The 18th annual Bethesda Literary Festival will host an array of local and national authors, journalists and poets, as well as writing contests and poetry contests.
In a weekend that will include nearly 20 entertaining events, the Bethesda Literary Festival presents fascinating literary personalities who will read their work, talk about their craft and take part in discussions with other writers and audience members.
All of the events are FREE and are held throughout downtown Bethesda.
Friday, April 21
6:30pm - The President and Me
Barnes & Noble Bethesda,
4801 Bethesda Avenue
Join author Deborah Kalb for a reading of her latest children's book, The President and Me.
7pm - Award-Winning Essays & Short Stories
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Adult and high school winners from the Bethesda Literary Festival's Essay & Short Story Contest will read their work and receive awards.
8pm -
Richard Nixon: The Life
The Writer's Center,
4508 Walsh Street
John A. Farrell
, prize-winning biographer, discusses former president Richard Nixon in his newest acclaimed biography.
Saturday, April 22
10am - Children's Story Time
Barnes & Noble, 4801 Bethesda Avenue
Enjoy traditional and new favorite stories for children read by Barnes & Noble's fabulous children's booksellers! Ages 3-7
11am -
Mystery Mavens
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Join author Kathleen Barber, Are You Sleeping, and author Christina Kovac, The Cutaway, for a discussion of their mystery novels.
11am - The Hopefuls
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Best-selling author
Jennifer Close discusses her humorous novel about a young wife who follows her husband and his political dreams to Washington, D.C.
12:30pm -
Female Fiction Authors
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Join authors Jessica Anya Blau, The Trouble with Lexie, and Carolyn Parkhurst, Harmony, for a discussion of their novels featuring teenage girl protagonists.
12:30pm
-
Seoul Man &
Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Recounting his three years in Korea,
Washington Post writer
Frank Ahrens sheds light on a business culture very few Western journalists ever experience, in the revealing, moving and hilarious memoir,
Seoul Man. Joining him is award-winning journalist and former senior writer at Newsweek,
Claudia Kalb discussing her
New York Times bestseller
Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities.
2pm - Fantastic Fiction
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Join authors Michelle Brafman, Bertrand Court, and Katherine Heiny, Standard Deviation for a discussion of their novels.
2pm -
Author & Journalist Steve Roberts
Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road
Delve into the history of Bethesda and Chevy Chase as longtime resident and well-known journalist Steve Roberts discusses his new book, Images of America: Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
4pm - Novel Year
The Writer's Center,
4508 Walsh Street
Join novelist Susan Coll and participants from The Novel Year program. Spanning a wide range of genres, from literary and historical fiction to mystery, young adult, memoir, and even a fractured fairytale, students will read from their works in progress.
4pm - Poetry Readings and Awards
Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin
Avenue
, Suite E
Hear readings from poet
Joshua Weiner
and the winners of the Bethesda Poetry Contest.
4pm -
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the War
Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road
New York Times bestselling author
Helen Simonson discusses her novels
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and
The Summer Before the War.
Sunday, April 23
11am - The Writer's Center Open House
The Writer's Center,
4508 Walsh Street
Meet new Executive Director Ed Spitzberg, learn about writing workshops, readings, outreach programs and tour our nostalgic building. Stick around for treats and a round of Literary Trivia.
1pm -
Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Join
Washington Post
reporters
Michael Kranish
and
Marc Fisher
for a discussion of this deeply researched biography of President Donald Trump.
2pm -
Poetry & Prose Reading & Reception
The Writer's Center,
4508 Walsh Street
Hosting poetry and prose open mics has been a longstanding tradition at The Writer's Center. Bring your own work to share with an appreciative audience, or, if you prefer not to read, join us to hear a wide range of writers.
3:30pm - "
If I Had a Time Machine
"
Hyatt Regency Bethesda,
7400 Wisconsin
Avenue
Winners of the Bethesda Literary Festival's Youth Writing Contest, "
If I Had a Time Machine
," read their stories and receive prizes.
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