James McBride is a man of many talents: musician, screenwriter, and an award-winning author. His latest novel, “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” was a huge bestseller. He’s also written the memoir “The Color of Water,” about growing up in Brooklyn as one of twelve Black children raised by a white, Jewish mother.

McBride will be featured as part of the Great Authors at the Library series Thursday (Oct. 8, 2026) at the Champaign Public Library.