Mesa Public Library is continuing its writer in residence program in partnership with Arizona State Library. Sheila Grinell will be writer in residence through April.

Ms. Grinell is the founding CEO of the Arizona Science Center, whose “second act” is that of novelist. She is the author of “Appetite” (2016) and “The Contract” (2019). She will be offering free virtual writing workshops and consultations, according to a release.

Among the virtual events she is hosting include:

• 30-minute writer-in-residence consultation hours 2-4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays: From February through April, Ms. Grinell will hold one-on-one consultation hours to help aspiring authors fine-tune their work. To book an appointment, go to https://events.mesalibrary.org.
• “Thinking of Writing a Book?” 3-4 p.m. Friday, Feb 12. Registration is required; go to events.mesalibrary.org/events/thinking-writing-book. "As you contemplate that idea that’s been floating around the back of your mind, there are five things to consider before putting pen to paper or fingers to keys. She will give this 25-minute talk followed by a Q&A session," according to the release.
• “Writing as a Second Act,” 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb 27. Registration is required; go to events.mesalibrary.org/events/writing-second-act-0. “Our writer in residence began writing fiction in her 60s. There are both pros and cons to starting to write fiction later in life. She will share the secrets to a satisfying second act in this 25-minute talk, followed by a Q&A session,” the release states.

You can also check out her books through the library’s catalog. For more information, go to mesalibrary.org/writerinresidence or call 480-644-3100 for questions.

The writer in residence program is supported by the Arizona State Library, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.