Fall’s coming, and so are book festivals around the country which will celebrate authors, community, creativity and literacy. Our annual list—this year we have 42—covers September through November; of note this season is the first-ever Wyoming Book Festival, and the Orange County Children’s Book Festival expands to two days. For publishers and booksellers wishing to participate in the different fairs, contact information is provided below; check festival Web sites for complete author lists and more details on participants, activities and educational programs.
SEPTEMBER
THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
Atlanta, Ga., August 31-September 2
www.decaturbookfestival.com
Second year. Authors: About 200, including Sherman Alexie, Roy Blount, Jr., Terry Brooks, Charles Frazier, Kinky Friedman, Chuck Klosterman, Peter Kuper, Melinda Long, Norman Pearlstine, Chris Raschka, Rick Riorden, Judy Schachner, Natasha Trethewey.
Activities: Two keynote addresses (Charles Frazier with Myrtle Driver Johnson, and Kinky Friedman); Friday Field Trips for children; a children’s stage; cooking demonstrations led by celebrity chefs; 16th Annual Atlanta Rare and Collectible Book Fair.
CENTRAL COAST BOOK AND AUTHOR FESTIVAL
San Luis Obispo, Calif., September 8
www.ccbookfest.org
(805) 546-1392
email: info@ccbookfestival.org
Eighth year. Authors: Alison Bell, Corey Lynn Fayman, Camille Gavin, Denise Hamilton, Naomi Hirahara, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Bud Mercer, Marilyn Meredith, Jim Pascoe, Vicki León & Sherry Shahan. Activities: readings, workshops and lectures; kids’ storytime and crafts; book sales and signings; non-competitive essay writing challenge for adults and children.
MONTANA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Missoula, Mont., September 13-15
www.bookfest-mt.org
(406) 243-6022
email: kim.anderson@umontana.edu
Eighth year. Authors: Mary Clearman Blew, James Lee Burke, Ron Carlson, Kevin Canty, Pete Fromm, Alyson Hagy, William Kittredge, Aryn Kyle, Christy Leskovar, Kat Martin, Deirdre McNamer, Guy Vanderhaeghe,Larry Watson. Activities: Define-a-Thon; traditional author’s reception and silent auction; panels on fiction of the old and new west; writing and publishing workshops for children and adults; book appraisals; celebrating the annual One Book Montana selection, Guy Vanderhaeghe’s The Last Crossing. Expected attendance: More than 6,000.
WYOMING BOOK FESTIVAL
Cheyenne, Wy., September 15
http://www.wyomingbookfestival.org
(307) 777-5915
email: bookfest@state.wy.us
First year. Authors: More than fifty, including Tina Ann Forkner, W. Michael and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, Alyson Hagy, Masha Hamilton, Amanda Harte, Richard and Mary Buckingham Maturi, Abe Morris, Nancy Pearl, C.L. Rawlins, Tim Sandlin. Activities: Author readings, signings and panels; book-related movies; book arts; costumed characters such as Elmo, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Leona the Lion from Between the Lions; poetry slams and writing workshops for teens; living history presentations. Expected attendance: 10,000 to 15,000.
BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL
Brooklyn, N.Y., September 16
http://visitbrooklyn.org/festival.html
(305) 237-3258
email: wbookfair@mdc.edu
Second year. Authors: Paul Auster, David Bouley, Mary Gaitskill, Kimiko Hahn, Pete Hamill, Uzodinma Iweala, Gloria Naylor, Reverend Run, George Saunders, Jon Scieszka, Amy Sohn, Robert Sullivan, Colson Whitehead, Mo Willems. Activities: Gala kickoff with Paul Auster film screening; celebrity chefs' panel; panels on civil liberties and investigative writing; childrens pavilion; bookmark-making for kids; Brooklyn Historical Society historic reading room; On the Road 50th anniversary reading. Expected attendance: more than 10,000.
UP SOUTH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Harlem, New York, September 19-23
(212) 281-9240
www.upsouth.org
Second year. Authors: Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Tina McElroy Ansa and Maryse Conde (plus musicians Jason Moran, Anthony David and Gordon Chambers, and filmmaker Shirin Nashat ). Activities: Five evenings and two days of dialogues and performances, featuring established and emerging artists.celebrating the craft of storytelling by and about people of color from the world over. A full day of children’s events will be included, featuring children’s book authors such as Faith Ringgold and Hip Hop artist, Common.
