Each spring, Greensboro Bound brings together thousands of book lovers looking for new stories. Over the course of three days, they get to mingle with hundreds of authors who entice them with fun, quirky, and stimulating tales encompassing fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
For years, UNC Greensboro’s University Libraries has set the scene for the weekend-long book festival by hosting a headliner event with one of its acclaimed authors to talk about their work, answer questions, and sign books for eager readers.
The library continues that tradition this April with a much-anticipated author of bestselling works, Casey McQuiston, taking the stage at Elliott University Center Auditorium on Thursday, April 9.
It’s a free event, but you must register to attend.
McQuiston’s niche is fitting for Greensboro Bound’s 2026 theme “American Kaleidoscope,” which coincides with the United States’ 250th birthday. All the authors this year, each in their own way, reflect upon America’s past, present, and potential for the future. McQuiston is the author of Red, White & Royal Blue, One Last Stop, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, and The Pairing, heralded as funny and heartfelt stories about love, identity, and contemporary life.
Their work has already leapt off the page and onto the screen. Red, White & Royal Blue follows the son of a U.S. president and a prince of Wales who are engaged in a feud but are forced to feign a friendship to preserve diplomatic relations between their countries, only for it to turn into a real romance. The book was adapted to film in 2023, starring Uma Thurman, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and Nicholas Galitzine, and a sequel is in the works.
UNCG’s partnership with Greensboro Bound serves their shared mission to promote literacy around Guilford County. In past years, the library has hosted Zadie Smith, Nnedi Okorafor, Amor Towles, Charles Frazier, James McBride, and Percival Everett.
Author Percival Everett spoke at UNCG, introduced by University Libraries Dean Michael Crumpton (left).
Author James McBride signing books following his headliner panel.
“Greensboro Bound has been an ongoing and strong partner of University Libraries for many years now,” says Dean Michael Crumpton. “We initially saw this as a way to realize our community engagement strategy to embrace the larger community outside of campus. We feel our continued investment in this partnership has proven a benefit for the community, including our students and faculty, and has embraced a greater good for celebrating literacy.”
This year’s Greensboro Bound runs from April 9-11.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications and courtesy of Casey McQuiston
