Spring is in the air so you know what that means: more book and literary festivals you can enjoy from home. Here are 13 online writer events and conferences happening from March through May.
Saints and Sinners Literary Festival
March 11–14
Founded in 2003, the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival “brings together a who’s who of LGBTQ+ publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond.” This year’s virtual program begins on Thursday with panel discussions, writing workshops, readings, and special events. Check out their schedule and speakers.
Virginia Festival of the Book
March 13–26
Starts this Saturday! The Virginia Festival of the Book is a program of Virginia Humanities and “brings together writers and readers to promote and celebrate books, reading, literacy, and literary culture every March.” Genres covered will be
crime writing, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing, and young readers. Get to know some of the speakers from their robust lineup and learn how to participate.
Palm Beach Book Festival
March 19–20
This two-day festival’s author and speaker line-up includes historian Keisha N. Blain, bestselling novelist Kristin Harmel, nonfiction spy thriller author Larry Loftis, screenwriter and humor writer Patricia Marx, bestselling author George Saunders, and filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld. See the schedule and buy your tickets.
SleuthFest
March 19–22
SleuthFest is an annual conference for writers and fans of mysteries, thrillers, and crime fiction, and is presented by the Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. Check out their schedule and lineup of speakers.
Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival
March 19–21 (Writers’ Retreat) and March 24–28 (Festival)
This festival is held “every spring right around March 26, the birthday of [their] patron saint and inspiration, playwright Tennessee Williams.” Their Writer’s Retreat Weekend offers “workshops on the craft, on publishing, and on nurturing your artistic spirit,” while the festival features “panel discussions, interviews, Books & Beignets book club, Tennessee Williams Tribute Reading, theater events, Drummer & Smoke music series, and special events.” See the schedules of both the retreat and festival, and the roster of speakers.
San Antonio Book Festival
April 9–11
Featuring more than 175 writers and 110 sessions, this festival’s registration opens on March 9. The programming kicks off on April 8 with their Book Appetit Literary Feast featuring novelist Amor Towles (Rules of Civility and A Gentleman from Moscow). During this fundraiser, participants will have the “opportunity for an exclusive sneak peek into Towles’s forthcoming new novel, The Lincoln Highway.”
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: Stories and Ideas
April 17–23
In its 25th year, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (the largest event of its kind in the United States) gathers writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, musicians and emerging storytellers. Their full line-up will be coming soon!
Newburyport Literary Festival
April 23–25
The schedule for this festival will be available soon. In the meantime, check out their lineup of authors in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, as well as the speakers and moderators.
Ohioana Book Festival
April 23–25
Presented by the Ohioana Library system, this festival includes authors in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, juvenile, and middle grade/young adult. The festival schedule will be available soon. Until then, check out author readings from last year.
Midwest Literary Walk
April 24
Hosted by the Chelsea District Library in Chelsea, Mich., the Midwest Literary Walk is a one-day event “aimed at highlighting the power of literature and poetry in everyday life.” This year’s Lit Walk features virtual author talks and Q&As with Laurie Halse Anderson, Ross Gay, and Azar Nafisi.
Annapolis Book Festival
April 24–25
This free community festival “celebrates the beauty, power, passion, and excitement of the written word,” and brings “nationally and internationally renowned authors to the community to discuss their books and the craft of writing.” This year’s virtual events features these authors so far. The schedule will be available soon.
Bay Area Book Festival
May 1–9
Presented in partnership with the San Francisco Chronicle, this festival will feature a roster of impressive authors and speakers including MSNBC political analyst and author Michael Eric Dyson, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown won the 2020 National Book Award, and more. The full schedule will be available March 18.
Gaithersburg Book Festival
May 1–31
This festival will offer virtual programs through the month of May. The schedule will be available soon. Until then check out their featured authors so far.
Keep your eye out in the next couple of months when we bring you summertime literary festivals and events.