“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote that descriptive narrative more than a hundred years ago in her international bestseller, Anne of Green Gables.
Montgomery’s statement is high on my list of favorite quotes. I, too, appreciate October with its crisp air, richly colored leaves, and hints of winter to come. An intimation of repetitive beauty lingers whenever I hear someone say October. Nature wears its jewelry, the sky is usually crystal blue, and new vistas seem just beyond the horizon.
October, in our cozy part of the world, features the Books by the Banks Festival. I urge you to save the date, the location and the time. The festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, at Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm Street, in Cincinnati.
Bestselling authors will visit the Cincinnati area. The Books by the Banks Festival is a great opportunity for readers and fans to meet and mingle with authors. This year more than 100 authors will be under one roof discussing, selling, and signing their works for book aficionados. You will have a chance to meet Laura Benedict, Tonya Kappes, Louise Borden, Sarah Jones, and Rick Robinson—authors with ties to the Greater Cincinnati area. There will be other local authors, too.
The free event, presented by Ohio Humanities, marks the ninth year in a row that noted authors will visit Cincinnati.
According to its publicity blurb, “The festival is one of the biggest and most prestigious events of its kind in the Midwest.” In addition to aforementioned local writers, famous national authors will attend.
Rainbow Rowell, a popular bestselling author of books for teens and adults, wrote Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Landline, and the recently released Carry On.
Sharon M. Draper, the National Teacher of the Year, authored the award-winning The Jericho Trilogy and Stella by Starlight, a new release.
Cleary Wolters, the real-life inspiration for the character Alex Vause from Orange Is the New Black, will discuss her tell-all memoir about prison life called Out of Orange.
John and Sherry Petersik, the husband-and-wife duo behind the hugely popular home-renovation blog, “Young House Love,” will be at the Festival. They have written a new book Lovable Livable Home: How to Add Beauty, Get Organized, and Make Your House Work for You.
Anthony Marra, The New York Times bestselling author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, will present his book which won the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize.
Christian Rudder, president and co-founder of OkCupid, one of the biggest dating sites in the United States, will offer his new book Dataclysm.
Tad Hills, author and illustrator of many popular children’s books including The New York Times bestselling Duck and Goose and the Rocket series, should be popular with attendees, as should James and Kimberly Dean, authors of the beloved Pete the Cat picture book series for children.
In addition to the Author Pavilion, where visitors can buy and have books autographed, there will be many activities during the festival. The popular Kids’ Corner includes free balloon sculptures, face painting, and acts by noteworthy children’s performers. There is also an area for teens—The Teen Scene—with special activities/events, including author interaction.
Then, there’s the popular Writing and Getting Publishing series. It returns this year with panel discussions covering hot topics for writers and workshops to help hone the craft of writing.
For the first time ever, the festival will award cash prizes to authors selected for its inaugural Author Awards, sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation.
Fans can also vote on the Books by the Banks website for several People’s Choice categories. Separate awards for a short-story-writing contest sponsored by The George and Margaret McLane Foundation will also be awarded to selected adult and teen entrants. To check out the full list of authors displaying their work, visit www.BooksbytheBanks.org and celebrate October.
Donald Then, a novelist and experienced editor and journalist, is NKyTribune’s literary editor. He will review books written by local authors or those with a Northern Kentucky setting. Reach him at author@djamesthen.com. Visit his web site at www.djamesthen.com. You can also follow Don on Twitter: Novelguy@DJamesThen.