The following 31 book festivals are among the many scheduled to take place through November 2004. Check festival Web sites for complete author lists and more details on activities and educational programs.
ATLANTA BOOK FESTIVAL
Atlanta, Ga., September 10—18
www.atlantabookfestival.com; (404) 683-0388Third year; formerly the Atlanta Literary Festival.
Authors: Ralph Tejeda-Wilson, Cecilia Woloch, others TBA.
Activities: literacy awareness and education events include Novel Day for Students and Raising Readers & Writers. Citywide literary events include Arts & Letters; Voices: An Evening of Poetry & Verse; and Champagne, Books & Brunch.
THE LATINO BOOK & FAMILY FESTIVALS
Los Angeles, September 11—12; Houston, October 16—17; Chicago, November 20—21; San Bernadino, Calif., December 11—12
www.latinobookfestival.com; (713) 236-1036
Eighth year in L.A., third in Houston, sixth in Chicago.
Authors: George Lopez, Roberto Gómez Bolaños (aka Chespirito), John Mora, Luis Rodriguez, Esmeralda Santiago, Tony Diaz, Xavier Garza, Victor Valle (Los Angeles), Gwendolyn Zepeda (Houston).
Activities: Author readings and signings in themed "villages" that include music, dancing and capoeira performances.
MIDWEST LITERARY FESTIVAL
Aurora, Ill. September 11—12
www.midwestliteraryfestival.com; (630) 897-5500
Second year.
Authors: More than 90 authors, including Keith Ablow, Meg Cabot, Billy Collins, Jane Dyer, Karen Joy Fowler, E. Lynn Harris, Haven Kimmel, Wendell Minor, Anne Perry, Alexandra Stoddard, Luis Urrea.
Activities: Thirty writing workshops and book-related panels, with Caldecott winners Eric Rohmann and Mordicai Gerstein among the panelists.
CENTRAL COAST BOOK AND AUTHOR FESTIVAL
San Luis Obispo, Calif., September 12
www.ccbookfest.org; (805) 546-1392
Fifth year.
Authors: Margaret Benshoof-Holler, Kathleen Delaney, Philip Fracusi, Gerald Haslam, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Catherine Karp, Rich Linder, Terra Lee Mattera, Terry O'Neal, Charles Russell, Miles Hood Swarthout and Barbara Wray Wayland.
Activities: storytelling, crafts and entertainment for children; music, readings, workshops.
NEBRASKA BOOK FESTIVAL
Omaha, Neb., September 17—18
www.unk.edu/acad/english/nebraskabookfestival/home.htmlThirteenth year.
Authors: Jonis Agee, Ron Block, Dan Chaon, Trudy Lewis, John McNally, Lisa Sandlin, Timothy Schaffert, Karen Gettert Shoemaker, Mary Helen Stefaniak, Terese Svoboda.
Activities: a screening of the movie Tully, with discussion and signing by author; a day for high school students; workshops; readings; heirloom book appraisals.
BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL
Baltimore, Md., September 17—19
www.promotionandarts.com/resources/up182.aspx; (410) 752-8632
Ninth year.
Authors: Anne Applebaum, Nicholas A. Basbanes, Christopher Chambers, Colin Channer, Travis Hunter, Laura Lippman, Sujata Massey, Karen Quinones Miller, Jerdine Nolen, Marcia Talley, Carl Weber, Brad Wright.
Activities: Libraries of Mount Vernon Walking Tour; Baltimore Mural Tour; Literary Salon; recipe demonstrations; The Ripe Harvest Foundation Stage with African-American authors and books; Poet's Tribute; Creativity Café; panel discussions; short story readings; writing workshops; poetry slams; music; 2004 Baltimore Book Festival Literary Award honoring Maryland authors and/or Maryland-themed books.
THE SANTA BARBARA BOOK & AUTHOR FESTIVAL
Santa Barbara, Calif., September 18
www.sbbookfestival.orgSixth year.
Authors: Rudolpho Anaya, Jan Burke, Sue Grafton, Edward Humes, Patt Morrison, Barbara Seranella.
Activities: poetry marathon; Family Stage entertainment; Book Group Tea; Antique Book Road Show appraisals; a Speaking of Stories performance; presentation of the Ross Macdonald Award of California Literary Excellence and the Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature; guided tours through the local environs of Sue Grafton's heroine Kinsey Milhone.
