Never heard of us? Well, we are still young! In only our second year, the festival is putting Gaithersburg on the literary map. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find:
• Nationally Known and Award-Winning Authors – An impressive line-up of more than 50 featured authors include names you know, such as current best-sellers Elizabeth Berg, Alex Berenson, Eleanor Brown, Rita Mae Brown, Stephen Hunter, Paula McLain and James Swanson. Also on the agenda are NPR’s Alan Cheuse and Scott Simon, and Amy Dickinson, who pens the syndicated “Ask Amy” advice column. The topics our authors cover vary widely, too, and include the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy, slavery and strife in the Middle East, entertaining chick lit, cooking demonstrations and Redskins’ history.
• Keynote Author Matt Logelin – Matt’s story, "Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love,” details life after the death of his wife a mere 27 hours after giving birth to their first child, Madeline. Matt talks about how he moved on from such a devastating event by focusing on a new daughter that needed his love and attention and relying on unexpected support from an extraordinary online community of strangers who found him through his blog.
• Children’s Village – Featured authors include 2011 Newbery Award winner Clare Vanderpool, 2010 National Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine, American Girl author Alison Hart, Mary Quattlebaum, N.D. Wilson, Erica Perl, Mary Downing Hahn, Brian Meehl, Wendy Shang, Pam Smallcomb, Mary Amato and Dominique Paul. In and around the Children’s Village, kids will be able to take part in American Girl activities, attend story time and participate in workshops and other hands-on activities.
• Workshops – Topics range from writing books, comedy, college admissions essays and graphic novels to promoting your work, getting your poems published and succeeding in a freelance writing career. Advance registration for the workshops is required and nominal fees apply.
• Coffee House – Hear music from local singer/songwriters and enjoy poetry readings.
So, whether you have kids who are just learning to read or you’re an adult who loves the written word, the Gaithersburg Book Festival has something for you. We hope you will join us on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall in Olde Towne Gaithersburg and check it out for yourself. Admission, parking and transportation to the festival site are all FREE!
Want to do more than just attend? We are still seeking volunteers for before and during the festival. Duties include helping to set up and maintain various activity areas, greeting authors and visitors, helping maintain traffic flow and order within book signing lines, and generally helping out wherever needed. Five hour or all day shifts are available on both Friday, May 20 for set-up and throughout the day on Saturday, May 21. For more details, or to sign up for a volunteer shift, visit http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/volunteer.htm
Gail Norris is a self-employed communications and public relations consultant and the co-chair of the Public Relations Committee for the Gaithersburg Book Festival.
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