#Jax Book Fest returns September 20-21
Hey, Jax readers! Are you ready for the next Jax Book Fest?! Celebrate great books, bestselling authors, and (of course) READING with hundreds of your fellow book fans on Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Main Library at 303 N. Laura St. in downtown Jacksonville.
September 20: A Day for Writers
Are you an aspiring author? Want to be featured in a future Jax Book Fest? Are you itching to see your book on the Library's shelves? Join us a day early on Friday, September 20, from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Main Library for free writing and publishing workshops!
September 21: A Day for Readers
On Saturday, there will be Lit Chat Interviews and Talks with three #1 New York Times bestselling authors, the opportunity to meet and support dozens of Jacksonville-based authors, fun giveaways, multiple live children's performers, scavenger hunts, and other fun book-related activities.
Both days are free to attend and open to all.
#READER'S DAY
Schedule of Events: Saturday, September 21
Meet #1 New York Times Bestselling Authors at the Library
Authors are the best kinds of celebrities! Wouldn't you agree? With our Lit Chat author series, you can get to know the authors everyone's talking about - live and in person at your local library!
MAIN EVENT for Children & Families
- Junior Lit Chat with Vashti Harrison from 10 - 10:30 a.m.
- For kids, ages 5-12 and their families
- Vashti will read her book, Big, and do a drawing demonstration
- Copies of Big will be given to children in attendance (while supplies last)
- Audience Q&A will follow the presentation
- Seating for the program will begin at 9 a.m.
- Standing room will be available when seats are taken
MAIN EVENT for Teens & Young Adults
- Teen Lit Chat with Jason Reynolds from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- For teens, ages 12-17, and their families; adult fans of YA
- 40-minute conversation with Diana Donovan (Cultural Council)
- 20-minute audience Q&A
- Seating for the program will begin at 10:30 a.m.
- An overflow room will be available for attendees over the 380-seat limit
MAIN EVENT for Adult Book Fans
- Lit Chat Interview with Gabrielle Zevin from 2 - 3 p.m.
- 40-minute conversation with interviewer Nikesha Elise Williams
- 20-minute audience Q&A
- Seating for the program will begin at 1 p.m.
- An overflow room will be available for attendees over the 380-seat limit
Pre-registration is strongly recommended (as some programs may reach capacity). You will need a Jacksonville Public Library card if you want to register in advance. If you don't have a card but you are a Duval County resident, you can apply online in as little as two minutes.
Featured Author Book Signings
Our featured authors will sign books for one hour after their respective Lit Chat programs. You may bring a copy from home, purchased from your favorite bookstore. There will also be a local bookseller on-site with a limited number of copies for sale.
Meet and Support 70+ Local Authors
There will be dozens of Jacksonville-based and other Florida authors set up at vendor tables on the Conference Level as well as on the first and second floors of the Main Library. Find your next favorite book, series, or author and support local talent! Note: For a complete list of participating local authors, check out jaxlibrary.org/bookfestauthors.
If you're a writer yourself, this is also your chance to do some networking with fellow authors or join a writer's group. Or join us on Friday for Writer's Day (see full schedule of workshops below).
Reader's Day: Kids Programs & Activities
Our friends at the Early Learning Coalition of Duval and Kids Hope Alliance are working closely with your favorite children's librarians to make this year's event one to remember! They're taking over the entire second floor of the Main Library!
We'll have children's local book authors and illustrators set up in the atrium, balloon artists, face painters, and more! Plus: Don't miss a special Author Presentation with the book The Beach Poem by JaxKids Book Club author, Heidi Tyline King at 11:30 a.m.
Parents: Are you looking for tools to help your kids read and grow at home? Our partners at READ JAX and New Worlds Reading are hosting a free family literacy workshop at 2 p.m. in the Children's Theatre. Please note: Seating is limited. Click here to RSVP.
Book Giveaways for Kids (Early Childhood to Elementary School Age)
- Duval County Public Schools will be on the First Floor giving out a FREE book
- READ USA, Inc. will be in the Children's Room on the Second Floor with another FREE book
- Fish for Books with Early Learning Coalition of Duval from 9-9:30 a.m. in the Children's Room
Throughout the event, kids can Make a Book About Me, join a Bubble Party in the Courtyard, and participate in scavenger hunts!
There will also be designated Quiet Rooms on the Conference Level and Second Floor with if you or your children need a short break from all the excitement or crowds.
Talented Teens Showcase
Throughout the day, we're giving the spotlight (and a mic) to some talented student writers in the Main Library's Teen Room. Stop by this unique space, located next to the gallery on the first floor.
- 10:30 - 11 a.m.: Student-writers from LaVilla School of the Arts
- 1:30 - 2 p.m.: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts*
*This is a great chance to learn more about Élan - an international student literary magazine and publication of the Creative Writing department at DA.
#Visiting Downtown on Saturday
Saturday Event Parking
The Duval Street Parking Garage is charging just $5 for the day. The entrance to the parking garage is located at 33 W Duval St. Disabled parking is available on Floors 1, 3, 4, and 5. Elevators are available on Floors 3 through 6. Note: All visitors will enter the Main Library via the Laura Street entrance.
Reminder: During special events, there is no validation for library customers parking in the garage. However, street parking is free on the weekend. For more parking options in downtown Jacksonville, or to download the ParkMobile App, visit dtjax.com. If you're parking a few blocks away, electric scooters are also available for rent via smartphone from 5 a.m. to midnight at designated, geofenced corrals.
