Bestselling Author Douglas Preston to Speak at Farmington Public Library May 1

Douglas Preston, whose 36 books include 29 New York Times bestsellers, will give a free public talk and book signing at the Farmington Public Library on Friday, May 1, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Preston has built one of the more unusual careers in American letters. Relic, co-written with Lincoln Child, launched a hit thriller series. The Lost City of the Monkey God is a nonfiction account of his own involvement in a real archaeological expedition into the Honduran rainforest. The Farmington event draws on both sides of that output: library staff say Preston will share the "real-life adventures behind his bestselling books," blending field storytelling with writing craft.

Outside his books, Preston has reported for National Geographic and Smithsonian, worked in an editorial capacity at the American Museum of Natural History, taught at Princeton, and served in leadership at the Authors Guild. Adult services coordinator Megan Bennett called the appearance "a momentous occasion for our community," noting that Preston's work bridges high-stakes fiction and in-the-field nonfiction, and that authors at his national profile rarely schedule stops in regional markets like Farmington.

Farmington's Amy's Bookcase will sell copies of Preston's titles on site, supporting a local independent bookseller alongside the library's programming on the same night. Preston will sign purchased books. Admission is free. The library's meeting space will host the program, and staff can be contacted directly for additional details.

Preston's catalog spans crime thrillers, Honduran jungle expeditions, and Smithsonian journalism. The talk runs one hour and is open to all.