J.K. Fowler to Lead the Bay Area Book Festival

J.K. Fowler has been appointed as the new executive director of the Bay Area Book Festival. Fowler founded and led Nomadic Press, and he brings experience in literary and arts nonprofits, community organizing, and event production, including recent work with Oakland poet laureate Ayodele Nzinga. “As a fervent believer in the democratic principles of free speech and rigorous, respectful debate, I look forward to utilizing our platform to further develop BABF’s tradition of uplifting and celebrating literature,” Fowler said in BABF’s announcement. 

BABF board chair Brooke Warner, publisher of SheWrites Press and SparkPress, said Fowler’s “understanding of our goals and mission, coupled with his connections and ties to the community, make him a uniquely good fit for this role.”

Interim BABF program director Aya de León, a BABF board member and Berkeley’s poet laureate, added, “People sometimes mistakenly associate the festival with Berkeley, but it’s for the entire Bay Area and particularly the East Bay. J.K. has such a strong track record of lifting up Oakland voices. I’m excited for us to break down the myth and expand our reach, both in perception and fact.”

Fowler succeeds Cherilyn Parsons, who founded BABF in 2015 and stepped down from the executive directorship in June 2023. 

Now going into its 11th year, BABF has brought more than 800 literary events and an estimated 125,000 visitors to Berkeley. Its next festival takes place May 31–June 1, 2025.