Sixth Annual Sonoma County Book Festival

Literary Arts Guild of Sonoma County presents a full day of book-related activities for all ages, including authors, poets, illustrators, publishers, and more. The Sixth Annual Sonoma County Book Festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2005.

Santa Rosa, CA (PRWEB) July 2, 2005 -- The world of books comes to life when popular authors, independent booksellers, publishers, and illustrators gather together with readers of all ages at the Sixth Annual Sonoma County Book Festival from 10 am to 5pm on Saturday, September 10 in Old Courthouse Square, downtown Santa Rosa. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend this free one-day event.

The day will feature more than 60 nationally acclaimed and locally treasured authors, including adult authors Sue Miller (Lost in the Forest, The Good Mother) and Dorothy Allison (Bastard out of Carolina), and young adult author Chris Crutcher (The Sledding Hill, King of the Mild Frontier). They will read, sign books, and participate in panel discussions.

Panel discussions will include Will Write for Food", The Writer Next Door", Blogs" and Women in Society."

The festival, formerly the Sonoma County Book Fair, highlights several Northern California Book Award winners and nominees who are also scheduled to read. The days events include Sonoma County Reads, which will present a program featured in the collective reading project and Native American storytellers.

Al Young, recently named Californias State Poet Laureate, heads a full day of poetry readings on the Courthouse Square stage. A special highlight is the announcement of the new Sonoma County Poet Laureate.

For children the Imagine Bus Project helps young readers create their own books. Popular authors Megan McDonald, Gennifer Choldenko, and Lisa Shulman offer something for all ages of children.

The written word is alive and well in Sonoma County. The Book Festival celebrates and supports our vital and active literary community of writers, readers, booksellers and publishers," said Lote Thistlethwaite, festival coordinator. He added that it also provides participants with an opportunity to meet some favorite authors and discover new ones.

Pre-festival activities also include an afternoon talk and dinner with Dana Gioia, poet and Chairman of the National Endowment For the Arts. This August 28 fundraiser takes place from 3 to 7:30 pm in West Sonoma County. Cost for this benefit is $100 per person.

The Sonoma County Book Festival is sponsored by the Literary Arts Guild, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, the Sonoma County Public Library, the Sitting Room, Copperfields Books, and Paradise Ridge Winery. Media sponsors include the Press Democrat, KRCB Radio 91, La Voz Bilingual Newspaper, and KRSH Radio 95.9.

For information call (707) 527-5412, or visit www.sonomacountybookfair.org.

Electronic art is available.

Media contact only:

Karen Pierce Gonzalez Public Relations, 707-792-4376

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