Authors, Actors, and Visual Artists form a cooperative which creates theatrical energy. Authors create words for actors to speak against a backdrop which creates the illusion of somewhere, a place where a story flows with ideas, character, and visual images.
Online Memphis Book Festival
Book Review: Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer
I had no issues with the writing, but I also wasn’t highly impressed by it. For the most part, it was an engaging and easy read, but I didn’t always…
Book Review: Women Talking by Miriam Toews
I really appreciate Toews’ style choices in this book. It’s told as meeting minutes taken by the only man left in the colony (and the only one who knows how…
Book Review: The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
In 1985, 13-year-old Reggie’s mother was the final victim of a serial killer known as Neptune, who cut off one hand of his victims and left it on the doorstep…
Book Review: Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
Impulse, like all of Ellen Hopkins’ books, is a story in verse. This story focuses on three teenagers who have all been hospitalized for suicide attempts. Each one has secrets…
Book Review: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Ok, before I start my review, I want to warn you that there will be spoilers in the Entertainment Value portion of the review. In a nutshell, I straight up…
Book Review: Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear
My Book of the Month pick was Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear. There were several in August that sounded good, but I decided to go with just one since…
Book Review: The Last Equation of Isaac Severy
I recently finished another book on my reading list (which I am still not done with because other books keep getting in the way!) – The Last Equation of Isaac Severy….
Book Review: The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams
My second book of the Month pick was The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams (the first was The Last Time I Lied). I once again went a little outside of…
Book Review: Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding
I was really excited to start Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding. I had seen it on several lists of books to read, and it did not disappoint! Now I…
Book Review: Final Girls by Riley Sager
When I read a really good book, I generally go check out the author and see what else he or she has written. And after I finished The Last Time…
Book Review: Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
I love Ruth Ware. I think she is an amazing writer. I wish she had more books than I could greedily read with a crazy fury. The first of her…
Book Review: Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough
I chose two books for my September book of the month picks – Fashion Victim and Cross Her Heart. I was not a fan at all of Fashion Victim (I…
Book Review: Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
I recently finished Tell Me Lies, which is the first book by author Carola Lovering, and let me tell you – this book was crazy. It bordered on disturbing because…
Book Review: The Lies We Told by Camilla Way
The Lies We Told is one of two books I got for my October Book of the Month (the second one was The Clockmaker’s Daughter, which I am reading now)….
Book Review: Rush by Lisa Patton
A long time ago when I first graduated from college, I worked for a small magazine. It was an exhausting job where I had way too much responsibility and very…
This unique festival in Memphis offers literary, theatrical, & visual arts workshops for both the novice and experienced. Learning creative craftsmanship offers the spirit within us all to blossom. This festival spotlights the spirit of imagination through reading sponsored by Memphis Web Design.
All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind. -Khalil Gibran
Aimed at educating and encouraging youth to read and author books, this festival will bring together hundreds of book writers, role models and teachers of the literary craft. You are invited to join us for this informative and fun-filled weekend. Bring the family, meet your favorite author and buy his/her latest book. Introduce your friends to the wonderful world of literature. Mandate that your children read at least two books per week while encouraging them to read more. Take the time to read with them and have dinnertime discussions about the books that you have read.
Among the writers selling and signing books, will be several celebrity authors who will speak on the topic of helping our youth to overcome adversity by reading and reading often. Reading is so important and it is the nexus to achieving, sustaining and following a good career path in life. Too often our young people are lead astray by bad behavior in the community and sometimes in the home. Education is the key that will unlock the iron-clad gates to opportunity and point those without destinations in the right direction.
The authors will be setting up under the tree shade in the library garden and along the parking lot. Genres will include such things as non- fiction, fantasy, romance, history, mystery in adult, young adult and children’s books. This year the Book Festival is highlighting five local authors who write about hiking.
This year’s festival will feature:
- Author panel discussions and presentations featuring 75 authors from around the United States
- Author signings
- Student Writers Conference (for ages 13-17)
- A street fair on Cooper Ave featuring food trucks, author presentations, and children’s activities
- The Well-Read Reception for book lovers to meet their favorite authors
- Literacy Summit for educators and nonprofit leaders
- Much more!
Other Upcoming Book Festivals
Edward Matisik, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, writer and leading legal authority on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the law, has published the second edition of his much-acclaimed book, The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Reasonable Accommodation for Employees with OCD. See More at the OCD Book Festival website.
Children/Young Adult Workshop
This year a Children/Young Adult Workshop will give feedback and encouragement to writers in 5th to 8th grade. We will evaluate the young writers’ work and present ideas on editing with the goal to publish their writing into a book. Teachers will share research tips and discuss the online publishing process. The workshop filled quickly with the maximum of fifteen participants and is now closed.
Children’s activities will entertain young children throughout the afternoon. This booth on the lawn in the garden will feature teachers reading stories. Each child will be able to make their very own book using stamps.
Panel discussions
Non-fiction: Real Books. They say truth is stranger than fiction. These authors tell stories they didn’t makeup: stories of things that really happened.
Exotic Times, People, & Locales. Other times and places fascinate readers. Join these authors who write about them and learn how they research to get it right and write it to pull you in.
Pitch Advice. Some of our panelists have agreed to meet with aspiring writers and talk with them about their work and how to present it to agents and editors in order to grab that publishing contract.
The Long Conversation. Join the authors for an informal discussion of books, writing, reading, and publishing.
Creating Memorable Characters. Readers often argue about whether plot or character is more important in creating beloved books. These authors discuss how they create characters you love—or love to hate.
Many Current Choices for Young Adult Readers. Dark or sunny, romantic or adventurous, realistic or fantastical: Writers today offer readers “in the middle” some great choices. Join our YA authors to talk about books and get some for free!
Comics & Graphic Arts. Join us to learn about comics, drawing, and working in the field.
What Makes a Genre, & Which One Do You Read? Genres, subgenres—what are they? When you look for a book, it helps to know what the industry calls what you like. Are you a cozy person or a noir fan? We’ll help you figure it out.
Continuing the Story. Writers of series face unique problems: keeping it fresh, allowing for characters’ life changes, and even killing off characters (but never the dog!)
Romance between the Pages. Stormy courtships, intriguing secrets, happy ending–romance is a wildly popular genre with a wide range of heat levels. Join these romance authors for a run-down, from sweet to Oh My!
About book festivals
Book festivals promote reading, books, and authors. Research done at other festivals has shown that attendees:
- Travel significant distances to go to a book festival.
- Make unplanned book purchases at the festivals.
- Try a new author or genre because of meeting an author.
- Increase their book buying after the festival is over.
To be a part of the Memphis Book Festival, you can…
- Underwrite the Memphis Book Festival
- Be a Tent Sponsor
- Sponsor an author
- Volunteer your time
- Provide in-kind donations