Calling all book lovers! The National Library of Congress announced the authors who will participate in the 12th annual Natioanl Book Festival this year. The book bonanza is set to unfold Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Bibliophiles can delight in the two-day event featuring more than 100 writers speaking between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 and from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23. The literary festivities will take place between 9th and 14th streets on the National Mall.
Authors from around the world will gather to give lectures, sign book copies and lead events in a variety of pavilions on the National Mall. Prominent authors slated to speak at the event include Philip Roth, Pulitizer Prize winner and author of "American Pastoral," and Nobel Prize winner and humanitarian Mario Vargas Llosa. Renowned author and PEN/Faulkner Prize winner T.C. Boyle will also speak. Pulitzer Prize winner and former Wall Street Journal reporter Geraldine Brooks will also present, as well as prolific mystery writer Patricia Cornwell, "Virgin Suicides" author and Pulitzer Prize winner Jeffrey Eugenides and poet Nikky Finney , who came of age during the U.S. civil rights movement.
Other writers, as well as illustrators, to participate in the event include Natalie Babbitt, Bob Balaban, Robert Caro, Stephen L. Carter, Sandra Cisneros, Michael Connelly, Junot Diaz, Thomas Friedman, Joy Harjo, Steve Inskeep, Walter Isaacson, Jewel, Poet Laureate Philip Levine, Mike Lupica, Lois Lowry, David Maraniss, Chris Matthews, Walter Dean Myers, Mary Pope Osborne, Chris Raschka, Marilynne Robinson, Lisa Scottoline, R.L. Stine, Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, Craig Thompson, Colson Whitehead and Daniel Yergin.
The designer of the this year's festival poster is artist and illustrator Rafael López, who has illustrated several books including "The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred" by Samantha R. Vamos, "My Name is Celia, Me Llamo Celia" by Monica Brown, "Our California" by Pam Muñoz Ryan and "Book Fiesta!" and "Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!" by Pat Mora. López will also speak at the event.
hildren are welcome at the festival as well, and on Sunday, Sept. 23, NFL linebacker Chris Draft will lead the "Get Outside and...Read!" program for kids at noon. The event will feature an outdoor activity that combines reading and giveaways, and will help inspire children to dive into books with pleasure.
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