Bethesda Literary Festival April 19- 21

Judith Viorst at Bethesda Literary Festival
Photo | Bethesda UP

The Bethesda Literary Festival runs April 19 – 21 and includes an array of local and national authors, journalists and poets, as well as writing contests and poetry contests. Featured guests include David Maraniss, Alice McDermott, Chris Bohjalian, Amanda Bennett, Kate Alcott, Robert Merry and Lynn Povich.

The event will include authors reading their work, talking about their craft and taking part in discussions with other writers and audience members. All of the events are free and are held throughout downtown Bethesda.
Visit Bethesda Literary Festival for complete schedule, author articles, sponsors and venues.

Friday, April 19

7pm – Award-Winning Essays & Short Stories
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Adult and high school winners from the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Essay & Short Story Contest will read their work and receive awards.

7pm – Remarkable Writers
The Writer’s Center
Meet journalist and editor, Rachel S. Cox, author of Into Dust and Fire, and award-winning author and The George Washington University director of creative writing, Thomas Mallon, author of Watergate: A Novel, as they discuss their recent books.

8:30pm – Magnificent Memoirs
The Writer’s Center
Bloomberg News executive editor Amanda Bennett shares her story of love and devotion from her book, The Cost of Hope and writer Ken Budd shares his story of travel, love and loss from his book, The Voluntourist.

Saturday, April 20

10am – Children’s Story Time
Barnes & Noble
Meet local children’s author Ellen S. Cromwell and local illustrator Desiree J. Sterbini for a reading of their most recent book, Are You Listening Potbelly? Ages 3-7.

10:30am – Inside the White House
Residence Inn Bethesda
Join The National Interest editor Robert Merry, author of Where They Stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians, and first official White House videographer Arun Chaudhary, author of First Cameraman, for their presidential views.

11am – Family Story Time
Bethesda Library
Join local children’s book author and illustrator Susan Stockdale as she demonstrates how she creates her award-winning picture books about animals. She will sign her new book, Stripes of All Types, and others following her program. Ages 3 & up.

12pm – Barack Obama: The Story
Residence Inn Bethesda
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, bestselling author and associate editor at The Washington Post David Maraniss as he discusses his recent book, Barack Obama: The Story.

12pm – 3pm – Open House
The Writer’s Center
Meet The Writer’s Center’s workshop leaders, staff, and Board members and learn about upcoming workshops and programs at The Writer’s Center’s Open House. Light refreshments and a raffle will be available.

1pm – Children’s Story Time
Bethesda Library
Scientists, illustrator and authors Margaret A. Weitekamp, David DeVorkin and Diane Kidd discuss their new children’s book, Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery. Ages 5 and up.

2pm – Women Rising
Residence Inn Bethesda
Meet award-winning journalist and first woman Senior Editor in Newsweek history Lynn Povich, author of The Good Girls Revolt, and award-winning reporter and bestselling author Liza Mundy, The Richer Sex, as they discuss women’s rising power in the workplace and in life.

3pm – Teen Time
Bethesda Library
Meet author Valerie Patterson as she discusses her new book for teens, Operation Oleander.

4pm – John B. Radner
Waverly Street Gallery
Meet George Mason University professor emeritus, John B. Radner, as he speaks about his book, Johnson and Boswell:A Biography of Friendship.

5pm – Poetry Readings and Awards
Gallery B
Hear readings from award-winning poet and former Poet Laureate of Maryland Michael Collier, and the winners of the Bethesda Poetry Contest.

Sunday, April 21

11am – Alice McDermott
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Meet National Book Award winner and three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Alice McDermott as she discusses her award-winning book, That Night, and her career as a writer.

11am – Local Authors’ Reception
Barnes & Noble
You are invited to roam the aisles, chat with your favorite local authors and have your books signed. Authors include Aimee Agresti, Infatuate; Bonnie Benwick, The Washington Post Cookbook; Lynne Hanson, Do You Think I Need to Wear Boobs With This Dress?: Redesigning life after breast cancer; Sharon G. Hadary, How Women Lead; Mel Goodman, National Insecurity and Honorable Harold Brown, Star Spangled Security.

12:30pm – Bestselling Fiction
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Join bestselling authors Chris Bohjalian, author of The Sandcastle Girls, and Kate Alcott, author of The Dressmaker, for a discussion about their popular reading club books.

2pm – New and Notable
The Writer’s Center
Open Door reading by the recipient of The Writer’s Center’s Emerging Writers Fellowship, Caitlin Horrocks, author of This Is Not Your City, and recipient of The Writer’s Center’s Undiscovered Voices Fellowship,Nicole Idar.  The reading will be followed by a reception and book signing.

2:30pm – Scary Mommy
Gallery B
Meet New York Times bestselling author, blogger and domestic satirist, Jill Smokler, for a discussion about her most recent book, Motherhood Comes Naturally (And Other Vicious Lies).

3pm – The Art of Fables
Studio Neptune
Join artist and author Elyse Harrison for an exhibit and a reading of her first children’s book, Painted Fables.  Additional exhibit hours: Saturday & Sunday 12-3pm.  Ages 7-12. 

3pm – “One Thing I Do Well”
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Join the winners of the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Youth Writing Contest, “One Thing I Do Well,” as they read their stories and receive prizes.

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