WRITER | LISA BECKER CAMPBELL
PHOTOS | FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK

Are you a bibliophile – a book lover? If so, revel with kindred spirits at the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book from September 29 through October 1.

The event provides an exciting opportunity to interact with authors in eight categories, such as fiction, nonfiction, and mystery. True to their natures, the authors will expound on their crafts in creative ways at this second annual festival.

At a “soup and stories” session on Friday and Saturday, visitors can enjoy a cup of soup, a sampling of bread, or a dessert as the authors read aloud. Later on Saturday, during a “happy hour” session, beverages and hors-d’oeuvres are available. Or a tailor-made luncheon will be served as an author talks about his/her cookbook.

Forty-plus presenters are scheduled at sessions including panel discussions, an author in conversation with a moderator, or stand-alone presentations. Most are free to the general public, and all are held along State Street in beautiful Harbor Springs, at the history museum, the Methodist church, and the library.  Venues also include exquisite auditoriums at the Performing Arts Center and the recently renovated Lyric Theatre.

On Friday, the Festival touches the lives of the children in Harbor Springs and surrounding areas, as the authors in three categories – picture books, middle-grade readers, and young adult – visit area schools.

 

Among these children’s authors is Salina Yoon, who has written many popular books such as Penguin and Pumpkin. Detroit resident Jack Cheng, who was born in Shanghai and grew up in Michigan, with be there with See You In the Cosmos. This is his first novel for kids, following a ten-year career working in advertising and tech in New York City.

On the other side of the genre spectrum, Denise Kiernan will discuss her very successful The Girls of Atomic City and her newest book, The Last Castle – The Epic Story of Love, Loss and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home, which is set to be released on September 26 by Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. The narrative nonfiction delves into the lives of George and Edith Vanderbilt and others residing in the renowned Biltmore House.

In the cookbook category, award-winning Ken Haedrich – author of more than a dozen cookbooks – will have his book The Harvest Baker: 150 Sweet and Savory Recipes Celebrating the Fresh-Picked Flavors of Fruits, Herbs & Vegetables featured.

One author/speaker likely to be recognized among the young adults for her blog is Mindy McGinnis. She blogs for aspiring writers at Writer, Writer Pants on Fire, which features interviews with agents and established and debut authors.

A festival bookstore filled with works of the presenters awaits browsers at the fellowship hall of Holy Childhood Catholic Church.

Do you enjoy mingling with renowned writers? Are you a grammar junkie who appreciates that last year’s festival was the “inaugural” event and not the “first annual”? Do you wander bookstores in pursuit of treasured tomes?  No matter what you love about literature, the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book is for you!

Harbor Springs Festival of the Book 160 State St, Harbor Springs 49740 l (231) 838-2725 | hsfotb.org