There are numerous good reasons to go to a book festival: to show your support for books and literacy, to encourage the publishing of good writing, to let your children know that books and reading are important. But, really, it is also to have fun. Spending time around authors, booksellers, publishers, writers and other readers is a fantastic way to connect your reading to that of others and to just have fun. With good weather, it’s wonderful to spend some time outdoors with new books. Try it; I promise you will like it.

ALABAMA
Alabama Bound (http://www.alabamabound.org/) is a book and author festival held in Birmingham’s Central Library on Saturday, April 8 from 10:00- 2:30, it specializes in Alabama authors, publishers and magazines, and writers’ groups. You have a chance to meet people in the industry, listen to authors read their works, meet and talk with them, buy their books and get them signed.

Participants include Allen Barra, Sonny Brewer, doris davenport, Deborah Ford, Paul Hemphill, Joe Hilley, Diann Jordan, John Morgan, Kieran Quinlan, Scott Stantis, the Birmingham Arts Journal, Heritage Publishing, Menasha Ridge Press, Black Warrior Review, the Alabama Writers’ Conclave, Alabama Writers Forum and Booker T. Washington Magnet School of Creative Writing. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the beauty of the central library and its role in readers’ lives.

ARIZONA
The Northern Arizona Book Festival (http://www.nazbookfestival.org/) is a three-day weekend of readings, workshops, panel discussions, writing workshops, craft sessions that takes place on the weekend of April 21-23 in various locations around Flagstaff.

Authors who will be there include Esther Belin, Chris Burawa, Heid E. Erdrich, Matthew Henry Hall, Cynthia Hogue, Ted Kooser, Katie Lee, Jim Ruland, Mary Sojourner and Terese Svoboda.

ARKANSAS
The Arkansas Literary Festival (http://www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org/main.html) takes place on April 21-23 in Little Rock’s River Market District. Events include readings and discussions, book signings, teen writing workshops, children's activities, musical entertainment, an outdoor exhibit area and special event fundraisers. Included are a pre-festival Knead to Read & Books for Bagels which includes readings and book signings by local authors and other literary activities.

Festival events are numerous: Celebrate Literacy Month ceremony; an appearance and two live shows by National Public Radio’s “Book Guys”; The Great Gatsby Read-Through; a lunch with Dr. BBQ;  a Chapter & Verse soiree; a children’s breakfast, Poetry Out Loud; a martini party, young writer awards and Pub or Perish at Mallard’s Bar.

Authors include Emily Auerbach, Richard Blanco, Kevin Brockmeier, Jack Butler, Beth Ann Fennelly, River Jordan, Michael Kauffman, Joe Klein, Walter “the Giant Storyteller” Mayes, Lisa Tucker and Garry Wills,

Books in Bloom is another Arkansas festival (http://www.booksinbloom.org/) is a day of free literary events that takes place at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs on May 7. Authors who will be there in 2006 include Lawrence Block, Elizabeth Biller Chapman, Marian Clark, Donald Harington, Joan Hess, Cait London, Nancy Pickard and red hawk. The University of Arkansas Press will also be present. A special children’s tent will have a full day of stories, crafts, poetry, clowns and music.   

CALIFORNIA
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/) is coming up on the weekend of April 29-30. If you are within any sort of reasonable driving distance of west Los Angeles, plan to attend this one. It is a literary powerhouse like few others, and brings out 130,000 excited-about-books people to meet more than 370 authors, swarm over 300+ exhibitors, enjoy entertainment from six outdoor stages and two interactive children’s areas and participate in almost 100 panels and conversations. Authors are too numerous to list more than a few: Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, T.C. Boyle, Ray Bradbury, Mary Higgins Clark, Billy Crystal, Joan Didion, Cathy Guisewite, Erica Jong, Sandra Tsing Loh, Frances Mayes, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Silverblatt, Jane Smiley, Gay Talese and Scott Turow. Do. Not. Miss. This. One.

The Palm Springs Book Festival (http://www.psbookfest.com/menu.htm) occurs on Saturday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Francis Stevens Park. More than 100 authors, illustrators and poets—including food-and-wine expert Ted Allen, feminist attorney Gloria Allred, novelists Steve Alten, Norma Barzman, Dale Brown,  former mayor and historian Frank Bogert, comedian Phyllis Diller, Susan Estrich, Bill & Susan Hayes, Tab Hunter, journalist Kevin McKiernan, Anne Rice and John Morgan Wilson—will share their work and their passions. Stages include ones for suspense, theater, poetry, children’s and a main stage.

FLORIDA
Much Ado About Books (http://www.muchadoaboutbooks.com/home.cfm), held this year on May 12-13, has been a fundraising event for the public library for ten years. It includes readings, book signings and literary celebrations. This year is particularly special because the new Jacksonville Main Library opened—due to these kinds of fundraising events—just a few months ago. Authors scheduled to appear include James Patterson, Frances Keiser, James Rollins, Joan Hecht, David Morrell, Anne Holt, Cassandra King and chef Tony Mantuano.

