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:
- 2014 AJC Decatur Book Festival Announces Diverse LGBT Track
- 2014 AJC Decatur Book Festival Announces Stellar Children’s Program
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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