The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual celebration of great books and great writing that has made its mark as one of the nation’s top literary events.  It takes place Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall (31 S. Summit Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md.

The festival will feature more than 100 best-selling and award-winning authors who will participate in talks, panel discussions and book signings throughout the day.  Authors include:

Fiction

• Jami Attenberg
• Eleanor Brown
• Jade Chang
• Alex George
• Dominic Smith
• Courtney Sullivan

Non-Fiction

• Sidney Blumenthal
• Peter Cozzens
• Kay Redfield Jamison
• Beth Macy
• Joan Nathan
• Juan Williams interviewing Craig Shirley
• Dan Zak

Mystery

• Laura Lippman
• David Swinson

Children’s & Middle Grade

• Doreen Cronin
• Brian Floca
• Kimberly Willis Holt
• Tom Lichtenheld
• Dave Roman
• Sheila Turnage
• Salina Yoon

Young Adult

• Michelle Knudsen
• Meg Medina
• Carol Weston

Other festival highlights include exhibiting authors, a Children’s Village, announcement of the high school short story contest winners, literary exhibitors, the Brew & Vine Cafe featuring live entertainment,  Friends of the Library used book sale, and onsite new book sales by Politics & Prose.  Visitors of all ages also have the opportunity to participate in free interactive, hands-on writing workshops on a variety of topics.

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is presented in partnership with Politics & Prose, The Writer's Center, Homewood Suites Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Public Libraries, Dawson’s Market, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, Rio Washingtonian Center, The Universities at Shady Grove, The Washington Independent Review of Books and Montgomery County Public Schools, with grant support from the Maryland State Arts Council.

Admission, parking and accessible shuttle buses from Shady Grove Metro and Lakeforest Mall are FREE. Sign language interpretation available with advance notification.  Email Jenna.Ashman@gaithersburgmd.gov to arrange for sign language interpretation.

www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org.