiles. Her stories celebrate strong sisterhoods, diverse communities, and resilience across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres. Her work has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and The New York Times.

Please Register for link to program.

Live Virtual Author Talks - This new series through Library Speakers Consortium offers live online talks by bestselling authors of books in a variety of genres. Participants receive a link to the program when they register. Please see https://libraryc.org/gailborden to register and also view recorded videos of past speakers.

AGE GROUP: | Virtual Live | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Virtual | Adult Programs |

TAGS: | |

Virtual
Phone: 847-742-2411
Hours
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Today's hours

We're open 9:00AM to 9:00PM

Mon, Feb 02 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Feb 03 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Feb 04 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Feb 05 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Feb 06 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Feb 07 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Feb 08 12:00PM to 5:00PM
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About the Branch

Programs presented virtually through FB, Zoom, YouTube, and other online sources.

Upcoming Events

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Toddler Time - For children 1-2 years old
Wed, Feb 04, 9:15am - 9:35am
Main Library - Story Room - North
This engaging storytime will include short stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and music movement activities with a parent or caregiver.
Registration is now closed
Bounce & Rhyme Storytime - Ages 0-3
Wed, Feb 04, 9:30am - 10:00am
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Shales Children's Activity Room
Join us for stories, rhymes, and songs in this interactive Storytime.
Registration is now closed
Toddler Time - For children 1-2 years old
Wed, Feb 04, 10:00am - 10:20am
Main Library - Story Room - North
This engaging storytime will include short stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and music movement activities with a parent or caregiver.
Registration is now closed
Budding Bookworms Preschool Storytime - Ages 3-5
Wed, Feb 04, 10:15am - 10:45am
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Shales Children's Activity Room
Preschoolers will enjoy stories, songs, and activities.
Registration is now closed
Tech Mobile Stop: Izaak Walton Center - EPEL Playgroup
Wed, Feb 04, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Mobile Services
899 Jay St, Elgin, IL 60120
Elgin Symphony Orchestra Listeners Club
Wed, Feb 04, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
Music Director Chad Goodman will lead discussions about upcoming ESO concerts, repertoire, guest artists, special events and other Symphony-related topics. Please register.
Registration is now closed
Celebrate 250 Years of Elgin - Ribbon Cutting - Main Library Lobby
Wed, Feb 04, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
Main Library - Rotunda
Please join us for the ribbon cutting of the Celebrate 250 Years of Elgin exhibit and learn more about what other local 250 events that will be coming up.
Pinochle Club
Wed, Feb 04, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Hoffer Meeting Room
Come join us for Pinochle play. Emphasis will be on three person single deck three card widow version however other versions may also be played.
Tech Mobile Stop: Well Child Center
Wed, Feb 04, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Mobile Services
Well Child Center - 620 Wing St, Elgin, IL 60123
Teen Volunteer Hour
Wed, Feb 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Rakow Branch - Rakow - Shales Living Room
Complete a hands-on volunteer project that benefits the library or one of our community outreach initiatives. Teen volunteers must complete the teen volunteer orientation before participating.
Registration is now closed
Go Bilingual en la Biblioteca - Go Bilingual at the Library
Wed, Feb 04, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main Library - Elgin Room
Aprende en la biblioteca. Participa con otras personas que hablan español o inglés como primer idioma. Learn at the Library with native English and Spanish speakers.
Registration is now closed
Teen Game Night (Grades 6-12)
Wed, Feb 04, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Main Library
Hang out to play board games, card games, and video games! Make your own gamer merch with our button maker, perler beads, and more. Snacks provided. Optional registration. Drop ins are welcome.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 4-Part Discussion Series - American Theologian--Civil Rights--Non-Violence--Poverty