GREAT SALT LAKE BOOK FESTIVAL
Salt Lake City, Utah, September 18—19
www.utahhumanities.org/bookfestival/Book_Festival_2004.htmlSeventh year.
Authors: More than 35, with keynote speakers Douglas Brinkley, Richard Paul Evans, Sam Hamill, Molly Ivins, Rebecca Solnit and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka; children's authors include Pat Mora, Judy Sierra and Janet Stevens.
Activities: readings, talks, poetry slams, booksignings, a silent auction of rare books, storytelling, bookmaking workshops for children, papermaking and letterpress printing.
FALL FOR THE BOOK LITERARY FESTIVAL
Fairfax, Va., September 18—23
www.fallforthebook.org; (703) 993-3986
Sixth year.
Authors: more than 100, including Bob Edwards, Edward P. Jones, Joyce Carol Oates, Roger Wilkins, Tobias Wolff.
Activities: more than 70, including raffles, food, discussions and music. The $10,000 annual Fairfax Prize recognizing lifetime achievement in literature is given to an author during the closing reception.
WEST TEXAS BOOK AND AUTHOR FESTIVAL
Abilene, Tex., September 24—25
www.abilenetx.com/apl/festivalindex2004.html; (325) 793-4682
Fourth year.
Authors: Sandra Brown, John Graves, Stephen Harrigan, Elmer Kelton, Walt McDonald, Carl McQueary, Red Steagall and many others.
Activities: Texas Cookbook Gala, writing workshops, book signings, "Hall of Texas Authors," Boots & Books luncheon and brown bag lunches with authors.
AMELIA BOOK ISLAND FESTIVAL
Fernandina Beach, Fla., September 30— October 3
www.bookisland.org; (904) 491-8176
Fourth year.
Authors: Thirty-five, including Steve Berry, Kay Day, Carolyn Hart, Robert Inman, Jack McDevitt, Stuart McIver and a number of children's/YA authors.
Activities: presentation of the Young Writers Student Scholarship; Authors in Schools visits; writing workshops; 25 author-led book talks; Rock & Roll Readings by poets and spoken-word artists; interactive kids and youth programs; opportunities to dine and mingle with featured authors.
CHICAGO BOOK FESTIVAL
Chicago, Ill., October 1—31
www.chipublib.org/003cpl/cbf/intro.html; (312) 747-4300
Fourth year.
Authors: Isabelle Allende, Julia Alvarez, Clive Barker, Peter Balakian, Robert Olen Butler, Stuart Dybek, Allegra Goodman, Audrey Niffenegger, Sara Paretsky, Art Spiegelman.
Activities: citywide author readings and signings; the Rock Bottom Remainders perform at the House of Blues; the Carl Sandburg Literary Award presented to Henry Louis Gates Jr.; the 21st Century Award to Audrey Niffenegger; Marshall Field's Children's Reading Stage, with authors, costumed book characters and entertainment. One Book, One Chicago will feature its seventh book selection.
MONTANA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Missoula, Mont., October 1—2
www.bookfest-mt.orgFifth year.
Authors: Mary Clearman Blew, James Lee Burke, Sneed B. Collard III, Chris Crutcher, Gary Ferguson, Pete Fromm, Greg Keeler, William Kittredge, Richard Manning, Chuck Palahniuk, Dorothy Patent, Elwood Reed, Annick Smith, Diane Smith, Mark Spragg, Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Richard Wheeler.
Activities: more than 70 events, including programs celebrating James Welch and Richard Brautigan; the 2004 One Book Montana selection, Fools Crow; writing contests for kids; bookmaking, book collecting and appraisal workshops; announcement of winner of "Happy Tales" literary contest. Events include a special live presentation of NPR's Selected Shorts on Thursday night and Gala Readings at the Wilma Theatre on Saturday.
Expected attendance: 4,000— 5,000.
THE NEW YORKER FESTIVAL
New York City, October 1—3
http://festival.newyorker.com/intro.cfm; (877) 847-TNYF
Fifth year.
Authors: Martin Amis, Donna Brazile, Edwige Danticat, E.L. Doctorow, Jeffrey Eugenides, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jonathan Franzen, Edward P. Jones, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chang-rae Lee, Jonathan Lethem, Lorrie Moore, Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith.
Activities: Nearly 50 events throughout Manhattan, including readings, panels focusing on the presidential election, New Yorker writers in conversation with political and entertainment figures, lectures and musical performances.
Expected attendance: 15,000.
NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY
New York City, October 2—3
www.nyisbookcountry.com/content/fair.aspTwenty-sixth year; first time at its new location in Washington Square Park and New York University campus.
Authors: Julie Andrews, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mary Engelbreit, Cornelia Funke, Brett Helquist, Dave King, Mary Pope Osborne, Bill Rancic, Arnold Scaasi, Alexander McCall Smith, Art Spiegelman, R.L. Stine, Sarah Weeks, Paul Zelinksy.
Activities: author meet-and-greet, free panels, a graphic novel pavilion, a children's pavilion and new family-focused activities.
WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Madison, Wis., October 6—10
www.wisconsinbookfestival.org; (608) 262-0706
Third year.
Authors: Jon Lee Anderson, Charles Baxter, Mark Derr, Anthony Doerr, Joseph Ellis, Jeffrey Eugenides, Nell Freudenberger, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Davy Rothbart, Sonia Sanchez, Edmund White.
Activities: held in more than a dozen downtown venues, including the historic Orpheum Theater, the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Madison Public Library and many local bookstores.
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Memphis, Tenn., October 8—10
www.tn-humanities.org; (615) 320-7001
Sixteenth year; first time in Memphis after 15 years in Nashville.
Authors: more than 200, including Robert Olen Butler, Janell Cannon, Andrei Codrescu, Clyde Edgerton, James Ellroy, Horton Foote, Kaye Gibbons, Travis Hunter, Cassandra King, Bret Lott, Ridley Pearson, Arthur Phillips, Adriana Trigiani, Ann B. Ross and Paul Zelinsky.
Activities: author readings, panels and book signings; a Café Stage with local songwriters and musicians; a Children's Stage with singers, poets and storytellers; a Poetry and Drama Stage; birthday parties for The Giving Tree and Peter Pan; costumed appearances by Stellaluna, Strawberry Shortcake and the Wild Thing.
Expected attendance: 20,000.
NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Washington, D.C., October 9
www.loc.gov/bookfest; (888) 714-4696
Fourth year.
Authors: More than 60 authors and illustrators, including Sandra Brown, Ron Chernow, Michael Cunningham, Kate DiCamillo, Neil Gaiman, Edward P. Jones, Elaine Konigsburg, David Macaulay, Azar Nafisi, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert B. Parker, Katherine Paterson, Fred Pohl, Sharon Robinson, Dana Stabenow, R.L. Stine.
Activities: author pavilions by genre (including fiction, mysteries, history & biography, home & family, SF, poetry, teens and children); activities for kids; reading promotion and literacy programs from all 50 states; information on the oral history and digital programs of the Library of Congress.
NOVELLO FESTIVAL OF READING
Charlotte, N.C., October 9—30
www.novellofestival.net; (704) 336-2725
Fourteenth year.
Authors: Isabel Allende, Michael Chabon, Eric Jerome Dickey, Sid Fleischman, Audrey Niffenegger, Alan Michael Parker, Karin Slaughter, Robert Whitlow, Lauren Winner.
Activities: "An Evening With" author events, Book Brunch, panels and writing workshops.
TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL
Minneapolis, Minn., October 16
www.raintaxi.com/bookfestFourth year.
Authors: Janet Desaulniers, Kate DiCamillo, Karen Joy Fowler, Fanny Howe, Wayne Koestenbaum, Doug Nufer, Julie Schumacher, Sun Yung Shin and Eleni Sikelianos.
Activities: author readings, panel discussions, a literary magazine fair, children's activities, book-making and book arts demonstrations, and a used book sale.
WEST VIRGINIA BOOK FESTIVAL
Charleston, W. Va., October 16—17
www.wvhumanities.org/bookfest/bookfest2.htm; (304) 343-4646
Fourth year.
Authors: David Baldacci, Marie Bradby,Rita Mae Brown, Silas House, Joan Medlicott, Naomi Shihab Nye.
Activities: Read Aloud Conference; the Festival Marketplace; Word Play; a used book sale; Meet the Author events; workshops; panel discussions.
CONCORD FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS
Concord and Lowell, Mass., October 21— November 6
(978) 369-3807
Twelfth year.
Authors: more than 30, including Suzanne Brockman, Lan Samantha Chang, Joseph Finder, George Hagen, Vyvyane Loh, Dennis McFarland, Sabina Murray, Charles Ogletree, Tom Perrotta and Esmeralda Santiago.
Activities: two breakfast programs; panels; the annual "New Literary Voices" program.
VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL
Las Vegas, Nev. October 22—23
www.vegasvalleybookfest.orgThird year.
Authors: more than 50, including keynote speakers Walter Mosley and Charles Johnson; Thomas Perry and 10 other mystery and crime novelists.
Activities: emphasis on mystery writing and African-American writers. Readings, lectures, panel discussions, book signings, crime writers workshops and family-oriented activities.
Expected attendance: 10,000.
TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
Austin, Tex., October 28—31
www.texasbookfestival.org; (512) 477-4055
Eighth year.
Authors: H.W. Brands, Ken Burns, Liz Carpenter, Dayton Duncan, John T. Edge, Harold Evans, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, Andrea Immer, Chris Kimball, Julia Reed, Geoffrey Ward.
Activities: black-tie First Edition Literary Gala; "Bon Appetit, Y'all" showcase of chefs and cookbook authors; Author's Party & Pre-party; Children's Chapter with autographing, crafts, storytelling and music.
BUCKEYE BOOK FAIR
Wooster, Ohio, November 6
www.buckeyebookfair.com; (330) 262-3244
Eighteenth year.
Authors: Allan Eckert, Wayne Embry, Angela Johnson, Dark Rain Thom, James Alexander Thom and Sarah Willis.
Activities: Some 100 writers, illustrators and photographers will meet the public and sign new books.
DELAWARE BOOK FAIR AND AUTHORS DAY
Dover, Del., November 6
www.state.de.us/heritage/book_fair.shtml; (302) 577-5044
Ninth year.
Authors: Nearly 600 local authors, including Lisa Carrier, Sam Crawford, Lenore Hart, David Poyer, Misha Trivedi.
Activities: a used book sale benefiting the state's public libraries, gift basket raffles, a remainder sales table and door prizes.
LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL
Baton Rouge, La., November 6
http://lbf.state.lib.la.us; (225) 219-9503
Third year.
Authors: Mike Artell, Ace Atkins, Jason Berry, Jennifer Blake, Rick Bragg, Cleo Scott Brown, Andrew Fox, Anne Cooper Funderburg, Barry Gifford, Shirley Ann Grau, Leon C. Standifer and 100 others.
Activities: Readings, panel discussions and lectures in the State Capitol; storytellers and musicians.
MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
Washington, D.C., November 6
www.kidsculturalbooks.org; (203) 359-6925
Ninth year.
Authors: Robert Arnett, Lulu Delacre, Dwayne Ferguson, Edwin Fontanez, Eloise Greenfield, Sonia Manzano, Michele Meadows, Denise Lewis Patrick, Smita Turakhia.
Activities: meet and greet authors, readings, book signings, book sale, storytelling and dance workshops.
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES FESTIVAL OF READING
St. Petersburg, Fla., November 6—7
www.festivalofreading.com/; (800) 333-7505 x2358
Twelfth year.
Authors: Reed Arvin, Ronde Barber, Steve Berry, Andrei Codrescu, Edward P. Jones, Susan Carol McCarthy, Tom Robbins.
Activities: panels featuring authors, book critics and journalists; Children's StoryLand featuring storytelling, entertainment, and arts and crafts; music, poetry and theater on open-air stages; marketplace with booksellers and exhibitors.
MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
Miami, Fla., November 7—14
www.miamibookfair.com; (305) 237-3258
Twenty-first year.
Authors: Russell Banks, David Brooks, Edna Buchanan, Jill Connor Browne, Harlan Coben, Edwidge Danticat, Susan Isaacs, Ha Jin, Diane Middlebrook, Esmeralda Santiago, Jeff Shaara, Martin Cruz Smith, Art Spiegelman, Brian Weiss, Juan Williams, Tom Wolfe and more than 200 others.
Activities: readings, workshops, book signings; "Evenings With..." reading series; Ibero-American Authors Program in Spanish; Students' Literary Encounters; Children's Alley; rare books showcase.
KENTUCKY BOOK FAIR
Frankfort, Ky., November 13
www.kybookfair.com; (502) 564-8300, x297
Twenty-third year.
Authors: James Archambeault, Wendell Berry, Rick Bragg, Josephine Carr, David Chartrand, Dr. Thomas Clark, Lane, David and Lalie Dick, Lynn Hightower, Silas House, Marcia L. Jones, Bobbie Ann Mason.
Activities: symposiums; private book sale for teachers and librarians.
Expected attendance: 5,000.
