
A Daylong Celebration of Books
The Orlando Book Festival is a day-long celebration of books at the Orlando Public Library. Join us for panels and talks from bestselling authors from all over the state, including a keynote from R.L. Stine.
Registration is required to attend the keynote. Please see below for signing policies.
Register here to attend the keynote and receive email updates.
Time | Event |
---|---|
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM | Literary Organization Tables |
10:30 AM | Panel and Writing Workshop |
11:30 AM | Panel and Writing Workshop |
12:30 PM | Panel and Writing Workshop |
2:30 PM | Keynote: R.L. Stine (Registration required) |
3:30 PM | Signing - All Authors - (signing policies) |
Featured Authors
R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series, has sold over 400-million books and his books have been translated into 35 languages, making him one of the best-selling authors in history.
Sorboni Banerjee is a Bengali-American author and Emmy Award-winning television news anchor. Sorboni’s experiences growing up biracial shape her stories. She is a cofounder of the teen reading and leadership festival, YA by the Bay.
Kelly Coon is the author of YA fantasy novels Gravemaidens and Warmaidens. She's an editor, a former Florida high school English teacher, and loves graveyards, dark chocolate, yoga, and traveling with her family.
Jan Eldredge writes spooky, magical stories. Evangeline of the Bayou, published by HarperCollins Balzer + Bray, is her debut middle grade novel.
Christina Farley is the author of the Gilded series, The Princess and the Page, The Dream Heist, and The Immortal Secret.
Lauren Gibaldi is a public librarian and author of The Night We Said Yes, Autofocus and This Tiny Perfect World. With Eric Smith she co-edited the anthologies Battle of the Bands and First-Year Orientation.
Owl Goingback is the author of numerous novels, children’s book, screenplays, magazine articles, short stories, and comics. He is a three-time Bram Stoker Award Winner, a Nebula Award Nominee, and a Storytelling World Awards Honor Recipient.
Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach. She owns the writing studio Writer’s Atelier and is the editor of both Black Fox Literary Magazine and Voyage YA.
Adriana Hernández Bergstrom is a Cuban-American artist and children’s book author and illustrator. She is the author of Tumble and Abuelita and I Make Flan.
Sarah Zachrich Jeng grew up in Michigan and had a brief career as an aspiring rock star before she came to her senses and became a web developer. The Other Me is her first novel.
Paige Lavoie is the author of I'm In Love With Mothman. She writes stories about misfits, monsters & falling in love.
Christy Mandin is an author, illustrator, and multi-passionate creative. The Storytellers Rule is her second picture book with HarperCollins. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and four children.
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books translated into over twenty languages.
Amy Christine Parker is the author of YA thriller novels GATED, ASTRAY, and the horror novel, FLIGHT 171. She also is a regular contributor at DIY MFA. When not writing, she loves to travel with her family and watch horror movies.
David James Poissant is the author of the novel Lake Life, a New York Times Editors' Choice selection, and the story collection The Heaven of Animals, a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize.
Steph Post is the author of the novels Miraculum, Lightwood, Walk in the Fire, Holding Smoke and A Tree Born Crooked. She lives in Brooksville, Florida.
Dominique Richardson is the coauthor of The Everbeach Series—a young adult mystery series. Raised between Jamaica and the United States, her biracial heritage finds a home in her books.
Deb Rogers has been an award-winning blogger, a statewide policymaker, and a nationally-recognized victim advocate. She is the author of Florida Woman.
Ginny Myers Sain is the author of DARK AND SHALLOW LIES and SECRETS SO DEEP. She has spent most of her professional life working in the theatre as a teacher and director.
Alicia Thompson is the author of LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS and WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD. She lives in Florida with her husband, two children, and a mischievous cat.
Jenny Torres Sanchez is the award-winning author of young adult books, including We Are Not From Here, The Fall of Innocence, Because of the Sun, Death, Dickinson and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia, and more.
Policy for R.L. Stine book signing:
- Registered participants only
- Limit two items per person
- No line cutting or saving spots in line
- No posed photos will be allowed, but pictures can be taken while R.L. Stine signs books
Panel Schedule
10:30 AM
- Publishing Tell-All with Lauren Gibaldi, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Kelly Coon. Moderator: Becky Herzog. - Three authors share their behind-the-scenes knowledge and experience. Ask anything you want to know about the publishing process and industry.
- Relationships in YA with Ginny Myers Sain, Dominique Richardson, Christina Farley. Moderator: Frank Chillura. - Whether its best friends, enemies, frenemies, lovers, family, or teachers, relationships are paramount to most YA fiction. Three YA authors explore the importance of relationships in books for teens.
11:30 AM
- Improving Your Craft with Amy Christine Parker, David James Poissant, Madeline Martin, Deb Rogers. Moderator: Frank Chillura. - A good writer never stops leveling up their craft. These incredible authors will share how they leveled up their writing craft and share tips for how you can become a better writer.
- Keeping It Tense with Owl Goingback, Sorboni Banerjee, Steph Post, Sarah Zachrich Jeng. Moderator: Laura Helseth. - Tension is the secret to both hooking and holding the reader. These authors will discuss how they craft delicious tension in their books.
12:30 PM
- The Joys and Difficulties of Writing for Children with Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, Christy Mandin, Jan Eldredge. Moderator: Lauren Gibaldi. - Learn how to write stories that will captivate young readers from three picture book and middle grade authors.
- Romancing the Book with Paige Lavoie, Racquel Henry, Alicia Thompson. Moderator: Laura Helseth. - Romance is the best-selling literary genre in the world. Come chat with the authors that make readers swoon.
Participating Literary Organizations
- Orlando Area Poets
- NaNOrlando (National Novel Writing Month)
- Timucua Arts & Authentic Selves Poetry
- The Jack Kerouac Project of Orlando
Authors and panels subject to change.
FAQ
Q: Do I have to register to attend the Orlando Book Festival? A: Registration is required to attend the keynote with R.L Stine and book signing with R.L. Stine.
Q: Do attendees need to print their registration confirmation for entrance to the keynote? A: No, attendees will check in by providing a staff member with their name. Attendees should confirm their registration says "Registered" and NOT "Waitlist."
Q: Can I check in for the keynote early? A: Wristband distribution for registered attendees will start at 10:30 a.m. the day of the Orlando Book Festival, Saturday, April 15. Lost wristbands will not be replaced.
Q: What time is seating for the R.L. Stine keynote? A: Seating for registered attendees will take place from 1:45 PM to 2:25 PM. Registered attendees should arrive before 2:25pm. Arriving after 2:25 pm does not guarantee seating once the event is at capacity.
Contact Us
All questions and inquires should be directed to events@ocls.info. The Orlando Book Festival is closed to author submissions.
Follow the conversation using #orlandobookfestival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Parking
There are a variety of parking options available downtown, including the city's parking garage across the street on Central Blvd. For more information about parking, please visit the City of Orlando's Transportation Department's Downtown Orlando Parking pages for details about garage and on-street parking locations, rates, and hours of operation.
Accomodations
Any person requiring special accommodations to participate in any class or program due to a disability may arrange for assistance by contacting us at least seven days prior to the event.
Funding Provided By
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. This event is free and open to the public.