FALL FOR THE BOOK LITERARY FESTIVAL
Fairfax, Va., September 23-28
www.fallforthebook.org
(703) 993-3986
email: fftb@gmu.edu
Ninth year. Authors: Mitch Albom, Jabari Asim, Scott Berg, Rita Mae Brown, Mark Doty, Nathan Englander, Joseph Ellis, Nikki Giovanni, Walter Isaacson, Jonathan Lethem, Alice McDermott, Kevin Merida, Richard Peck, Meryle Secrest, Roger Wilkins. Activities: Presentation of the Fairfax Prize to Mitch Albom; presentation of the Mason prize to Jonathan Lethem; staged readings.
WEST TEXAS BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Abilene, Tex., September 25-29
www.abilenetx.com/apl/festivalindex.html
(325) 665-2424
email: judithkph@suddenlink.net
Seventh year. Authors: Texas authors, including Merrill & Paul Bonarrigo, Mike Cochran, Robyn Conley, John DeMers, Paula Disbrowe, Mark Gimenez, Robert J. Hall, Kelly Jones, Elmer Kelton, Dominique Macquet, Nancy Wood Moorman, Ben Rehder, Rene Saldana, Jr., Jack K. Selden, Barry Shlachter, Max Sherman, Carlton Stowers. Activities: local author reception; brown bag lunches; workshops; author school visits; a Texas cookbook gala.
BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL
Baltimore, Md., September 28-30
www.baltimorebookfestival.com
Twelfth year. Authors: Warren Brown, Isabel Cruz, Nikki Giovanni, Tim Gunn, Victoria Rowell, Rev. Run, Justine Simmons. Activities: a Ladies’ Night Panel featuring Jen Scheftt, Patricia Carlin and Amy Dubois Barnett; storytellers, author signings, crafts, refreshments and entertainment.
GEORGIA LITERARY FESTIVAL
Blue Ridge, Ga., September 28-30
www.georgialiteraryfestival.org
(404) 370-8450 ext. 2235
email: gcb@dekalblibrary.org
Eighth year. Authors: Amy Blackmarr, Joe Dabney, Ethelene Jones, Helen Lewis, former poet laureate of Georgia Bettie Sellers, Dana Wildsmith, Philip Lee Williams. Activities: "rambles" to area sites associated with the authors; storytelling at the Blue Ridge Mountain Railroad and other venues; screenings of films and programs with local connections; literary readings.
SOUTH DAKOTA FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Deadwood, S. Dak., September 28-30
http://sdhc.sdstate.org/festival
(605) 688-6113
Fifth year. Authors: Daniel James Brown, Jonathan Cohn, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, Kenneth E. Davis, Pete Dexter, Ivan Doig, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Rob Fleder, Richard Ford, Ted Kooser, Sonia Manzano, Craig Wilson. Activities: First annual Literary Feast; panel discussions with authors; silent auctions; talks on history, poetry, fiction and tribal writing.
NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Washington, D.C., September 29
www.loc.gov/bookfest
(888) 714-4696
email: bookfest@loc.gov
Seventh year. Authors: About 70, including David Baldacci, Michael Beschloss, Ashley Bryan, Ken Burns and Geoffrey Ward, Stephen L. Carter, J.A. Jance, Edward P. Jones, Joyce Carol Oates, Jodi Picoult, Terry Pratchett, Jack Prelutsky, Lisa Scottoline, Harry Turtledove. Activities: Themed pavilions (fiction & fantasy, mysteries & thrillers, teens & children, poetry, etc.); storybook and television characters.
SANTA BARBARA BOOK & AUTHOR FESTIVAL
Santa Barbara, Calif., September 29
www.sbbookfestival.org
(805) 962-9500
email: filmcyc@yahoo.com
Ninth year. Authors: Jan Burke, Philip Deaver, Andrew Klavan, Cathryn Michon, Jerry Roberts, Katherine Stewart. Activities: The 2007 Ross Macdonald Award presented to T. C. Boyle; the fifth Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature presented to Alejandro Morales; panels on media, mystery, YA, motivational, “chick mix,” memoir, poetry.
THE LATINO BOOK & FAMILY FESTIVALS
Houston, Tex., September 29-30
Los Angeles, Calif., October 12-14
Chicago, Ill., November 10-11
www.latinobookfestival.com
(713) 236-1036
Eleventh year in L.A., ninth in Chicago, fifth in Houston. Authors: TBA. Activities: Author readings and signings in themed “villages” which include music, dancing and capoeira performances.
ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
Costa Mesa, Calif., September 29-30
www.kidsbookfestival.com/attendee.html
email: michelle@kidsbookfestival.com
Fourth year. Authors: TBA. Activities: Multiple stages for author and illustrator presentations; entertainment; panel discussions; face painting; clowns; musicians; readings; drawings.
WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FAIR
Los Angeles, Calif., September 30
www.weho.org/bookfair
(323) 848-6400
Sixth year. Authors: More than 300, TBA. Activities: Twelve stages with author panels, special guests, live storytelling, theater, poetry and performances; writing workshops. Expected attendance: more than 20,000.
OCTOBER
AMELIA ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL
Amelia Island, Fla., October 4-7
www.bookisland.org
(904) 491-8176
Seventh year. Authors: More than 35, including Rosemary Daniell, Jayne Jaudon Ferrer, Masha Hamiliton, Sandra Kitt, Michelle Monkou, Sarah Smiley, Lu Vickers, Merrillee Whren, Rick Yancey. Activities: literary luncheon with keynote speaker Claire Cook; A Novel Event with Tim Dorsey; a Books-By-the-Beach Party; Words Rock! teen event with readings by young adult authors, poets, and local students; Rock ‘n’ Roll readings.
NEW YORKER FESTIVAL
New York City, October 5-7
http://festival.newyorker.com
Eighth year. Authors: TBA. Activities: interviews, screenings, readings, musical performances, debates, and excursions around the city.
COLLINGSWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL
Collingswood, N.J., October 6
www.collingswoodbookfestival.com
email: jean@collingswoodbookfestival.com
Fifth annual. Authors: Catherine Lloyd Burns, Pat Croce, Dan Gutman, Robert S. Lyons, Sal Paolantonio, Gary Earl Ross, Javaka Steptoe, Katharine Weber, Ferida Wolff. Activities: First annual "Best of the Fest" awards for self-published authors; festival-goers help create the second annual Collingswood Book Festival Poem; poetry slam & open mic; storytelling, workshops, panel discussions, kid friendly activities.
MIDWEST LITERARY FESTIVAL
Aurora, Ill., October 6-7
www.midwestliteraryfestival.com
(630) 844- 4731
Fifth year. Authors: Orville Vernon Burton, Camille DeAngelis, Erika Kendrick, Jacquelyn Mitchard, David Morrell, Robert Olmstead, Jonathan Santlofer, Deb Olin Unferth. Activities: book signings; panel discussions; a how-to tent; children’s area.
LITQUAKE
San Francisco, Calif. October 6-13
www.litquake.org
(415) 750-1497
Eighth year. Authors: Andrew Sean Greer, Daniel Handler, Armistead Maupin, Jane Smiley, Amy Tan, Michelle Tea. Activities: Litquake's first-ever Barbary Coast Award for lifetime literary achievement presented to Armistead Maupin; “Tales: An Evening with Armistead and Friends"; a Literary Death Match; Kidquake; Porchlight Storytelling Series; closing night Lit Crawl through more than 30 venues. Expected attendance: more than 10,000.
WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Madison, Wis., October 10-14
www.wisconsinbookfestival.org
(608) 262-0706
email: alison@wisconsinbookfestival.org
Sixth year. Authors: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Rick Bass, T.C. Boyle, Michael Cunningham, Jane Hirshfield, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Zakes Mda, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Terry Tempest Williams. Activities: Readings, lectures, book discussions, writing workshops, live interviews, and children's events.
NOVELLO FESTIVAL OF READING
Charlotte, N.C., October 11-27
www.novellofestival.net
(704) 336-2725
Seventeenth year. Authors: Ishmael Beah, Kevin Clash, Dave Eggers, Charles Frazier, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, Frank Luntz, , Gail Z. Martin, Jane and Michael Stern, Calvin Trillin. Activities: Carolina Writers Night; Book Brunch; WordPlay Saturday; “Evenings With…” various authors.
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Nashville, Tenn., October 12-14
www.tn-humanities.org/festival/current.php
(615) 770-0006
email: paul@humanitiestennessee.org
Nineteenth year. Authors: More than 200, including Tina McElroy Ansa, Roy Blount, Rick Bragg, Lonnie Cruse, Rosemary Daniell, Kinky Friedman, Jack Gantos, Robert Hicks, Haven Kimmel, Stephen Mansfield, Timothy Zahn. Activities: Events on the Café Stage, the Cooking Stage and the Children's Stage.
TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL
Minneapolis, Minn., October 13
www.raintaxi.com/bookfest
email: info@raintaxi.com
Seventh year. Authors: TBA. Activities: Author readings and talks; book arts demonstrations by the Minnesota Center for Book Arts; annual used book sale and literary magazine fair.