Friday will bring Author’s Day in the Schools where the students can talk to them about their craft and get their books signed. Saturday is the big day for panel discussions—more than 40—as well as exhibitor booths and an extensive children’s area. Sunday is the luncheon with keynote speaker James Patterson.  

ILLINOIS
Printers Row Book Festival (http://www.chicagotribune.com/extras/printersrow/), one of the longer running festivals will be 22 years old this year. It is also the biggest one in the mid-west. Held on June 3-4, it will feature 150 exhibitors and more than 100 programs (author readings, panel discussions, cooking demonstrations and children’s activities). They are still finalizing their line-up of authors, but so far Elizabeth Berg, Michael Connelly, E.L. Doctorow, Dave Eggers, Erica Jong, Mark Kurlansky, Scott Turow, John Updike have committed to be there.

KENTUCKY
The Southern Kentucky Book Fest (http://www.sokybookfest.org/) is nearly here. Due to arrive in Bowling Green on April 7-8, this festival is a two-day event held during National Library Week. The first day is devoted to schoolchildren who meet authors, participate in dramatic and musical performances and work on creative activities. The second day is for book signings and other events such as panel discussions, a writers’ conference and literary awards. Authors scheduled to appear include Pat Conroy, Elizabeth Berg, Chuck Barris, Cathy Pelletier and Jack Gantos.

MICHIGAN
The Ann Arbor Book Festival (http://www.aabookfestival.org/) is still pulling itself together for its May 10-14 appearance, but events scheduled thus far include a bookstore crawl, a literacy forum night, a meet-the-author night, a literacy symposium, storytelling, panels, an open house at the conservation and preservation lab, reception, street festival, and antiquarian book fair. So far authors Jennifer Allison, Manette Ansay, Dean Bakopoulos, Melba Boyd, Sue Carter, Bruce Cockburn, Bob Greene, Elias Khoury, Richard Russo and Grace Shackman.

NEW MEXICO
The Border Book Festival (http://borderbookfestival.org/), with the theme, Re-Imagining the Border, incorporates readings, panels, workshops, and literary and storytelling events as well as its Trade Show, Libros y Más as a “blueprint for positive communication, interaction, connection and healing between people in the borderland corridor.” Events range from a “Cookies and Milk Reception” to “A Journey of Language” panel discussion. Some of the many authors are Carolina Monsiváis, Martha Egan, Richard Yáñez, Michelle Otero, Denise Chávez, Miceala Seidel, Margaret Randall, Lalo Alcaraz, Nancy Lorenza Green and Mary Montaño. It takes place April 21-23.

NORTH CAROLINA
The North Carolina Festival of the Book (http://www.ncbook.org/) takes place over several days from April 24-30. This makes it different from most book festivals in that events are in various locations and are primarily author-focused readings and presentations.  

OREGON
Wordstock (http://www.wordstockfestival.com/) is one enormous, fantastic book fair. It calls itself the largest NW (northwest) festival, and it is no doubt right. With more than 250 authors, 11 stages, 100 exhibitors, workshops, music, food, a full children’s festival, Literary Feasts (private fundraising dinners), and workshops especially for writers and teachers, it definitely has something for everyone. Come one, come all to Portland from April 21-23.

TEXAS
The North Texas Book Festival (http://www.ntbf.org/) happens on April 22. Featuring authors Rose-Mary Rumbley, Elmer Kelton and Gayle Ross, it also offers raffle drawings, a silent auction, children’s story times with costumed characters and more.

VIRGINIA
Hollins University Literary Festival (http://www.hollins.edu/news-events/litfest/litfest.htm) is a day-long festival that will showcase David Adams Richards, Natasha Trethewey and James Dodson. An optional lunch is included along with the awarding of literary prizes to undergraduate students. Also featured are readings, a poetry panel and a reception.

WASHINGTON
Get Lit! (http://www.ewu.edu/getlit/index.html) takes place in the drier clime of Spokane and Cheney from April 19-23. It is “the inland Northwest's premier annual literary arts festival.” Activities include readings, writing workshops and panels, school visits, youth poetry slams, and more. Appearing this year are Nancy Pearl, Christopher Buckley, Marilynne Robinson, Alexander McCall Smith and bell hooks among others.

Special Notice: Libraries have been an fundamental part of my life since my picture book days. This week, April 2-8 (see the 2006 poster above), libraries across the country are celebrating National Library Week with various activities. This is a great time to think about what your libraries have done for you, for your community, for your country. It is an even better time to show your library and librarians that you care about their mission by donating some time, contributing some money or even just saying “Thank you” for their hard work.

Be sure to check out Anne Michael’s column, “Considering Libraries,” and Laine Farley’s “(Book)marking Libraries” for their thoughts. I also recommend reading Susan Larson’s article, “Shelf Life,” in the April 2 issue of the New Orleans Times-Picayune at http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-6/114396172251600.xml for a poignant look at why public libraries are essential to our communities. 


Since her childhood days of Mother Goose, Lauren has been giving her opinion on books to almost anyone who will listen. Lauren shares her home with several significant others including three cats and nearly 1,000 books that, whether previously read or not, constitute her to-be-read stack. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it