April is a great time for readers to catch up online with their favorite authors, as the library-sponsored Illinois Libraries Present series offers two online conversations with bestselling authors. tRock Island Public Library, and other participating Illinois libraries, are members of the statewide collaboration.
Free registration for the following online events is available now through the Rock Island Public Library website. All are offered via Zoom, with the link sent after registration.
Tuesday, April 4 at 7 pm: Danny Trejo Talks Tacos, Hollywood, and Redemption
Actor, author, and restaurateur Danny Trejo will discuss how he developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success. From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized in Hollywood and beyond, but it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction
Trejo has starred in dozens of films including Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk Til Dawn series, Con Air, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids, and Machete. On the television side, he’s had recurring roles on Sons of Anarchy, King of the Hill, Breaking Bad, and The Flash, among others. He has also starred in and voiced various popular video games like Call of Duty, Fallout, and Grand Theft Auto, as well as voiced characters in the animated films Storks, The Book of Life, Minions 2: The Rise of Gru, and Maya and the Three.
He shared his love of food with the world in the release of his first cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from LA. His fearlessly honest memoir Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood was released in July 2021.
Tuesday, April 25 at 7 pm: Secrets of a Puzzle Master: A Conversation with Will Shortz
Will Shortz, the editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle, and the world’s only academically-accredited puzzle master, discusses crossword puzzles. The author/editor of more than 500 puzzle books, Shortz is also the puzzle master for NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held annually for more than 40 years. Through his championing of puzzles, Will has earned admiring fans from all over the world. In honor of this event, Will Shortz has created a special crossword puzzle all about Illinois. The puzzle will be emailed to all registrants after March 14.
Both events are free and open to all. To register, visit the library’s online calendar, or call the library Reference and Adult Services Department at 309-732-7341. Registrants should mention Rock Island Public Library on the “Where did you hear about this event" section of the registration form.
For more events and services offered by the Rock Island Public Library’s three physical locations (Downtown, Southwest, and the Watts-Midtown Branch), visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library social media channels.
These events are made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP 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). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com