Arts & Entertainment

Bookworms Converge on Region for AJC Decatur Book Festival

Panels range from health cooking to a look at the Civil Rights struggle, from graphic novels to mystery writing. The festival is under way.

With lectures and book-signings by more than 600 local and national authors, every genre is covered at this weekend’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival presented by DeKalb Medical.

The schedule for the ninth annual Labor Day weekend event, Aug. 29 – 31, can be found on the AJC DBF website.

Related Patch stories:

In addition to Friday night’s keynote address by American literary icon Joyce Carol Oates, some of the weekend’s highlights include:

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Ron Rash’s events

  • Understanding Ron Rash (book discussion)
    • Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 10 a.m.
  • “On The Fringes of War” panel with Richard Flanagan and Roy Hoffman
    • First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Colman Andrews

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  • My Usual Table (book discussion)
    • Eddie’s Attic Stage, Saturday, 10 a.m.

Kim Bearden

  • Crash Course (book discussion)
    • Decatur Recreation Center Gym, Saturday, 11:15 a.m.

Stephanie Perkins, Adi Alsaid, Jennifer Smith, and Isabel Gillies

  • “Map of My Heart: Love Stories” panel
    • Teen Stage, Saturday, 12 p.m

Mike Lane, Jon Scieszka, Jennifer Holm, and Tom Watson

  • “Great Books for New Readers” panel
    • Children’s Stage, Saturday, 12:15 p.m.

Eleanor Davis and Liz Prince

  • “How to be Graphic” panel
    • Marriott Conference Center Ballroom A, Saturday, 1:45 p.m.

Jericho Brown and Patricia Lockwood

  • Best American Poetry 2014 (book launch)
    • Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 3 p.m.

Emily Giffin interviewed by Mara Davis

  • The One & Only (book discussion)
    • Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 4:15 p.m.

Karin Slaughter and Chelsea Cain

  • “Internal Affairs” thriller panel
    • First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 4:15 p.m.

Pat Conroy, Cassandra King, Cliff Graubart, and Cynthia Graubart

  • “Marriage by the Book” panel
    • First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Tony Earley

  • Mr. Tall (book launch)
    • Decatur Library Stage, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Gail Sheehy

  • Daring: My Passages (book launch)
    • Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary Stage, Sunday, 1:15 p.m.

Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge

  • “The Beekman Boys” cooking demonstration
    • Springer Mountain Farms Kitchen Stage, Sunday, 1:30 p.m.

Kazu Kibuishi

  • Amulet series (series discussion)
    • Teen Stage, Sunday, 2 p.m.

Rep. James Clyburn

  • Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black (book discussion)
    • Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary Stage, Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

Richard Rodriguez

  • Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography (book discussion)
    • Old Courthouse Stage, Sunday, 3:45 p.m.

Lev Grossman

  • The Magician’s Land (book discussion)
    • First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Also available on the website are full lists of activities and authors

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF) is the largest independent book festival in the country. Over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 – 31), tens of thousands from metro Atlanta and beyond will share the historic downtown Decatur Square with world-class authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, and booksellers for a weekend filled with literature, music, food, and fun. For more information, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com, “like” Decatur Book Festival on Facebook, or follow @DBookFestival on Twitter.

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