WEST VIRGINIA BOOK FESTIVAL
Charleston, W. Va., October 13-14
www.wvhumanities.org/bookfest/bookfest2.htm
(304) 343-4646
email: pam.may@kanawha.lib.wv.us
Seventh year. Authors: Chris Crutcher, Tawni O'Dell, Ann B. Ross, Robert San Souci, Jean Edward Smith, Anna Smucker, Carole Boston Weatherford, Ellen Zachos. Activities: Author-led programs and workshops for all ages; hands-on children's activities; poetry readings; used book sale; free, informal, verbal book appraisals.
GREAT SALT LAKE BOOK FESTIVAL
Salt Lake City, Utah, October 22-27
www.utahhumanities.org/BookFestival.htm
(801) 359-9670
email: batt@utahhumanities.org
Tenth year. Authors: Eboo Patel, Luci Tapahonso; Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Activities: Live broadcast Define-a-Thon; Utah Literary Awards Ceremony; panels, readings, performances, awards, book sales and signings; letterpress printing, bookmaking and papermaking; hands-on activities for children; a rare book road show.
NEBRASKA BOOK FESTIVAL
Lincoln, Ne., October 26-27
www.nebraskabookfestival.org
(800) 742-7691
email: mcartwright@nlc.state.ne.us
Nineteenth year. Authors: Tim Anderson, Marc and Kimberly Brown; William Kloefkorn, Joseph Marshall III, Robert Polito, Ladette Randolph, Joe Starita. Activities: Keynote address by Joseph Marshall III; presentation of the Mildred Bennett Award and Nebraska Book Awards; panels on biography, sports writing, photography, quilting, mysteries, poetry; Night Owl poetry and prose readings; screening of Coup de Torchon based on Jim Thompson's novel, Pop. 1280.
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES FESTIVAL OF READING
St. Petersburg, Fla., October 27
www.festivalofreading.com
(727) 893-8523
Fifteenth year. Authors: More than 60, TBA. Activities: A Novel Night author preview reception; guest lectures, panel discussions, writer’s workshops, book signings; a Book Market; Children’s Story Land; Big Top Story Tent; Kids Create Tent; Children’s Literary Costume Parade.
NOVEMBER
VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL
Las Vegas, Nev. November 2-3
www.vegasvalleybookfest.org
email: info@vegasvalleybookfest.org
Sixth year. Authors: TBA. Activities: Readings; book discussions; workshops; spoken word performances.
BUCKEYE BOOK FAIR
Wooster, Ohio, November 3
www.buckeyebookfair.com
(330) 262-3244
email: bbfmgr@woosterbook.com
Twentieth year. Authors: Chuck Ayers, Tom Batiuk, Kenn Kaufman, J. Patrick Lewis, Dandi Mackall, Scott Russell Sanders, Mary Ann Winkowski. Activities: Over 100 Ohio authors, illustrators, and photographers signing books and meeting their readers.
DELAWARE BOOK FESTIVAL
Dover, Del., November 3
http://debookfestival.lib.de.us/festival/BookFest2007.htm
(302) 739-4748, ext. 113
Second year. Authors: TBA. Activities: workshops on poetry, blogs, and getting published; storybook characters; book repair and appraisal workshops.
LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL
Baton Rouge, La., November 3
www.louisianabookfestival.org
(225) 219-9503
email: rwilson@state.lib.la.us
Sixth year. Authors: More than 100, including Catharine Savage Brosman, Victor Gischler, Barbara Hambly, Walter Isaacson, Rosemary Poole-Carter, Mary Ann Sternberg, Mike Tidwell, Carolyn E. Ware, Douglas Wolk. Activities: Pre-festival Writing Wordshops and Authors' Party; free book appraisals; book signing sessions; Young Readers' Pavilion.
MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL
Washington, D.C., November 3
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/bookfestival/
(800) 444-1324, ext. 8849
Eleventh year. Authors: TBA. Activities: Meet and greet authors; readings; book signings; book sale; storytelling; dance workshops.
ROCHESTER CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
Rochester, N.Y., November 3
www.rochesterchildrensbookfestival.org/index2006.html
(585) 671-0441
email: cjohmann@rochester.rr.com
Eleventh year. Authors: More than forty, including Tedd Arnold, Susan Williams Beckhorn, Kathleen Blasi, Judy Bradbury, James Howe, Minfong Ho, Robin Pulver, Vivian Vande Velde. Activities: Readings; storytelling by the Blackstorytelling League of Rochester; crafts, word games & other activities for kids & families; Tween Time and Just for Teens afternoon program; writing and illustrating presentations for all ages.