Food Trucks at James Weldon Johnson Park on 9/21
Looking for lunch? There will be food trucks across the street at James Weldon Johnson Park from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Good Food 24/7 (wings and seafood)
- Galleno's Pizzeria (Neapolitan style pizza)
- Frozen Sweets Truck (ice cream and Italian ice)
Other Things To Do
If you're looking for more lunch options and other things to see and do downtown as a family (like Sweet Pete's Candy), check out VisitJax.com for multiple listings and recommendations.
#WRITER'S DAY
Schedule of Events: Friday, September 20
Are you an aspiring author? Working on your own picture book? Thinking about self-publishing? Need tips for marketing your work? Learn from both traditionally published and self-published authors with our Writer's Lab series! On Friday, September 20 from 12 - 5 p.m., we'll have seven free workshops on writing and publishing! In between programs, you'll also have the opportunity to network with fellow writers and several writer's groups.
Hands-On Workshops (Limited Seating)
(50 seats available, Conference Center: Multipurpose Room 1)
- Writer's Lab: Poetry Unleashed: Building Bonds Through Verse
- Workshop with Taryn "Love Reigns" Wharwood from 12 - 1:30 p.m.
- Explore self-expression and collaboration through poetry
- Writer's Lab: Visual Storytelling
- Workshop with bestselling creator Vashti Harrison from 2:30 - 4 p.m.
- Intro to writing and illustrating children's books
- Story and character development exercises
Lecture-Style Labs (Auditorium Seating)
(380+ seats available, Conference Center: Hicks Auditorium)
- Writer's Lab: Sense of Place & Identity in Immigrant Fiction
- Workshop with Sohrab Homi Fracis from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
- Evoke the homeland left behind and the protagonist's new land
- Expand sense of self or identity to accommodate both settings
- Writer's Lab: Writing Stories, Lifting Voices, Sharing Lives
- Oral History 101 workshop with Dr. Kitty Oliver from 4 - 5 p.m.
- Collecting, writing, and preserving stories of marginalized communities
- This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation
Self-Publishing Workshop (Choose One)
(Limited seating, Center for Adult Learning: Computer Lab)
Our partners at BiblioBoard will be offering a FREE one-hour, hands-on workshop on how to format and publish your manuscript using Pressbooks Public. With this FREE online tool, you can submit your e-book to the Florida Indie Author Collection or get your manuscript ready for on-demand printing. Pressbooks is a great option if you want complete control over your own content or the ability to collaborate with other authors and editors.
Choose the time that works best for you: 12 - 1 p.m., 2-3 p.m., or 4-5 p.m. Note: You can use the Library's computers to follow along or bring your own laptop.
Pre-registration is strongly recommended (as some programs may reach capacity). You will need a Jacksonville Public Library card if you want to register in advance. If you don't have a card but you are a Duval County resident, you can apply online in as little as two minutes.
Networking for Writers
Looking to make friends with and learn from other authors? Need help getting your manuscript ready to print? From accountability partners and feedback on each other's works-in-progress to writing tips and advice for avoiding pitfalls and navigating the publishing (and self-publishing) worlds... Whatever genre you're working in, there's a writer's group that's right for you!
Drop by the Center for Adult Learning Lounge (on the Conference Level) anytime between 12 - 5 p.m. on Friday for networking and resources. We'll be joined by representatives from Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida, Biblioboard, First Coast Romance Writers, Florida Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter, and Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville.
Friday Event Parking
Parking in the Duval Street (Library) Garage is free for one hour as long as ticket is validated in the Library. Non-validated parking is $3.00 for the first hour, each additional hour is $2.00/hr. Maximum charge for visitors without validation is $10.00. Maximum charge for visitors with validation is $7.00. For more information, visit Parking at the Main Library.
Food Trucks at James Weldon Johnson Park on 9/20
Looking for lunch? There will be food trucks in the park (across the street from the Library on Laura Street) from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Pure Vida (Costa Rican cuisine)
- Jax Lumpia ATBP (Filipino cuisine)
- Jags Boilers (Louisiana style seafood)
- Rosemary's Lemonade (fresh squeezed lemonade in multiple flavors)
Be the first to know about Lit Chat author talks, writing workshops, and more!
Are You a Local Author?
At this time, there is no "open call" for additional participating authors. However, if you are a member of a participating Writer's Group, be sure to let your group's leadership know that you're interested in setting up a table at Jax Book Fest. They would have sent out a call to members in the summer.
This year's participating Writer's Groups: Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida, First Coast Romance Writers, Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter, and Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville.
Whether you're tabling or attending Jax Book Fest this year, it's a great time to Submit your Book to the Local Author Collection or Market Your Book to the Library. You can also donate your e-book to the Indie Florida Collection on BiblioBoard Library by using Pressbooks Public or Indie Author Project. Let us help you find more readers!
We also have an Open Call for Zines and Self-Published Comics as well as an event celebrating the DIY and printed matter community! Join us for Duval Comic and Zine Fest (held annually in June). There's also a monthly Zinester Meetup at the Main Library on the first Wednesday of the Month (during Art Walk). Or, you can drop in on select Saturdays from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. at Main Library for Saturday Morning Cartooning.