Wed, Feb 04, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
Do we really know who Martin Luther King, Jr. was and what he believed? A panel of local pastors, educators, and activists debate King's beliefs on theology, Civil Rights, non-violence, and poverty.
Walking Book Club - The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang
Wed, Feb 04, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Conference Room
The Walking Book Club meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm to walk, followed by the book discussion at 7:45 pm at the Main Library.
Valentine's Day Chocolate Cake - with Lean Bellas Kitchen
Wed, Feb 04, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual
Here's a perfect Valentine's Day dessert idea for your sweetheart--or for yourself! Learn to make chocolate cake with buttercream icing and drizzled with chocolate ganache and fresh berries.
MS Excel Series
Wed, Feb 04, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
In this series, learn how to use Microsoft Excel to manipulate, format, and organize numbers and other types of data. Sponsored by Comcast Internet Essentials.
Registration is now closed
Baby Rhyme Time - For ages 0-11 months
Thu, Feb 05, 9:15am - 9:45am
Main Library - Story Room - South
Calling all babies! Join us for singing, clapping, and simple stories at this program. Best for little ones 0-11 months with a parent or caregiver.
This event is full
Device Advice
Thu, Feb 05, 9:30am - 11:30am
Rakow Branch - Rakow - Computer Cafe
Get help with common tech issues like Microsoft Office, using a tablet, hotspots, syncing email with your phone, downloading content, and more. Drop in for personalized assistance at your library.
Preschool Storytime - For ages 3-6
Thu, Feb 05, 9:45am - 10:15am
Main Library - Story Room - North
Calling all preschoolers! This storytime features stories, songs, and rhymes for ages 3-6.
This event is full
Story Mix for Birth-6
Thu, Feb 05, 10:30am - 11:00am
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
Join us for an interactive storytime! Best for kids birth-6 years with an adult caregiver. All ages are welcome. Drop-in!
Tech Mobile Stop: Centro de Informacion
Thu, Feb 05, 2:45pm - 3:30pm
Mobile Services
Centro de Informacion Elgin - 1885 Lin Lor Ln, Elgin, IL 60123
Tech Mobile Stop: Smart Wash Lavanderia
Thu, Feb 05, 3:45pm - 4:30pm
Mobile Services
425 Dundee Ave. – Elgin 60120
Kids Explore: Pixel Art - Grades K-5, Registration Required
Thu, Feb 05, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Main Library - Story Room
Did you know that the popular game, Minecraft, is made from Pixel Art? Let’s explore this digital art form and make some paper pixel art of our own. Registration required.
This event is full
Free Tax Preparation
Thu, Feb 05, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - Grove Room
Free tax preparation for individuals & families who qualify for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Asistencia gratuita con preparación de impuestos sin cita.
Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures - with Novelist Vanessa Riley
Thu, Feb 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Virtual
Join us for an unforgettable experience as we chat online with Vanessa Riley about her newest book, Fire Sword and Sea, based on the folk story of the female pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. Please register
Register
Ida B. Wells: Light of Truth, Voice of Justice - Hybrid
Thu, Feb 05, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - Elgin Room
Ida B. Wells was one of the most influential women in American history. This program brings Ida’s legacy into the present with warmth, power, and just a little sparkle. Please Register
Grupo de Conversación para la Ciudadanía en inglés - En la biblioteca
Thu, Feb 05, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - Conference Room
Usando material de USCIS que incluye preguntas de educación cívica, el formulario de solicitud y otros requisitos para la entrevista de ciudadanía. Este grupo de conversación es solo en inglés.
Registration is now closed
Biblio Banter
Thu, Feb 05, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Roll-N-Donuts Cafe & Douangchay's Kitchen
Chat and swap book recommendations!
Build Your Own PC Series
Thu, Feb 05, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
Learn how to identify the working parts of a computer, assemble & disassemble components and perform basic repairs in this two-part, hands-on series.
Writers on the Fox
Thu, Feb 05, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Room C
This writer's peer group will inspire and motivate you using prompts and exercises for creative writing. Writers of all genres are welcome to participate. Please Register.
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