Book Party

Looking for something fun and bookish to do this summer and fall?  Love hobnobbing with your favorite authors, book vendors, and other readers?  Looking to snag a few new reading gems for your collection?  Look no further than an annual book festival.  No matter where in the world you live, chances are good that there will be a book festival of some sort happening near you.  Here's a glimpse at some of the various opportunities you have to celebrate books, reading, and the written wor
d in general:

• Book Expo America: This conference happens every year at the end of May/beginning of June in one of America's major cities (it was in NYC this year).  It is a conference mainly for the book publishing and services world and only people in those fields can attend the entire event.  However, they have recently opened up the final day of the expo to the general public (Power Readers).  It is a chance for you to meet some of your favorite authors, check out what new books are on the horizon, chat up with various publishing and self-publishing companies, and load yourself down with lots of giveaways and merchandise.
• The National Book Festival: America's largest book festival happens on the National Mall every September.  This year's dates are September 21-22.  It is an opportunity to not purchase books, but to interact with some of America's most famous authors through book signings and readings.  Some of the authors at this year's festivals include Richard Paul Evans, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Margaret Atwood, Khaled Hosseini, and many others.  One plus to this festival is that you do not have to purchase a book there for an author to sign, you can bring your own.
• Edinburgh International Book Festival: If you happen to find yourself across the pond in August, head north to the home of Stevenson, Burns, and Scott to celebrate books from around the world.  Over 800 authors are involved in around 750 different events during this two and a half week festival.  There are two huge bookstore tents, one for adults and one for kids, where you can load up on all kinds of goodies.  I think this one is definitely going on my bucket list.

 You can find information on other various festivals and publishing events here.  Festivals like these are an amazing way for readers all over the world to share the passion we have for books.  Do you have a favorite festival or book event?  Share it here!