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The 15th Annual booksALIVE! Festival of Reading will be held February 1, 2014 at Florida State University in Panama City. This year's keynote speaker at the literary luncheon will be Pat Conroy, bestselling author of The Prince of Tides, South of Broad, and My Reading Life. Tickets for the luncheon are sold out, but if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call 850-522-2100.

 

booksALIVE! is our area's premier book festival. Now in its 15th year, booksALIVE! mixes creativity, learning, fun, and fellowship into a weekend brew of inspiration and interaction for those who love the power of words. A Saturday full of workshops, presentations, book signings, and the opportunity to rub elbows with our author-speakers creates a delicious buffet for book lovers.

 

Except for the luncheon, all presentations are FREE! In addition, Books-a-Million and Books Unlimited kiosks will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM for festival participants. Books by featured presenters are available for purchase and autograph.

Featured Presenters

 

Cassandra King is a bestselling novelist whose fiction has won the hearts of readers everywhere. Her novels portray strong and memorable characters who struggle with the same timely issues and dilemmas that readers face in their own lives. King's newest novel, Moonrise, is the story of a woman living in the shadow of her predecessor, a beautiful and much-beloved woman whose tragic death shattered the lives of her loved ones. King's presentation is entitled "Finding Moonrise."

Cynthia Lord's debut novel, Rules, was a New York Times Bestseller and received the Newbery Honor and nine other awards. Lord has four new books being published in 2014, including Half a Chance which will be released February 25th. Lord's presentation is entitled "Marvelous Middle Grade: Using Write What You Know."

Sharman Burson Ramsey's discovery of her Native American heritage inspired the Serpents series family saga, which continues in her new novel, In Pursuit. Ramsey's presentation is entitled "Southern Historical Fiction." She will also present "The Business of Writing" with authors Henry and Jordan.

Bill Roorbach's craft book, Writing Life Stories, is used in writing programs around the world. His next book, due for release in fall 2014, is Storm of the Century. Roorbach will present "Life Among Giants" and will present an extended session with Dr. Kristen Keckler entitled "Writing Life Stories: Memoir Writing Class."

Masha Hamilton is the author of five acclaimed novels, most recently What Changes Everything.  Hamilton founded two world literacy projects, the Camel Book Drive and the Afghan Women's Writing Project. Hamilton's presentation is entitled "What Changes Everything: The Impact of War."

Patti Callahan Henry is a bestselling novelist who has published nine novels, including her most recent book, And Then I Found You. Hailed as a fresh new voice in southern fiction, Henry has been shortlisted for the Townsend Prize for Fiction. Henry's presentation is entitled "The Power of Story." She will also present "The Business of Writing" with authors Ramsey and Jordan.

River Jordan is a southerner with a global perspective. As a critically-acclaimed author, inspiring speaker, and creative radio host, she knows just a little about sharing a great story. Her memoir, published in 2011, tells the story of an unexpected and amazing resolution Jordan embraced -- to silently pray for a stranger she passed everyday. Jordan's presentation is "Praying for Strangers." She will also present "The Business of Writing" with authors Henry and Ramsey.

Kristen Keckler is a teacher, writer, and editor, and her work has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. On the way, she's worked as a clown, a cook, a librarian, and a group home counselor. She's just completing a memoir about life and work called What Do You Do? Keckler will co-present an extended session with Bill Roorbach entitled "Writing Life Stories: Memoir Writing Class." 

 

Kim Boykin writes stories about strong southern women. Girlfriends RULE in Boykin's The Wisdom of Hair (2013), the story of Zora Adams, a young beauty school student who romances the wrong wickedly handsome man but is saved by the power of the salon sisterhood. Boykin's presentation is entitled "The Sanctity of the Salon Sisterhood."

Peter Golden is an award-winning journalist and the author of six full-length works of nonfiction and fiction. His debut novel, Comeback Love was published in 2012, and his next novel, Lovewood, will be published this year. Golden's presentation is entitled "Why is Writing About Love so Hard?"

Cynthia Stevens Graubart is a winner of the James Beard Award for Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking, which she co-authored with Nathalie Dupree. Her latest book, Slow Cooking for Two: The Basics (2013) evolved after her two children left for college, causing her to adjust to the new reality of cooking for two. Graubart's presentation is entitled "Slow Cooking for Two: The Basics."

 

All proceeds from the festival will go to the Bay County Public Library Foundation, which provides support to the Bay County Public Library.

For more information, session schedules, and a printable program, visit booksALIVE.net.

 

The Northwest Regional Library System serving Bay, Gulf, and Liberty counties will be conducting a customer satisfaction survey during the month of February.

The survey will be available on the library's website, www.nwrls.com, and in each library location.

People who are not regular library patrons are invited to complete the non-user survey to let the library know what services, if offered, would inspire library use.

Please help us plan for the future of the library by taking this short survey today!

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