This Fall’s Book Festivals

By Diane Patrick -- Publishers Weekly, 8/30/2005

With the end of summer comes the beginning of the fall book festivals, where readers have a chance to meet their favorite authors, and discover some new favorites.

“Local booksellers,” said Rick Kisonak, co-director of the Burlington Literary Festival, “benefit through on-site book sales and the public’s heightened awareness of great titles available from the festival’s lineup of authors.” Connie Crowe, manager of the Kentucky Book Fair agreed, noting, “Book fairs put more books in circulation and booksellers benefit from the spin-off.” And book festivals are just as important for sellers of rare books. Tess Wackerlin, manager of the Midwest Literary Festival, said, “At literary festivals, we have many of the smaller dealers; those that deal in antique or vintage books that are not on the bestseller list but still valuable reading material. Offering these as options to the public in a festive and relaxed atmosphere is important.”

Most of the festivals listed below are free to the public and feature readings, entertainment, signings, food, children’s events, and more. Check individual Web sites for complete listings of participating authors and events.

CENTRAL COAST BOOK AND AUTHOR FESTIVAL
San Luis Obispo, Calif., September 10
www.ccbookfest.org; (805) 546-1392
Sixth year. Authors: Susan Branch, Paul B. Farrell, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Franz Wisner. Activities: Book exhibits; readings; workshops; music; crafts; entertainment.

MIDWEST LITERARY FESTIVAL
Aurora, Ill. September 10–11
www.midwestliteraryfestival.com; (630) 844-3640
Third year. Authors: Ken Atchity, Elizabeth Berg, Stephen J. Cannell, Adam Fawer, Kevin Guilfoile, Jodi Picoult. Activities: One-day writer’s workshop (to which playwright Samm-Art Williams will sponsor four scholarships); culinary tent; poetry slam; art festival; party honoring participating authors.

FALL FOR THE BOOK LITERARY FESTIVAL
Fairfax, Va., September 14-21
www.fallforthebook.org; (703) 993-3986
Seventh year. Authors: Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Khaled Hosseini, Tim O’Brien, Alexandra Robbins, Ned Sublette, Mark Winegardner. Activities: Presentation of the new Fall for the Book Prize to Pat Conroy.

SANTA BARBARA BOOK & AUTHOR FESTIVAL
Santa Barbara, Calif., September 18
www.sbbookfestival.org
Seventh year. Authors: More than 50, including Fannie Flagg, Denise Hamilton, Julie Otsuka, Sally Ride. Activities: The Ross Macdonald Award presented to Mark Salzman; the 2005 Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature presented to Denise Chavez. Expected attendance: 5,000.

WEST TEXAS BOOK & AUTHOR FESTIVAL
Abilene, Tex., September 20–24
www.abilenetx.com/apl/festivalindex.html; (325) 793-4682
Fifth year. Authors: About 20 Texas authors, including Sheila Allee, Liz Carpenter, Dixie Cash, Dawn Compton, Elmer Kelton, Jan Peck, Jacqueline Stem, Carlton Stowers. Activities: a Texas cookbook gala; Hall of Texas Authors; the A.C. Green Award to be presented at the Boots and Books Luncheon.

MONTANA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Missoula, Mont., September 22-24
www.bookfest-mt.org
Sixth year. Authors: Kim Barnes, Rick Bass, C.J. Box, James Crumley, Gary Ferguson, Pete Fromm, Greg Keeler, William Kittredge, Richard Wheeler. Activities: Celebrating the annual One Book Montana selection, Diane Smith’s Letters from Yellowstone; honoring Montana’s first Poet Laureate, Sandra Alcosser; panel on children’s literature; premiere of a documentary on Dorothy Johnson; Montana Book Awards banquet; special Gala Reading; annual Authors Reception and Silent Auction. Expected attendance: More than 5,000.

BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL
Baltimore, Md., September 23-25
http://www.promotionandarts.com/resources/up182.aspx; (410) 752-8632
Tenth year. Authors: Art Buchwald, Candace Bushnell, Arthur Frommer, Nikki Giovanni, J.L. King, George Ross, Dr. Ian Smith, Vickie Stringer. Activities: Live music; more than 125 exhibitors and booksellers; cookbook, home and garden demonstrations; Litapalooza; Literary Salon; The Ripe Harvest Foundation Stage featuring popular African-American authors; The Children’s Bookstore Stage; new Books for Dummies Stage.

BURLINGTON LITERARY FESTIVAL
Burlington, Vt., September 23-25
http://burlingtoncityarts.com; (802) 865-7166
First annual. Authors: Russell Banks, Elizabeth Benedict, Chris Bohjalian, Laban Carrick Hill, Stephen McCauley, Grace Paley, Dan Poynter, James Sturm. Activities: Panels on publishing; a Kid Lit Fest; cooking demonstrations and samplings; Literary Costume Party; an Evening with The Onion with writers from the humor publication.

