A celebration of writers and readers! Join us for the inaugural Opelika Book Festival featuring an Author Fair of local authors, panels, readings, and more!

Schedule of Events:

9 am - 3 pm: Author Fair, Cooper Auditorium
Gain personal insights from over 40 local and regional authors about their books, creative processes, and more. Plus, you can purchase books from the authors and have them signed.

10 am - 3 pm: Author Readings, Meeting Room A
Get to know the authors and their work - in their own words. Listen as they share their stories and experiences through readings and interactive book discussions. Readings will begin every 15 minutes throughout the day. See the schedule posted on the day of the event.

10 am: Everyone Has a Story, Meeting Room B
Join author Angela George to learn about her book, Monkey Tales: An Adventure in O-Town. We will discuss the process of getting a book from idea to completed project, finding your illustrator, and how to tap into what you know to write your story.

Monkey Tales: An Adventure in O Town is an imaginary tale about what happened to the monkeys that lived at Monkey Park in Opelika, AL. They left the park and set on an adventure and met new friends on the way! Written by Angela George, owner of O Town Ice Cream and illustrated by Madison Brooks.

11 am: 100 Years of Southern Union, Meeting Room B
Join Southern Union State Community College staff and author Katie Lamar Jackson to celebrate the release of Southern Union State Community College: Celebrating 100 Years, a new coffee table book commemorating the college’s century of service to East Central Alabama. Jackson will share stories from SU’s past and discuss the three-year process of finding the hundreds of stories and photographs that fill the book.

12 pm: Reading on the Go: Getting Started with Library Digital Materials, Meeting Room B
Join Digital Services Specialist Taylor Money to learn about the three digital resources offered by Opelika Public Library and how you can read no matter where you are! Bring your device and library card to get started right away.

1 pm: Finding Hidden History, Meeting Room B
Do you want to tell your family’s story but feel unsure about how or where to begin? This session is perfect for those just beginning to research their family history. Participants will leave with a solid foundation to craft an effective research plan and valuable skills to navigate the wide variety of genealogical resources available just down the road at the ADAH and online.

2 pm: Yay! You Wrote the Book! Now What?
This session will focus on the different avenues of publishing available to new and established authors.

6 pm: Keynote Speaker Rick Bragg
Tickets are required for entry and are reserved prior to the event. If you don't have a ticket, you can try to get in using the standby line. We will fill any available space from the standby line.

Date: November 4, 2023

Time: 9am

Location: Opelika Public Library, 1100 Glenn Street, Opelika, AL 36801

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