2026 Events
March 10, 2026 2:00pm CST VIRTUAL
Research Route 66 — National Route 66 Centennial Speakers Series
“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away.
Free but need access code at https://speakers.researchroute66.org/session-overview/mar-womens-work-on-route-66
April 8, 2026 between 9:00-10:00am appearance LIVE on Fox2’s StudioSTL
April 18, 2026 festival 9:00am-2:00pm Washington, MO
Missouri Book Festival, Washington Public Library, 410 Lafayette St.
Free and open to the public. Presentation 9:00-9:45am based on Aprons Away; books available for purchase and signing.
April 19, 2026 2:00-4:00pm Edwardsville, IL
Book Launch Party & Book Signing at Goshen Coffee Cafe, 6120 Shoger Dr.
Open to the public. Aprons Away books available for purchase and signing. Short reading at 3:00pm.
April 23, 2026 East Alton, IL
Private event. Program & Book Signing.
April 25, 2026 11:00am-1:00pm Virden, IL
Book Signing at The Sly Fox Bookstore, 123 N. Springfield St.
Open to the public. Aprons Away books available for purchase and signing. It’s INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY!
May 1, 2026 11:00am St. Louis, MO
Route 66 Centennial Festival at Missouri History Museum
Open to the public. Author Talk at 11:00am: Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66. Book signing after Author Talk.
May 2, 2026 1:00-3:00pm Normal, IL
Book Signing at Ryburn’s Gifts & Gab/Sprague’s Super Service
Open to the public. Books available for purchase and signing. It’s Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend and this is a designated stop!
May 3, 2026 festival 1:00-3:00pm; program 1:15-2:15pm Mt. Olive, IL
Mother Jones Festival. Book signing in front of Mother Jones Museum. Program next door at Mt. Olive Library.
Open to the public. Books available for purchase and signing.
May 5, 2026 Springfield, IL
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
Private event.
May 9, 2026 1:00-3:00pm Belleville, IL
Presentation & Book Signing at Belleville Books
Open to the public. Presentation and Book Signing at Belleville Books located in a historic bank building.
May 24, 2026 7:00pm Edwardsville, IL, City Park
Route 66 Centennial Introduction by Cheryl for the Season Opener of the Edwardsville Symphony Orchestra.
Cheryl will be selling and signing books (percentage of your book purchase will be donated to the Edwardsville Symphony Orchestra!) ahead of the concert.
June 6, 2026 11:00am-2:00pm Edwardsville, IL
3rd Birthday Party for the West End Service Station Route 66 Visitors Center
Open to the public. 11:00am-1:00pm Birthday Party & Book Signing. !:00 pm Brief Book Talk & Reading
June 8, 2026 11:30am MDT VIRTUAL (from Albuquerque, NM)
Albuquerque Oasis — Lifelong Adventure
“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away.
Private virtual event for Oasis members nationwide — check with your local Oasis headquarters or national headquarters in Albuquerque.
June 11-12, 2026 (two nights) 6:00-7:00pm Edwardsville, IL
Signing books in lobby of the Wildey Theatre ahead of each nightly performance of “On the Road Again: A Route 66 Centennial Musical Celebration!” by the Alumni Players! — a ticketed event that will likely sell out. Reserve tickets at https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/769/Wildey-Theatre
June 13, 2026 10:00am-7:00pm Edwardsville, IL
Edwardsville annual Route 66 Festival.
Books available with Book Signing all day 10:00am-7:00pm at the Authors & History Tent.
June 14, 2026 2:00pm St. Louis, MO
“Iconic Conversations” Speaker Series at the historic Old Courthouse
Hosted by Gateway Arch National Park & Jefferson National Parks Association
“Women’s Work on Route 66” program based on Aprons Away. Program followed by Book Signing.
(See webpage below and, for complete speaker list, at https://www.jnpa.com/751/speakers.htm
June 17, 2026 7:00pm Lockport, IL
Program & Book Signing at White Oak Library
Open to the public. “Women’s Work on Route 66”program followed by Book Signing.
