We are excited to announce our #NYLA2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show Keynote Speaker - Denise Kiernan! 

Denise Kiernan is a writer, journalist, and producer renowned for her New York Times-bestselling narrative nonfiction novels, The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City. For more than two decades, Kiernan’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Village Voice and more. In 2023, We Gather Together: Stories of Thanksgiving from Then to Now (Young Readers Edition) was the latest addition to Kiernan’s We Gather Together series, joining her adult nonfiction book, We Gather Together, and the companion title, the children’s picture book Giving Thanks. Kiernan's next work, Obstinate Daughters, publishing in 2026, is a sweeping chronicle challenging the traditional mythology of the nation's beginnings and championing the unsung women behind the American Revolution. With a knack for making history come to life in front of audiences, Kiernan shares empowering and moving stories of everyday people overcoming hardships and obstacles in her humorous and educational talks.