State Capitol Complex hosts Mississippi Book Festival this Saturday.

on Aug 19, 2022

This weekend, the Mississippi Book Festival returns in full glory with its first in-person event since 2019. "Where else can you locate 170 of the nation's top authors in one area, plus have the opportunity to hear from them, connect with them, and have them sign your books?" said festival Executive Director Ellen Daniels. Of course, during the Mississippi Book Festival!"

The one-day event attracts book lovers from all over the South and features activities for people of all ages. Each August, the festival transforms the shaded lawn and adjacent streets into a lively scene complete with food vendors, bookstores, and family fun, and is centered in the air-conditioned rooms of the Mississippi State Capitol Building and adjoining Galloway Church.

The event's distinctive feature is a showcase of recognized and outstanding authors from every genre – bestselling novels, honored historians, celebrated children's book authors, award-winning journalists, and many more. Throughout the day, visitors can locate these writers in dozens of discussion panels, one-on-one talks, and book signing opportunities.

As a guest of the Eudora Welty Foundation, Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan will speak frankly about her current novel, The Candy House. National Book Award winners Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell will speak with Margaret McMullan about their collaboration on the graphic novel RUN: Book One with Congressman John Lewis. Ellen Gilchrist, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch, III will each conduct one-on-one interviews with notable moderators.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Color Purple, Jackson's own Kiese Laymon will be in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winner Alice Walker. Erin Napier, star of HGTV's Home Town, Newberry Medalist Matt de la Pea, and New York Times bestseller Candice Millard will individually meet with readers to discuss their latest works. Angie Thomas, another New York Times best-selling author, will join a star-studded team of collaborators on the novel Blackout.

Four of the state's best poets will lead a discussion of their new poetry collections, while authors on topics ranging from political journalism to World War II to civil rights to American history will be present to discuss these issues. On the "Humor & Hope" panel, Harrison Scott Key will moderate three outstanding and humorous writers, while Steve Yarbrough will be back with his new novel. The book festival features a captivating lineup of young adult, middle grade, and picture book authors for young readers to meet.

The Mississippi Book Festival is open to the public and free of charge. There is lots of free and secure parking available.