June 18, 2026 5:30-7:00pm Lincoln, IL
Program & Book Signing at Lincoln Public Library, co-sponsored by
Ink & Imprint Books
Open to the public. “Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66” program followed by Book Signing.
June 20, 2026 11:00am-1:00pm AND 2:00-4:00pm Litchfield, IL
Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center
Open to the public. Morning and afternoon book signing sessions plus see the museum! This is a big tour day as well!
BOOK TOUR MISSOURI & OKLAHOMA — June 22 through July 12
Some dates still available for booking during that time period in Missouri and Oklahoma!
June 24, 2026 10:00am-Noon Carthage, MO
Hatcher’s Coffeehouse
Open to the public. Short presentation and book signing — books will be available for purchase.
June 25, 2026 10:00am-1:00pm Miami, OK
Chapters Bookstore & Cafe
Open to the public. Book signing — books will be available for purchase.
June 27, 2026 11:00-11:45am Tulsa, OK
AAA Route 66 Road Fest — on the Presentation Stage
Presentation with book signing to follow. Books will be available for purchase.
July 13, 2026 Wood River, IL
Private event. Program & Book Signing.
July 18, 2026 9:00-11:30am Columbia, IL
(SW Illinois and St. Louis MO) Multi-Author Showcase at Columbia Public Library
July 23, 2026 6:00-7:00pm Alton, IL
Hayner Public Library
Free and open to the public. Presentation based on new book, Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, followed by book signing. Hayner Public Library is located in Alton Square Mall.
July 25, 2026 1:00-3:00pm Lexington, IL
Emerald & Amethyst Books
Book Signing — open to the public.
August 9, 2026 1:00-4:00pm Litchfield, IL
Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center
Open to the public. Book Signing during Sunday 1:00-4:00pm open hours! Pickers Market in downtown Litchfield during the day.
August 13, 2026 9:00-10:00am St. Louis, MO
The National Museum of Transportation
RSVP required. Program based on new book Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66, followed by book signing.
BOOK TOUR — NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA — Aug. 14 through Sept. 9
Dates available for booking!
August 27, 2026 7:00pm Pacific Time Pasadena, CA
Pasadena Museum of History
Presentation “Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66”
Ticket Price TBA.
August 29, 2026 11:00am-3:00pm Pacific Time Burbank, CA
Book Signing at Autobooks-Aerobooks
September 17, 2026 6:00-7:30pm Granite City, IL
Presentation & book signing at Six Mile Regional Library
September 21, 2026 Morning Time TBA Roxy Event Center — Joplin, MO
Presentation at “The Crossroads of America Centennial Celebration”
Annual Conference by Jefferson Highway Association
October 3, 2026 8:00am-1:00pm Edwardsville, IL
Edwardsville Book Festival in City Park
Look for me at this fun event in City Park with numerous other area authors and book booths! I will have copies of all my books available for purchase and signing.
PAST Events:
History Comes Alive returns for its 16th Season!
Springfield, Illinois — Visit Springfield!
In its 16th season, the popular History Comes Alive series says, “Join us this summer as we bring history to life with our most talented cast of historical reenactors yet!”
Cheryl’s presentation: Adventurers, Crusaders, and Entrepreneurs: The Women of Illinois Route 66
Program Date: Saturday July 19th, 2025 at 3pm at the Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space 623 E. Adams St.
Cheryl Eichar Jett with book display at 2025 Edwardsville Route 66 Festival.
Edwardsville Route 66 Festival
Saturday, June 7, City Park on Route 66 (Vandalia Street/State Route 157, Edwardsville, IL. Park in public lots or use street parking.
Six Route 66 Authors Meet-and-Greet & Sign Books
Anne Maro Slanina, Joe Sonderman, Tracy and Peter Flucke, and Sharon Porterfield will join me in the Authors Tent behind Edwardsville Library at City Park!