WKU News

More than 160 authors and illustrators are expected to be in attendance for the Southern Kentucky Book Fest weekend of April 21-22, including New York Times bestselling authors Tim Crothers, David Grann and R.L. Stine, well-known for his Goosebumps series.

“We feel so lucky to have been able to line up such fantastic authors for our 19th year,” said Sara Volpi, Literary Outreach Coordinator for WKU Libraries and Book Fest organizer. “There are authors for audiences of all ages and reading levels, and SOKY Book Fest is free and open to the public.”

Held at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green, SOKY Book Fest weekend is full of author presentations, panel discussions and book signings as well as the Kentucky Writers Conference featuring writing workshops on April 21 presented by several authors who will be at the main event on April 22.

April 21 events also include Children’s Day and the Teen Writers Conference, with hundreds of school-aged children and teens visiting presentations and getting books signed by favorite and newly discovered authors. Our Teen Writers Conference is geared toward youth in grades 9 through 12, and each session is led by a SOKY Book Fest author. For information or to register, go to www.sokybookfest.org.  

Lauren Tarshis, Obert Skye and Jennifer Armentrout are a few well-known authors who will be on hand at SOKY Book Fest. Bestselling illustrator and author Gemma Correll will be attending both days along with debut novelists like Liz Kay, Mindy McGinnis and Kayla Rae Whitaker, a Louisville native whose book The Animators was picked as a Spring 2017 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection. Sarah Gorham, co-founder of Sarabande Books in Louisville (one of the premier indie presses in the U.S.), will also attend.   

SOKY Book Fest is a partnership of Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Warren County Public Library, and WKU Libraries. For information, visit the website at sokybookfest.org or contact Book Fest organizer Sara Volpi at WKU Libraries at sara.volpi@wku.edu.

Contact: Sara Volpi, (270) 745-4502