Baby Got Books

Decatur Book Fest

Hey, yall, the Decatur Book Fest is this weekend. That kind of snuck up on me, even though I’ve been keeping up with the news almost daily.

There are over 300 authors descending on Decatur Square, make sure you check the list and then check it again to make sure that you don’t miss anyone. There are at least four Pulitzer-winning authors in the house. Local author Collin Kelley will be debuting his new novel Conquering Venus. Gazillion-selling Water for Elephants author Sara Gruen will add to her sales. And on and on. Seriously. Check out the whole list.

I’ll be spending huge chunks of time with my young reader at the Kids’ Stage, where it is always happening. This year’s children’s authors include Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man, Cowboy and Octopus), Judy Schachner (Skippyjohn Jones – I am muey excited), Kate Dicamilo (The Tale of Desperaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Because of Winn Dixie), Atlanta’s own Laurel Snyder (Any Which Wall, Inside the Slidy Diner), and… really, check out the children’s author list.

And speaking of the kids, be sure to pick up a copy of The Wayfarers Diary from the Wren’s Nest booth. Atlanta area high school authors have been working hard all summer to bring their top notch literary journal to the fest, which is kind of the coolest thing ever. Last year’s edition was very cool, and it’s for the kids.

There are also plenty of special events on tap, including a Literary Death Match – check out the events schedule. Of course, there is also A Book Market and Street Fair. McSweeney’s will be there again. Last year they were giving huge “sweaty guy discounts” – and I still dropped a truck load of cash. Check out the list of vendors.

I’ll be there all weekend toting a hundred pound sack of books that I didn’t know that I needed. BGB contributor Russ Marshalek, making his triumphant return from the Big Apple, will be taking a victory lap around The Square. It’ll be a party. If you see us, say howdy.