Are You Ready for

The BookFest®?

Spring 2024 Schedule at a Glance

The BookFest happens this weekend, Saturday and Sunday April 6th and 7th. Here's your schedule-at-a-glance, plus news and updates about your always-free-to-attend online bookish adventure.

Highlights on Day One include Josh Malerman, the creative mind behind "Bird Box," engaging in a conversation with Jennifer Anne Gordon, award-winning author of “Beautiful, Frightening and Silent”. Poet and playwright Jack Grapes receives the Honorary BookFest Achievement Award, and the riveting story of “Thunder Dog" author Michael Hingson is revealed. Plus, the Live Author Chats hosted by Scott Ryan.

The BookFest Day Two features investigative journalist Doug Kari in conversation with BookFest Bellwether and author, Beth Freely. New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and W. Craig Reed delve into the science behind storytelling.

Also, The Critiki-Bar returns with New York Times bestselling author David L. Robbins and literary agent Katharine Sands. Author of “The Maze Runner” series, James Dashner, has a poignant conversation with Keri-Rae Barnum, owner, and CEO of New Shelves Books. Keynotes include children's book writer Kelly Anne Manuel and Lisa Diane Kastner, the founder of Running Wild Press, LLC.

Saturday, April 6th

Day 1 for Readers

(Listed in Pacific Time)

10:30am PT – Welcome Message from The BookFest Founder Desireé Duffy 

10:35am PT – Opening Keynote – Kelly Anne Manuel: The Ingredients of an Uncommon Author 

10:45am PT – Salute to The BookFest Honorary Achievement Award Winner Jack Grapes

11:00am PT – A Conversation with Josh Malerman: Out of the Box – Exploring the Creative Process with the Bird Box Author 

11:45am PT – Unite Against Book Bans: Support Right to Read Day and National Library Week 

12:00pm PT – Fresh Off the Press: Showcase of New Releases and Trending Genres 

12:45pm PT – Getting the Good Bits Version of an MBA: The Business Leaders Lab 

1:00pm PT – Unraveling the Mysteries: A Deep Dive into Thrillers, Suspense and Mystery Genres 

1:45pm PT – Puzzles and Prose: Why We Love Enigmatic Stories 

2:00pm PT – A Conversation with Michael Hingson – Trust, Triumph, and a Thunder Dog 

2:45pm PT – Evaluating Your Cup of Life and Learning to Say “Yes” 

3:00pm PT – Live Author Chats hosted by Scott Ryan

5:00pm PT – Winners of The BookFest Big Bundle of Books Giveaway and The BookFest Children’s Book Giveaway Announced 

Sunday, April 7th

Day 2 for Writers

(Listed in Pacific Time)

10:30am PT – Welcome Back Message 

10:35am PT – Keynote – Lisa Diane Kastner: Build Your Writing Career from Scratch     

10:45am PT – Book Series Collaboration – Straight Talk with the Creative Team Behind the Snoodles Books 

11:00am PT – A Conversation with Doug Kari – Exploring Immersive Investigative Journalism 

11:45am PT – On Memory and Metaphor: Bringing the Past to Life 

12:00pm PT – The Science of Storytelling: How to Use Science, Structure and Sizzle to Create Bestselling Novels 

12:45pm PT – Authors Beware: Scammers Are Targeting You 

1:00pm PT – The Critiki Bar: Page One Manuscript Critiques (An Agent and an Author walk into a Bar…) 

1:45pm PT – AMPlify Audiobooks: Take Control of Your Audiobook Success 

2:00pm PT – A Conversation with James Dashner – Running Through the Maze with Famed Author and Screenwriter 

3:00pm PT – A Salute to The BookFest Award Winners Spring 2024 – Full Video 

Grab Your Special BookFest Issue of The Relatable Voice Magazine

The BookFest® proudly aligns with Relatable Media to bring you a Special BookFest Issue of The Relatable Voice Magazine.

This collector’s item includes articles written by BookFest authors and organizers.

The cover features author Steven Joseph who speaks at The BookFest with illustrator Andy Case about creating successful book series. 

The issue is free to download, or you can order a physical copy for a small fee. This issue makes a wonderful keepsake.

Are You Ready for the Ultimate IRL Writers Conference Experience?

If you're going to attend an in real life writers conference, why not make it the ultimate combination of business and pleasure?

