The Fitzgerald Theater was filled to the rafters Wednesday night for the season launch of Talking Volumes. Activist and novelist Stacey Abrams joined Kerri Miller on stage and began the evening with a moment of silence to mark the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, who had been shot and killed only hours earlier. Abrams, herself a national political figure, said dark moments such as these need to be met with determined unity — to stand for and with one another. She got those values from her parents, she said, who always emphasized the need to be in church, in school and in service to others. She also reflected on how failure has worked in her life as a catalyst for growth and how books have led her to develop a deep moral consciousness. It’s no surprise to readers who love her novels — including “Coded Justice,” the latest thriller in the Avery Keene series, which finds Avery relying on her friends to investigate the morally murky world of AI-powered medicine. Abram’s books are filled with memorable characters who exhibit the same kind of determination and hope that Abram’s embodies. Don’t miss Abram’s warm and inspiring conversation with Kerri Miller, rounded out by the musical styles of Minneapolis’ own Lady Midnight, as the 2025 Talking Volumes season begins. Video of Talking Volumes with Stacey AbramsAnd get your tickets for future shows, which include Patricia Lockwood on Sept. 25, Misty Copeland on Sept. 28, John Grisham on Oct. 23 and Kate Baer on Nov. 17. Guest: Stacey Abrams is an activist, an entrepreneur, a political leader and a bestselling author. Her new novel, the third in the Avery Keene series, is “Coded Justice.” Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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