SARASOTA READING FESTIVAL
Sarasota, Fla., November 3
www.sarasotareadingfestival.com
(941) 906-1733
sarasotareadingfestival@comcast.net
Tenth year. Authors: Barbara Taylor Bradford, Neil Connelly, Lou Dobbs, Hank Klibanoff, George Stella, Gene Wilder. Activities: Book-inspired theatre performances; book-club authors presentation tent; interactive children's activities with circus, symphony Mote Marine and G-Wiz museum; literary costume characters; adult literary panels; outreach educational creative writing contests; Kids in the Kitchen; "A Novel Affair" community evening extravaganza.
TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
Austin, Tex., November 3-4
www.texasbookfestival.org
(512) 477-4055
Twelfth year. Authors: Michael Connelly, Kinky Friedman, Dwonna Goldstone, Kimberly Willis Holt, Linda Sue Park, Margaret Sartor, Judith Thurman, Jeffrey Toobin, Mo Willems, Brian Yansky. Activities: 2007 Bookend Award presented to Dagoberto Gilb and Rolando Hinojosa-Smith; First Edition Literary Gala; Define-a-Thon; children’s live entertainment; costumed characters.
THE AUSTIN JEWISH COMMUNITY BOOK FAIR
Austin, Tex., November 3-11
(512) 735-8076
http://www.shalomaustin.org/bookfair
Twenty-fourth year. Authors: Diane Ackerman, Jeffrey Goldberg, Rebecca Goldstein, A.J. Jacobs, Frank McMillan, Rabbi David Nelson, Judith Viorst. Activities: book lovers’ luncheon; fiction nights; events with rabbis; Kids’ Day; Israeli authors.
MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
Miami, Fla., November 4-11
www.miamibookfair.com
(305) 237-3258
email: wbookfair@mdc.edu
Twenty-fourth year. Authors: TBA. Activities: New international marketplace for translation, foreign rights & licensing; Antiquarian Annex; Children’s Alley; International Village showcasing various cultures; Ibero-American Author program featuring authors from Latin America and Spain.
WORDSTOCK
Portland, Ore., November 9-11
http://wordstockfestival.com
(503) 546-1012
email: gail@wordstockfestival.com
Third year. Authors: About 200, including Chuck Barris, Jim Bouton, J. California Cooper, David James Duncan, Dave Eggers, Ira Glass, John Grogan, Yusef Komunyakaa, Ursula K. Le Guin, Christopher Moore, Mary McGarry Morris, Joyce Carol Oates, Deborah Santana, Gore Vidal. Activities: Night of Literary Feasts; author readings; seven featured stages offering fiction, nonfiction, poetry, workshops, music, food; children's corner; short fiction competition; Wordstock for Writers and Wordstock for Teachers writing workshops.
KENTUCKY BOOK FAIR
Frankfort, Ky., November 10
www.kybookfair.com
(502) 564-8300, ext. 297
Twenty-sixth year. Authors: Ethan Becker and Maggie Green, Jon and Lucille Carloftis, Drew Curtis, Shelby Hearon, George Ella Lyon, Judith Martin, Ann Ross. Activities: a full day of symposiums; a luncheon with Miss Manners, Judith Martin; children’s activities including face painting, costumed characters and informal readings.
NEW ORLEANS BOOKFAIR
New Orleans, La., November 10
www.hotironpress.com/bookfair.htm
(318) 446-6774
email: nolabookfair@gmail.com
Sixth year. Authors: Kyle Bravo, CrimethInc, Hope D'Amico, Abram Himelstein, Sarah Inman. Activities: Author readings on a school bus; free author video shootings; book arts show featuring work by both local and national book artists; after-after party at a secret location.
CONNECTICUT CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR
Storrs, Conn., November 10-11
http://bookfair.uconn.edu
(860) 486-1307
email: staubach@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Sixteenth year. Authors: Tony Abbott, Natalie Babbitt, Tomie dePaola, Leo and Diane Dillon, Amy Hest, E.B. Lewis, Richard Michelson, Matthew Reinhart, Sharon Robinson, Bill Thomson. Activities: Breakfast with Clifford the Big Red Dog; storytelling; crafts; costumed characters Saggy Baggy Elephant, Pat the Bunny, Peter Rabbit, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Mouse (of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie).