The BookFest, in partnership with Black Château, invites you explore The Kauai Writers Conference. It happens in person November 11^th through 17^th, 2024. This year is extra special as they are celebrating their 10^th anniversary.

It features four days of Master Classes and a three-day Conference at the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort in Hawaii.

BookFesters can look forward to a special discount from The Kauai Writers Conference in the Virtual Gift Bag. Make sure to watch for it at the end of The BookFest.

Take Action and Unite Against Book Bans

Unite Against Book Bans provides important resources to raise awareness and to help booklovers take action against book challenges and bans.

BookFesters can learn more about supporting the cause during a special segment with Jennie Pu from the American Library Association’s Policy Corps Cadre on Proactive Advocacy Opposing Book Banning.

Resources will be provided in the Virtual Gift Bag for those interested in supporting the cause.

The BookFest Award Winners Announced During The BookFest

The BookFest Spring 2024 Award Winners will be saluted at The BookFest.

Winners will be notified by email in the coming days. (Be sure to check all your email folders, if awaiting your results.)

The list of winners will also be posted on The BookFest Website when ready.

The Salute to The BookFest Award Winners Video Montage will play during The BookFest. Watch snips of it interspersed among the programming. On Day 2, Sunday evening, it airs in its entirety at 3pm Pacific Time.

Congratulations to all this season's winners! The array of excellence in this season's submissions are highly commendable.

Enter to Win with The BookFest

Wanna win autographed books, bookish prizes, and other goodies? There is still time to enter the Big Bundle of Books and Children's Books Giveaways. Plus, writers can enter the special Writers Giveaway.

Get Ready for the Virtual Gift Bag

The BookFest Virtual Gift Bag is sent to BookFesters at the end of the day on Sunday.

It's packed with special offers and downloadable items from brands and authors including: The Kauai Writers Conference, Unite Against Book Bans, Relatable Voice Magazine, The Business Leaders Lab, the Open Cup Conference, AMPlify Audiobooks, and others. 

Folks just need to become a BookFester to receive the Virtual Gift Bag for free.

Tell your friends and the booklovers in your life to become a BookFester and join in the fun. Then, watch for your Virtual Gift Bag delivered straight to your inbox Sunday night after The BookFest wraps.

Your Special Invitation from the Open Cup Conference

Have you been planning out your 2024 and wondering where to find a place that will bring inspiration, and help catapult you into a bold YES full of faith? Look no further as The Open Cup Collective would like to personally invite you to check out The Open Cup Conference.

The Open Cup Conference will be held April 12th and 13th in Spring Hill, FL. Tickets are on sale now. This event will feature best-selling, award-winning authors, and speakers from around the country who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, but all center around one thing, the power to say YES. 

• Yes to purpose

• Yes to new outcomes

• Yes to confidence

• Yes to hope

Hosted by The Bookfest Award Winner, Tashena Anderson-Place, Author of "Fill Your Cup". Join them as they delve into what it looks like to live a life with an open cup and proclaim that this is the year to take off the invisible lids. 

Learn more about The Open Cup Conference:

Join Us in Thanking The BookFest Supporters and Literary Brands Who Make The BookFest Possible

3 Book Girls, The Business Leaders Lab and the Open Cup Conference are new additions to The BookFest. The expanding array of sponsors, also known as Corporate Bellwethers, Media Bellwethers, and Non-Profit Bellwethers, help The BookFest through their support. Visit the Virtual Booths to see them all.

Plus, a special acknowledgment goes to Bookinfluencers who returns as a presenting sponsor. The company connects literary influencers around the world with new books and authors.

It is because of the support, sponsorships, and patronage of BookFest Bellwethers and brands that helps make The BookFest possible. Individual BookFest Bellwethers include: Brian Bosch; Dave Duffy; Desireé Duffy; Rebecca Fox; Beth Freely; Tina Hogan Grant; Hannah Jacobson; Deborah Kobylt; CJ Lopez; KJ Matthews; Lucia Matuonto; C.D. McKenna; Dominic McLoughlin; Mickey Mikkelson; donalee Moulton; Stephanie Rabell; Flo Selfman; Bree Swider; Parchelle Tashi and Amy Wolf.

The BookFest Spring 2024 and past BookFest events are supported by an expanding family of literary brands and organizations. These organizations help to make every BookFest a success and help ensure that attendees have access to the best and most innovative ideas and insights in the world of books and publishing. Please support the Brands and Bellwethers who support The BookFest.

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