Sip, Savor and Stories: An Evening with Kennedy Ryan

The second annual Petersburg Book Fest is hosted by Resist Booksellers and will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Virginia State University Multipurpose Center.

Kennedy Ryan, in conversation with Talia Cadet and Sera Wright, will join us on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 6PM at the Appomattox Event Center for our first author event of the weekend!

Our host for the evening is Tangee Augustin, founder and host of the Melanin & Manuscripts Book Club!

Get ready to dive into an exciting chat about Kennedy Ryan’s latest release, Score! Mark your calendars and we'll see you there!

Tickets include the following:

• Access to the event
• Moderated conversation with a bestselling author
• Signed paperback copy of Score
• Catered meal
• Cocktail hour with drinks inspired by Kennedy Ryan’s books (Cash bar)
• Photo opportunities with Kennedy Ryan
• Games and raffle prizes

Please note, free parking is available directly in front of the event center, behind the event center, and at the River Street parking lot.

About Kennedy Ryan:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Kennedy Ryan, has solidified herself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary romance fiction, and is, according to Entertainment Weekly “one of the finest romance writers of our age.”

Well-known for her “Skyland” series, Ryan writes for women from all walks of life; captivating readers with her fearless storytelling by empowering and placing them firmly at the center of each story.

About Talia Cadet:

Talia Cadet is a DC-based host and influencer. Her daily lifestyle, book and Black-owned business videos are loved by her 300K+ followers and subscribers. Talia has been featured by major media outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone magazine. She’s profiled in the premiere episode of IMPACTxNightline, which is now streaming on Hulu.

Talia is an in-demand speaker and moderator who has been in conversation with dozens of bestselling authors like Kennedy Ryan, Danielle Allen and Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

She's also an advocate for content creators showing up as their full selves online. In 2025, she was one of the eight creator-plaintiffs in the landmark Supreme Court case TikTok Inc. and ByteDance Ltd. vs. Merrick Garland.

About Sera Wright:

Sera Wright is a Bookish/Lifestyle Content Creator, Founder/CEO of Readin’ Magazine, and Resist Bookseller’s Social Media Manager.

Sera is loyal to a good book, a good Asian drama and a good chai latte. She enjoys building community and helping bring creative ideas to light through content creation.

About Tangee Augustin:

Tangee Augustin is the founder and host of Melanin & Manuscripts Book Club, a Richmond, Virginia–based literary community she launched in 2018 to celebrate literature, connection, and the joy of reading together. What began as a small gathering has grown into a vibrant book club centered on uplifting diverse voices and creating intentional, experience-driven spaces for readers.

She is passionate about fostering inclusive literary spaces and supporting events that bring authors, readers, and communities together through the power of storytelling.

About The Book:

You never forget your first love. Isn't that what they say? Verity Hill knows this truth intimately. She didn't simply miss Wright "Monk" Bellamy when they parted ways in college. She's haunted by his touch. Every kiss, any lover since—it's a shadow of what they had.
Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say? Monk doesn't believe that for a second. He wasn't simply betrayed when he and Verity split. He was devastated, with parts of him left behind in the ruins of all that was destroyed.
More than a decade after their disastrous breakup, Verity and Monk must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. With Monk, now a world-class musician, creating the score, and Verity, an award-winning screenwriter, penning the script, there's Oscar buzz before shooting even begins. This once-in-a-lifetime project could catapult them both to new heights, but can they can put the past behind them for the sake of the film … for the sake of something more?

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Resist Booksellers