Yuma — The Yuma County Library District hopes to continue its series of virtual author talks with best-selling authors and thought leaders. Each event will be streamed live at the Main Library and Foothills Library. Alternatively, you can join remotely by registering for the event at: https://libraryc.org/yumalibrary/upcoming

Wednesday, June 7, 1:00 p.m.

Fun Habits: A Conversation Between the Author and Dr. Mike Rucker

Doesn’t it seem that the more we seek happiness, the more elusive it becomes? There’s an easy fix and it’s hidden in plain sight. Fun is an action you can do here and now, anytime, anywhere. Through research and science, we know that having fun is very beneficial to our physical and mental health, but it’s amazing how much fun is missing from modern life. Whether you’re a frustrated high achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or seeking relief from life’s overwhelming challenges, it’s time to get your hands on the best medicine available. It’s time to put it in

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Association for Positive Psychology, whose research has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health and Nutrition Research. His ideas for fun and wellness have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. He was named one of the 10 Digital He’s Changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and currently serves as a senior leader in Active Wellness.Learn more about MichaelRucker.com.

Thursday, June 15th at 11am

An American in Provence: Writer Conversation with Award-Winning Photographer Jamie Beck

An American in Provence is a beautiful collection of exquisite portraits, landscapes and still lifes by New York Times bestselling author and award-winning photographer Jamie Beck. Wanting to slow down from the fast-paced life in New York City, Beck embarked on his year-long vacation to Provence. One year when she turned five, Beck moved to the French countryside and chronicled her life as an “American in Provence.”

Jamie Beck took his first photograph at the age of 13 and soon after began making a living as a professional photographer. By the age of 28, she had opened her own commercial photography studio in Lower Manhattan. Jamie has shot campaigns and editorials for some of the world’s most famous brands including Chanel, Dana She Karan, Nike, Oscar de la Renta, Google, Samsung and Microsoft. Her work has been featured in digital advertising displays for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar Masthead, Netflix and Disney. In 2016, she took her one-year sabbatical to produce her personal work in the South of France. This changed the course of her life, blossomed her career as an art photographer, and gave her great accomplishments. She is Eloise, a girl born in France. Jamie is the author of the New York Times bestseller, An American in Provence. She lives in Provence with her husband and her daughter. Follow her on her Instagram @ JamieBeck.co.

Wednesday, June 28, 5:00 p.m.

Contributor: Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda Contributor

Join us for a chat about Tanalive Due’s latest book, The Wishing Pool and Other Stories. Her second collection of stories by the author is packed with her signature horror, sci-fi, and suspense while confronting monsters of all kinds: racism, inner monsters, and the paranormal. Her Due’s prolific body of work has established the author as the foremost authority on black detective stories in her 20-plus years. Due is an award-winning author, educator, and producer. Her body of work includes her 16th book, including The Blood Colony, The Living Blood, The Good House, Joplin’s Ghost, Devil’s Wake, and the upcoming The Reformatory. Book of books included. Additionally, she is a contributor to Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda and Black Panther: Sins of the King. She worked with partner Steven Barnes on “A Small Town” in two segments of Paramount Plus’ Jordan Peele-directed The Twilight Zone Season 2 and Shudder’s anthology film Horror Noir. co-wrote.

Tanalive Doo is an American Book Award-winning author with 16 published books for Essence. She also contributed to Jonathan Mayberry’s middle school anthology Don’t Turn Out the Lights. She has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award and a British Fantasy Award. She teaches Black Her Horror and Afrofuturism at her UCLA. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.visit her website TananariveDue.com.