Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Salem Lit Fest - September 23-25

The Salem Literary Festival Brings a 

Host of Authors and Publishing Insiders to Boston’s North Shore.

The 4th Annual Salem Literary Festival, September 23-25, will once again host authors, agents, journalists and bloggers in historic Salem, MA. Among those attending are bestselling authors Brunonia Barry, Julia Glass, Joshilyn Jackson, Heather Graham and debut author Erin Morgenstern. 

At a time when the publishing industry is in a state of reinvention, the Salem Literary Festival is a great place to learn about publishing, writing and the creative process. For readers, this is a chance to meet and mingle with your favorite authors. With panels ranging from Book Club Bonanza, featuring authors of some of the top book club selections over the past few years, to self-publishing and publicity workshops, there is something for everyone. A panel of top literary agents will be discussing the do’s and don’ts of submitting works. Joanna Philbin, young adult author and daughter of Regis Philbin, will be hosting a panel on writing young adult literature. There will also be a panel on the critically acclaimed anti-bullying anthology, DEAR BULLY (HarperTeen, September 2011), edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones.

The Salem Literary Festival will be held from Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th with events held in some of the most historic sites of Salem, MA. Presenters include committee co-chair Brunonia Barry, Jenna Blum, Hallie Ephron, Julia Glass, Heather Graham, Michelle Hoover, Katherine Howe, Joshilyn Jackson, Julia Fox Garrison, Cornelia Read, Margaret McLean, Raffi Yessayan, J.R. Reardon, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Diane Stern, Sarah Strohmeyer and many, many more. 

The event kicks off with a cocktail reception to celebrate the publication of Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel, THE NIGHT CIRCUS (Random House, September 2011). THE NIGHT CIRCUS is already a publishing sensation with rights sold in twenty-seven countries and film rights sold to Summit Entertainment. It has received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Kirkus and has been prominently featured in Elle Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine and USAToday.  Saturday night brings a Dinner with the Author Event featuring keynote speaker Joshilyn Jackson. Festival attendees can choose their favorite authors to dine with at an elegant dinner at beautiful Colonial Hall. 

For a complete list of presenters and further information regarding tickets and times, please visit salemlitfest.com.

2010 Literary Festival Line-Up Announced!

This just in from the Salem Lit Fest, which opens its doors this weekend - September 17-19...

The Salem Literary Festival, in its third year, announces a line-up of events that goes beyond writing workshops and author readings, although they have those too, in spades. No worries, the popular SCRABBLE® Tournament is back, and there’s still an opportunity for writers to strut their stuff at an open mic. But this year’s schedule also features highly creative fare aimed at entertaining and inspiring book lovers, wordsmiths, families and the casual passer-by. On Saturday the 18th, there’s a slew of storytelling to enchant the young and young-at-heart; special tours of the 1820’s jewel The Phillips House, perfect for stirring the imagination of lovers of historical prose; and, the Salem Theatre Company performs monologues culled from the micro-stories in Quick Fiction Magazine.

On Sunday the 19th, the Festival undertakes a day-long, cover-to-cover reading of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in celebration of this classic’s 50th anniversary; join in as a reader by emailing info@salemlitfest.com. Try your hand at writing poetry and translating it into beautiful Chinese calligraphy. Didn’t catch those monologues on Saturday? They’re back on Sunday!

Salem’s own Brunonia Barry (THE LACE READER, THE MAP OF TRUE PLACES) will kick-off the Festival with a welcome on Friday evening, prior to a reading by headlining author Lily King, whose new novel FATHER OF THE RAIN has received universal accolades and a passel of recognition and prizes. Brunonia Barry will also open the MOCKINGBIRD marathon as its initial reader.

Other authors scheduled to appear include Steve Almond, Myfanwy Collins, Elyssa East, Brian Evenson, Ethan Gilsdorf, Lynne Griffin, Katherine Howe, Jennifer Jean, Amy MacKinnon, January O’Neil and Doug Stewart.

For more information and a full schedule, go to salemlitfest.com.

Salem LitFest this Weekend!

The Salem Literary Festival opens its doors this weekend, March 27-29, with a terrific line-up of events all weekend. This is a great opportunity to interact with authors, play games, be inspired, and take in some great local theater!

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 27

6:30 pm - Festival Kick-Off Event! Thursday's Theater of Words and Music with special guest Hannah Tinti at The Hawthorne Hotel.

6:00 pm - A Soiree in Salem Reception and Special Exhibition Viewing at The Salem Athenaeum.

8:00 pm - A Soiree in Salem Lecture: Rosamond Bowditch Loring - Boston Bookbinder, Decorated Paper Maker & Modern Woman at Hamilton Hall.

8:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

Saturday, March 28

10:00 am - Mark Karlins and Starring Lorenzo, and Einstein Too at Cornerstone Books.

11:00 am - Henry Cushing's Dilemma: Children's Storytime with Peter Van and Beth Blanchard at Cornerstone Books.

11:00 am - SCRABBLE Tournament at The Salem Athenaeum.

12:00 - 5:00 pm - The Marketplace at Old Town Hall. Come and meet authors as well as representatives from small presses and literary magazines.

12:00 pm - Dreamstarters with Jennifer Karin at Cornerstone Books.

12:00 pm - Noon Workshop: Poetry Prompts with Salem Writers Group at Old Town Hall

1:00 - 3:00 pm - Meet Kat Black at Old Town Hall.

1:00 pm - Author Erin Dionne and Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies at Cornerstone Books.

2:00 pm - Writers' Workshop with Brunonia Barry: Creativity and a Sense of Place at Old Town Hall.

2:00 pm - Author Jan Elizabeth Watson and Asta in the Wings at Cornerstone Books.

3:00 pm - Children's Book Illustrator Giles Laroch at The Salem Athenaeum.

4:00 pm - Author Adam Braver (Mr. Lincoln's War) and his new novel November 22, 1963 at Cornerstone Books.

5:00 pm - Quick Fiction's Afternoon Delight at The Front Street Coffeehouse.

7:00 pm - Salem Arts Association Lit Bop at The Art Corner.

7:00 pm - A Tribute to John Updike at The Salem Athenaeum.

8:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

Sunday, March 29

11:00 am - Brooks Sigler and Five Finger Fiction at Old Town Hall.

12:00 pm - Papermaking with Donna Albino at Cornerstone Books.

1:00 pm - The Particulars of Publishing: A Writer's Workshop at Old Town Hall.

1:00 pm - Family Movie: The Princess Bride at Cornerstone Books.

2:00 pm - The Salem Theatre Company Presents An Evening of Pinter at The Griffen Theater.

3:00 pm - Workshop: Writing with the Senses at Cornerstone Books.

3:00 pm - The Best Women's Travel Writing 2009 at Old Town Hall.