Bowling Green, Ky. - The partners of the Southern Kentucky Book Fest are pleased to announce that New York Times best-selling author, Pat Conroy, will headline the 2006 Book Fest. Mr. Conroy is the author of eight books, including The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, The Water is Wide, and, most recently, The Pat Conroy Cookbook. Many of his titles are international bestsellers and have been made into feature films.

Also appearing at the 2006 Book Fest is Elizabeth Berg, author of New York Times bestsellers Say When and Never Change. Her novel Open House was an Oprah Book Club selection and has been made into a television movie. We Are All Welcome Here, her thirteenth novel, will be published in April 2006.

Another feature author for the 2006 Book Fest will be Pulitzer Prize winner, Rick Bragg. His books All Over but the Shoutin’ and Ava’s Man are both critically acclaimed bestsellers. Formerly a reporter with the New York Times, Mr. Bragg is now a book author and roving correspondent based in Alabama.

Mr. Conroy will speak and sign books at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 8. Ms. Berg and Mr. Bragg, along with more than 175 other authors, will sign books on Saturday as well.

Headlining our Children’s Day on Friday, April 7, 2006, will be Jack Gantos. Mr. Gantos is the award-winning author of several children’s book series, including the Rotten Ralph readers, the Jack Henry books, and the Joey Pigza books. Also attending will be Coretta Scott King award winner, Floyd Cooper.

The Southern Kentucky Book Fest will be held at the Sloan Convention Center April 7 & 8, 2006. Admission is free. For more information about authors and activities, contact Diana.McQuady@wku.edu or visit our web site at www.sokybookfest.org.