Wake County libraries bring James Patterson, Mike Lupica to Raleigh

Wake County Public Libraries is turning NC State’s Hunt Library into a literary stage, bringing James Patterson and Mike Lupica to Raleigh for a free evening built around conversation, storytelling and public access. The program is meant to do more than showcase two bestselling names: it puts the county’s library system in the role of cultural convener, opening the door to readers, families and aspiring writers.

The event is set for Monday, July 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Duke Energy Hall on the second floor of the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at 1070 Partners Way. Registration is required, and Wake County said check-in will begin at 5:45 p.m. The county’s event page listed tickets as out of stock, though cancellations could make spots available again.

The setup reflects the scale of the venue as much as the size of the audience Wake County is trying to reach. NC State University Libraries describes Duke Energy Hall as a premier meeting and event space with more than 5,400 square feet for presentations and gatherings, making it a natural fit for a public program expected to draw interest well beyond regular library users. The county said the evening will include a moderated conversation, a question-and-answer session and discussion of the authors’ latest work and the power of storytelling.

Access is central to the pitch. Wake County said the event is free, and the library and university have laid out clear transportation and parking information for visitors. NC State says the closest public parking is the Poulton Pay Lot across Partners Way and the Partners Way Parking Deck. Parking is free and open to the public after 5 p.m. on weekdays and throughout the weekend. For accessibility, NC State says two accessible spaces are available in the Poulton Pay Lot, with an accessible path to the library.

County Commissioner Cheryl Stallings said bringing acclaimed authors into the community is one way Wake County Public Libraries promotes opportunities to explore, inspire and connect, and the county said it looks forward to the discussion. Patterson’s appeal is obvious: his official site says The Hamptons Lawyer is the third Jane Smith novel, published July 21, 2025, and his books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide. Lupica brings a different but complementary profile, with more than 40 works of fiction and nonfiction and a career that has stretched across decades in sports journalism and publishing.

Together, they give Wake County a high-profile example of what a public library system can be: not just a place to borrow books, but a civic institution that brings people together around reading, writing and shared cultural life.