We are honored to announce Kate Quinn as our 2026 Belk Distinguished Lecture.
The lecture will be held on Thursday, September 17 at the Grandview Ballroom; 135 Jack Branch Drive; Boone, NC 28608. The event starts at 6:30pm with a book signing to follow the lecture. Books will be available for purchase. Parking is available at the Blue Ridge Stadium Parking Deck, 185 Stadium Heights Drive, directly adjacent to Kidd Brewer Stadium.
To register for our free event, please use the link below:
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with New York Times bestsellers The Alice Network and The Huntress.
In the summer of 2017, Reese Witherspoon selected The Alice Network for her book club, and it was also selected as an Amazon Best Book of the Month, a Good Reads Best Books of the Month, and an NPR Best Book of the Year. The Rose Code was published in March 2021. Her novel, The Briar Club, was released in July 2024 and was an Amazon #1 bestseller. Kate’s newest novel, The Astral Library (February 2026), is a gorgeously written fantastical adventure where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.
Kate has always been a history lover, and seeks to show the life, laughter and humanity that runs through our common past. She’s a native of Southern California, and attended Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in classical voice.