Attendees at this family-fun celebration will have the opportunity to interact with some of their favorite authors and get the chance to discover new books, inspiring stories and compelling ideas at readings, signings, workshops, panel discussions, book consultations and more.

Honorary Co-chairs of this year’s festival are bestselling author Ann Hood and Rhode Island Poet Laureate Emerita Lisa Starr. Among the authors scheduled for the two-day event are such nationally known writers: Richard Russo (author of Empire Falls), Alice McDermott (The Ninth Hour); Helen Schulman (Come with Me), Thomas Cobb (Crazy Heart) and Caroline Kepnes (You, now a hit series on Netflix), Mike Stanton (Prince of Providence) M.T. Anderson (Landscape with Invisible Hand), Tiffany Jackson (Monday’s Not Coming,) and Denise Duhamel (Scald and Blowout).

Proceeds from the festival will benefit vital youth literacy programs at Rhode Island public libraries.