NEW YORKER FESTIVAL
New York City, September 23-25
http://festival.newyorker.com/
Sixth year. Authors: Michael Chabon, E.L. Doctorow, Jeffrey Eugenides, Edward Jones, Stephen King, Jhumpa Lahiri, Annie Proulx, Zadie Smith. Activities: Music; lectures; a night of fiction readings with 24 New Yorker contributors; a banjo jam hosted by Steve Martin.

NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Washington, D.C., September 24
www.loc.gov/bookfest; (888) 714-4696
Fifth year. Authors: More than 80, including Sandra Brown, Tom Clancy, Thomas Friedman, Leeza Gibbons, John Irving, David McCullough, R.L. Stine, Tom Wolfe. Activities: Themed pavilions (fiction & fantasy, mysteries & thrillers, teens & children, poetry, etc.) on the National Mall; information on the Veterans History Project, a grassroots effort to document war veterans’ stories. Expected attendance: 85,000.

COLLINGSWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL
Collingswood, NJ, September 26-October 1
www.collingswoodbookfestival.com
Third annual. Authors: Mary Jane Clark, Jill Herbers, Larry Kane, Judith Kristen, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Donna Jo Napoli. Activities: Local authors; book appraisals; Loompaland children’s zone; new and used book sales; book-related merchandise; entertainment.

AMELIA BOOK ISLAND FESTIVAL
Amelia Island, Fla., September 29-October 2
www.bookisland.org; (904) 491-8176
Fifth year. Authors: more than 35, including Ellyn Bache, Steve Berry, Quang X. Pham, Diane Roberts; headliners David Liss and Susan Vreeland. Activities: Discussions, workshops, luncheons and other socials.

NEW YORK TIMES GREAT READ IN THE PARK
New York City, October 2
http://209.131.117.124/greatread/
The 70th anniversary week of The New York Times Best Sellers list. Authors: Melissa Bank, John Berendt, Patricia Cornwell, Rona Jaffe, Sue Monk Kidd, Benilde Little, Salman Rushdie. Activities: Panel discussions; a literary brunch hosted by Robert Lipsyte; a literary tea with popular women writers hosted by NYT theater editor Patricia Cohen; children’s area with special events, appearances by costumed characters and live performances, including the group Hi-5.

WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FAIR
Los Angeles, Calif., October 2
www.weho.org/bookfair; (323) 848-6400
Fourth year. Authors: Aimee Bender, Jan Burke, Bebe Moore Campbell, Mary Castillo, Veronica Chambers, Neil Gaiman, Felice Picano, Tonya Pinkins. Activities: A new Cooking Pavilion; author panels and performances; slam poetry, theatrical performances, and spoken word stage events.

NEBRASKA BOOK FESTIVAL
Lincoln, Ne., October 7-8
www.unl.edu/NCB/2005.html
Fourteenth year. Authors: J.V. Brummels, Kelly Grey Carlisle, Rick Cypert, Ted Genoways, Ben Gotschall, Twyla Hansen, Steve Langan, Matt Mason, Marge Saiser. Activities: “Local Wonders” theme (from the book by festival headliner Ted Kooser, U.S. Poet Laureate and 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner); free copy of the book to Saturday festivalgoers.

SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Nashville, Tenn., October 7–8
www.tn-humanities.org; (615) 320-7001
Seventeenth year. Returning to Nashville after one year in Memphis. Authors: Joan Wester Anderson, Roy Blount, Jr., Paul Hemphill, Bret Anthony Johnston, William E. Leuchtenburg, Sharyn McCrumb, Esmeralda Santiago, Tanya Tucker. Activities: The Café Stage; the Poetry and Drama Stage; the Children’s Stage.

LITQUAKE
San Francisco, Calif. October 7-15
www.litquake.org
Fourth year. Authors: More than 200, including Robert Mailer Anderson, Po Bronson, Andrew Sean Greer, Daniel Handler, Jane Juska, Armistead Maupin, Martin Cruz Smith, Amy Tan, Z.Z. Packer. Activities: Seventeen themed events, including an all-star celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first reading of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl; panel discussions; film screenings; storytelling series; cross-media literary happenings; a literary pub crawl.

WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL
Madison, Wis., October 13–17
www.wisconsinbookfestival.org; (608) 262-0706
Fourth year. Authors: Dwight Allen, Larry Baker, Elizabeth Berg, Marshall Cook, Myla Goldberg, Philip Gourevitch, Audrey Niffenegger, Harvey Pekar. Activities: Lectures; writing workshops; live interviews; children’s events.

VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL
Las Vegas, Nev. October 13–22
www.vegasvalleybookfest.org
Fourth year. Authors: More than 50, including Steve Erickson, Stan Freberg, James McManus, Joe Queenan, Tod Goldberg, Rob Roberge, John Shirley. Activities: Readings and panel discussions on poker, prizefighting, Las Vegas history, humor and satire; children’s programs; the Lewis Avenue Poetry Cafe Under the Stars; a classic boxing film series.

TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL
Minneapolis, Minn., October 15
www.raintaxi.com/bookfest
Fifth year. Authors: Ana Castillo, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Siri Hustvedt, Rick Moody, Audrey Niffenegger, Harvey Pekar. Activities: Book Arts demonstrations; annual Used Book Sale and Literary Magazine Fair; exhibit showcasing publishers, book artists, booksellers, writing centers, and literary magazines.

NOVELLO FESTIVAL OF READING
Charlotte, N.C., October 17-29
www.novellofestival.net; (704) 336-2725
Fifteenth year. Authors: Elizabeth Berg, Chris Bohjalian, David Christiana, Bruce Colville, Valerie Hobbs. Activities: Individual writing workshops on memoirs, poetry and fiction; Book Brunch; Evenings with Andrea Mitchell, Robert Whitlow, Michael Schwalbe, Elizabeth Berg, Sandra Guzman.

WEST VIRGINIA BOOK FESTIVAL
Charleston, W. Va., October 22–23
www.wvhumanities.org/bookfest/bookfest2.htm; (304) 343-4646
Fifth year. Authors: Avi, Stephen Coonts, Jack Gantos, Jennifer Haigh, Sharyn McCrumb, Asra Nomani. Activities: Festival Marketplace; children’s area; used book sale.

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL
Austin, Tex., October 28–30
www.texasbookfestival.org; (512) 477-4055
Tenth year. Authors: More than 150, including John Hope Franklin, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David McCullough, Jane Smiley, Alexander McCall Smith, Liz Smith, Luis Alberto Urrea, Eli Wallach. Activities: Bon Appetit Y’all cooking tent featuring well-known chefs; children’s live entertainment, science and art activities, costumed characters and more.

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES FESTIVAL OF READING
St. Petersburg, Fla., October 29
www.festivalofreading.com; (800) 333-7505 x2358
Thirteenth year. Authors: Jeanne Bice, Candace Bushnell, Andrew Carroll, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Rona Jaffe, R.L. Stine, Vivian Vande Velde. Activities: Children’s StoryLand; music, poetry and theater on open air stages.

DELAWARE BOOK FAIR AND AUTHORS DAY
Dover, Del., November 5
www.state.de.us/heritage/book_fair.shtml; (302) 577-5044
Tenth year. Authors: More than 70, including Lee Anderson, Lee Beetschen, Samuel Clark, Brenda Jones, James Koterski, Peter Williams, Nancy Carol Willis. Activities: Celebrations of over 600 authors who live in or write about Delaware.

SARASOTA READING FESTIVAL
Sarasota, Fla., November 5
www.sarasotareadingfestival.com; (941) 906-1733
Eighth annual. Authors: Michael Baden, Lidia Bastianich, Bruce Feiler, Eileen Goudge, Linda Kenney, Andrea Mitchell, Bob Morris, Sara Nelson, Denise Nicholas, Mirta Ojito. Activities: Opening Night Gala; food booths; inventive crafts; children’s activities.

KENTUCKY BOOK FAIR
Frankfort, Ky., November 12
www.kybookfair.com; (502) 564-8300, x297
Twenty-fourth year. Authors: Wendell Berry, Eleanor Clift, Bernard Goldberg, Silas House, Bobbie Ann Mason, Sharyn McCrumb. Activities: A luncheon with nationally known authors; a full day of free symposiums; a Daniel Boone symposium. Expected attendance: 6,000.

CONNECTICUT CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR
Storrs, Conn., November 12-13
http://bookfair.uconn.edu/; (860) 486-1307
Fourteenth year. Authors: Suzanne Collins, Caroline Cooney, Katie Davis, Tomie dePaola, Wendell Minor, Susanna Reich, Matthew Reinhart. Activities: Daily free breakfast with Clifford the Big Red Dog; costumed characters Little Critter, Curious George, Winnie the Pooh, Max, Frog & Toad.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL
Miami, Fla., November 13–20
www.miamibookfair.com; (305) 237-3258
Twenty-second year. Authors: Margaret Atwood, Candace Bushnell, Joan Didion, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jerry Lewis, Terry McMillan, Marilynne Robinson, Anita Shreve, Amy Tan, Scott Turow, Mike Wallace, Andrew Weil. Activities: Antiquarian Annex; Children’s Alley; International Village showcasing cultures of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Japan, Peru, Spain and the Dominican Republic; Ibero-American Author program featuring authors from Latin America and Spain.