Wisconsin Book Festival Commences its 20th-Anniversary Celebration

on Sep 09, 2022

Last night, the Wisconsin Book Festival announced its official program calendar and featured authors for its forthcoming 20th-anniversary celebration in collaboration with the Madison Public Library Foundation. This year's schedule includes 50 authors whose works span several literary genres, including Maggie Ginsberg, author of "Still True." The Wisconsin Book Festival will be held from October 13 to 16.

At a kickoff reception on September 7 at Madison's Central Library, WBF Director Conor Moran and Madison Public Library Foundation Executive Director Jenni Jeffress highlighted highlights of this year's fall celebration.

A few highlights from this year's event schedule include a 6 p.m. reading on Oct. 14 featuring Dr. Steven Thrasher, author of "The Virtual Underclass." Oct. 14 features international best-selling author Andy Weir of "Project Hail Mary and Oct. 15 features Reese's Book Club author Thrity Umrigar of "Honor. There are dozens of activities associated with the festival, and it is a year-round event that runs from September 20 to November 29.

This event has given a place for writers, publishers, and book lovers to network and hears from local, national, and worldwide authors since the Madison Public Library purchased control of the festival in 2013 and established its main site at the Central Library.

Through numerous collaborations, the event has received assistance from local and national groups over the years. The festival hosts an event to highlight student work and stimulate crucial literary debates in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Program Madison's in Creative Writing. The festival also encourages attendees to patronize local, independent booksellers, as seen by its long-standing collaboration with Madison's A Room of One's Own bookstore.

The Madison Public Library Foundation generates funds each year to pay the festival's operating expenditures, which include everything from the director's salary to author travel fees. It is generously supported by people, charities, and companies in the community. In the past, the festival has received funding from prestigious cultural organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts.