By Abigail Hardison

Rowan Public Library

Autumn is a great season for reading. It’s cooling off enough to sit outside and enjoy the afternoon breeze, and as night creeps up earlier and earlier, the demands of yard work wane and kids are back in school.

It’s too early in the season to start worrying about the holidays, so embrace some time for yourself and dive into a great story. This fall we’ve got some fascinating books arriving, and they are already on order in our system, so on your mark, get set, and get your holds placed now. Don’t be the last among your friends to read these and be left out of the conversation.

First up we’ve got “Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen” by Sarah Bird, an amazing tale based on the true story of Cathay Williams. Cathay was born in 1844 in Missouri to a free black man and a slave woman, which made Cathay a slave, also.

During the Civil War, she was pressed into service for the Union Army in a support role, but by 1866 she had enlisted in the United States Regular Army as “William Cathay” and became a Buffalo Soldier. This fascinating true story illustrates the indomitable spirit of a woman who was determined to be the master of her own fate — refusing to live a life of servitude due to her race and gender.

Another tale that takes us out west is the next installment in Craig Johnson’s Longmire series, “Depth of Winter.” The Longmire series has become very popular thanks to the TV series, and author Johnson has written 13 full-length novels about the Wyoming sheriff.

In this thrilling nail-biter, released Sept. 4, Longmire’s daughter is kidnapped by drug cartel thugs and, receiving no assistance elsewhere, he must travel to Mexico alone to rescue her. Please place a pillow next to your chair in case you fall off the edge of your seat reading this one. Safety first!

Our last showcased title is one of 2018’s must-read books: Stuart Turton’s “The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.” This fascinating who-done-it is a blend of Agatha Christie, “Downton Abbey,” and the movie “Groundhog Day.” The main character attends a luxurious country house party, but must relive the same day over and over from the perspective of different houseguest until he discovers a killer. This dark and twisty tale is sure to give you some of your first goosebumps of the season.

These are just a few of the new titles arriving this fall, so come by and see what story entices you to chill out, curl up and dive in. We’ve got everything from romance, mysteries, westerns, thrillers, science fiction and everything in between. If you can’t swing by, you can visit us at rowanpubliclibrary.org or call and reserve a title today.

If ebooks are your thing, you can borrow them free through the NC Digital Library using your electronic device. Just let us know if we can assist. We are here to help.

Holiday closing: Headquarters (Salisbury), East Branch (Rockwell), and South Rowan Regional (China Grove) will be closed Monday, Sept. 3. Regular hours resume Tuesday.

Library Card Sign-up Month: Sept. 1-30. Headquarters, East and South branches. Join us as we celebrate 2018’s Library Card Sign-up Month at all of our branches. Do you have your library card? Cards are free and, when kept in good standing, give you access to RPL’s circulating collection, computer labs and online resources and materials. Contact your nearest branch for more details or visit RPL’s website.

N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources traveling exhibit: Kites! Headquarters; opens Sept. 7. Learn about the science of kite flying from this interactive, STEM-focused exhibit. See it during business hours through Oct. 19.

Makerspace event: Tuesday, 4 p.m., South. What can you make at the library? Try Makerspace tech at South and find out.! Experiment with a Mini Makerbot 3D printer, a green screen kit, 3D doodle pens and more. All ages are welcome. This program is part of RPL’s Library Card Sign-up Month Celebration. For more information, call Abby at 704-216-8248.

Saturday Cinema: “The Incredibles,” headquarters, Sept. 8, 3 p.m. Would you recognize superheroes in your neighborhood? In the 2004 film (PG, 115 mins.), see how superheroes balance their super and secret identities. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. This program is part of RPL’s Library Card Sign-up Month Celebration. All ages are welcome. For more details, call 704-216-8245.

Dear Duncan: Sept. 1-29, East. “The Day the Crayon Quit” has arrived. Can you find all 12 crayons from Duncan’s collection? Find the pieces and be entered into a contest for a literary-themed prize. This Scavenger Hunt will run through Sept. 28. For more information, contact Tammie at 704-216-7842.

Lego Day: Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., headquarters. Legos are available for creative free play for children of all ages. For more details, call 704-216-8234.

STEAM into Adventure: Sept. 8, 11 a.m., South. Children ages 6 to 11 are invited to participate in hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) activities and crafts. For more details, call 704-216-7728.

Green Screen 101: Sept. 4, 4-5:30 p.m., headquarters; Sept. 5, 4-5:30 p.m., South; Sept. 6, 4-5 p.m., East. Learn about green screen technology and make your own videos. For more information, contact Hope at Hope.Loman@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8258.

Technology Club: Sept. 4, South, 7 p.m. Experiment with Maker Space tech – from a Mini Makerbot 3D printer to Squishy Circuits – while learning more about RPL’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) programming and resources. All experience levels welcome. Light refreshments. Questions? Call Paul at 704-216-7737.

Children’s weekly programs: Resume the week of Sept. 10. Call the children’s desk at your nearest branch for information about weekly storytimes. Headquarters (Salisbury), 704-216-8234; East Branch (Rockwell), 704-216-7842; South Rowan Regional (China Grove), 704-216-7728 or visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org

Makerspace event: East, Sept. 11, 6-7 p.m. Check out some of tools from RPL Headquarters’ Maker Space. Try 3D doodle pens and learn how to build gadgets and devices with the deluxe Little Bits Kit. All ages  welcome. This program is part of RPL’s Library Card Sign-up Month Celebration. For more information, call Abby at 704-216-8248.

Random Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sept. 11, 4-6 p.m., headquarters; Sept. 13, 4-5 p.m., East. Celebrate your favorite Marvel movies and TV shows with a combination of games, crafts, and snacks. For more information, contact Hope at Hope.Loman@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8258.

Genealogy Workshop: Discovering Your Roots, headquarters, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. Learn how to trace your ancestors back to a “home” country.   We will take an in-depth look at naturalization records, papers dealing with embarkation and arrival, and other documents that can lead to uncovering origins by paper-trail. This event, co-hosted by the Genealogical Society of Rowan County and the Edith M. Clark History Room of RPL, is free and open to the public. Call Gretchen at 704-216-8253 for more information.

Displays: Headquarters, celebrating Constitution Week by the Daughters of the American Revolution and 4-H Club display; East, handmade jewelry by Mallory Allen; South, Family Crisis Council by Isela Trujillo.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.